From a single tea leaf, a cup of bubble tea and a bowl of douhua to the lights of the night market — sail six stops along Taiwan's coast to meet its flavors and people, and see how a Taiwanese food company carries them to the world.
Along Taiwan's coastline — setting off from the tea hills and finally sailing from the harbor to the world.
Brand Philosophy
Tang Sugar Brand Philosophy: Taiwanese Food and Taiwanese Service, Bringing the Flavors of Taiwan to the World
From the Formosa Oolong that sailed to New York in 1869 to bubble tea loved around the globe, Taiwan has long been sending great flavors to the world. Tang Sugar (Caitang International) is a Taiwanese company proud of the food Taiwanese people make and the service they provide. With consistent ingredient quality, clear partnership terms and verifiable supply capability, we…
It introduces Taiwan's tea, bubble tea, night-market food, fruit and sugar, everyday life and Made in Taiwan, and shows how Tang Sugar brings these flavors and Taiwanese service to partners around the world.
How is Taiwan Stories different from the blog?
Taiwan Stories covers culture, origins and Taiwan through foreign eyes; the blog covers drink recipes, ingredient dosage and sourcing. The two link to each other, so you can go from a story to a recipe.
The Story of Taiwanese Pineapple Cake: From Pineapple Kingdom to Top Souvenir — Native Pineapple vs Winter Melon Fillings, and Taking It Abroad
Key answer
Pineapple cake is the Taiwanese souvenir foreign travelers take home most, and its story is tied to Taiwan’s pineapple industry: when pineapple exports shrank in the 1970s, bakers added winter melon to pineapple for a smoother filling; in 2006 the Taipei Bakery Association promoted pineapple cake as Taipei’s signature souvenir and set standards such as the crust-to-filling ratio. Today Taiwan’s main variety is the Tainung No. 17 “golden diamond” pineapple, named in 1998, with Pingtung the largest growing area. Tang Sugar offers Taiwanese food sourcing and consolidated exports, and supplies pineapple in cans and jam, helping overseas buyers take the taste of Taiwanese pineapple home.
Taiwan, once a pineapple kingdom
In the Japanese era, Taiwan’s canned pineapple industry boomed, built on the imported Cayenne variety — what Taiwanese now call “native pineapple” (tu fengli). In the 1970s Taiwan was still one of the world’s leading pineapple exporters; canning later moved to Southeast Asia, Taiwanese pineapple shifted to fresh fruit, and agricultural researchers bred the improved “Tainung” varieties. Today Japan is the main export market for Taiwanese pineapple (further reading: Taiwan, kingdom of fruit).
How pineapple cake began: the wisdom of pineapple plus winter melon
As exports shrank, some bakers began using pineapple as a filling for traditional pastries, but early pineapples were fibrous and sour. Winter melon, grown in rotation when rice paddies lay fallow, was easy to get and smooth in texture, so bakers cooked it with pineapple, sugar and maltose into a sweet pineapple–winter melon paste — the classic pineapple cake filling.
In 2006 the Taipei Bakery Association promoted pineapple cake as Taipei’s signature souvenir because its flavor appeals worldwide and it’s easy to carry and keep. The association required participating bakeries to pass hygiene self-management certification and set a standard recipe covering crust-to-filling ratio, pineapple content and maximum moisture. Pineapple cake has been synonymous with Taiwanese souvenirs ever since.
Native pineapple cake vs winter melon pineapple cake
Type
Filling
Texture
Winter melon cake
Mainly winter melon paste
Light and very sweet
Winter melon pineapple cake
Winter melon paste mixed with pineapple
Sweet pineapple aroma, smooth texture
Native pineapple cake
Pure pineapple filling
Tarter, with noticeable fiber
The “native” in native pineapple cake is explained two ways: it refers either to Taiwan’s local pineapple variety or to a filling made honestly without winter melon. In recent years some bakers also use golden diamond and other varieties for pure pineapple fillings.
Taiwanese pineapple varieties and seasons
Tainung No. 17 (golden diamond pineapple): named in 1998, long the market’s best-seller, accounting for about 80% of planted area.
Other varieties: Tainung No. 20 (milk pineapple), Tainung No. 23 (mango pineapple), Tainung No. 16 (honey pineapple) and more.
Growing areas: mainly Pingtung, Tainan, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Nantou, with Pingtung the largest.
Season: mainly March to September; farmers also use flower induction to supply pineapples almost all year.
Can you take pineapple cake abroad?
Commercially packaged plain pineapple cakes with clear ingredient lists can enter most countries, but rules differ: Australia requires all food to be declared on the arrival card, and the US and Japan strictly control foods containing meat or egg products, so flavors with meat floss or egg yolk are riskier. The safest choice is sealed, plain pineapple cakes, declared on arrival, after checking the destination’s official rules before you travel.
Tang Sugar: taking the taste of Taiwanese pineapple overseas
This article belongs to Stop 5, Fruit & Sugar, of the Taiwan Stories series. Series opener: Tang Sugar brand philosophy.
FAQ
Where is pineapple cake from?
Pineapple cake is a signature Taiwanese pastry and souvenir; its filling comes from Taiwan’s pineapple industry, and since 2006 it has been promoted as Taipei’s signature souvenir.
What is 鳳梨酥 in English?
鳳梨酥 is “pineapple cake” in English, often written as Taiwanese pineapple cake.
What is the difference between native pineapple cake and regular pineapple cake?
Native pineapple cake uses a pure pineapple filling that is tarter and more fibrous; regular pineapple cake usually uses a winter melon and pineapple filling that is smoother and sweeter.
When is Taiwanese pineapple at its best?
The main season is March to September, with golden diamond pineapples peaking in spring and early summer; farmers also adjust harvests so pineapples are available almost all year.
Can shops overseas buy pineapple cakes from Taiwan?
Yes. Buy from Taiwanese makers through a sourcing agent, confirm the destination’s food registration, ingredient and labeling rules, and ship consolidated.
