Top 15 Most Popular Taiwanese Snacks
To learn more about Taiwanese snacks beyond our delicious beef jerky and pork sung, we have listed more delicious snacks that you can explore to enjoy all the tastes and traditions of Taiwan!
1. Pineapple cake (鳳梨酥)
Made from a buttery, shortbread-like crust with a tangy pineapple filling, these small pineapple cakes are definitely an addicting snack. The jammy filling and flakey crust complement each other perfectly, creating a delightful balance of textures and flavors that keeps you reaching for more. The rich, melt-in-your-mouth pastry paired with the naturally sweet-tart pineapple center makes these treats a beloved staple in Taiwanese cuisine and a perfect accompaniment to a cup of hot tea.
2. Bubble tea (珍珠奶茶)
This beloved drink is enjoyed by those all throughout the world! Known for its refreshing tea and chewy tapioca balls, bubble tea or boba tea is a drink and dessert all in one! What started as a simple tea drink in Taiwan during the 1980s has evolved into a global phenomenon, now available in countless variations including fruit teas, smoothies, and slushes, each served with a wide straw perfect for sipping up those addictively chewy pearls.
3. Taro balls (芋圓)
With a similar texture to boba balls, taro balls are super chewy and satisfying to snack on. As a popular topping on desserts, these bouncy taro balls have a subtle sweetness and earthy flavor that comes from fresh taro root, making them a perfect addition to everything from shaved ice to hot dessert soups.
4. Taro pastries (芋頭酥)
Another popular taro snack that has the same subtle sweetness and earthiness: Taiwanese taro pastries. These pastries have a flakey and soft exterior with a sweet taro paste interior. Each bite reveals delicate layers that melt in your mouth, giving way to a silky-smooth taro filling that's perfectly sweet with hints of nutty, vanilla-like undertones. The light, soft exterior and the rich, creamy taro center creates an irresistible combination that perfectly showcases why taro has become such a beloved flavor in Taiwanese desserts.
5. Wheel cake (車輪餅)
Originally a Japanese snack, the wheel cake has become super popular in Taiwan, and it has evolved to include distinctive Taiwanese flavors and adaptations. These wheel cakes can either be savory or sweet, with a slightly toasted exterior and fluffy interior. Popular fillings include red bean, custard, taro, and salted egg yolk!
6. Mochi (麻糬)
Another Japanese snack that’s popular in Taiwan: mochi. Made from glutinous rice, the soft and stretchy texture of mochi gives it that characteristic QQ (bouncy-chewy) quality that's so satisfying to bite into. Whether eaten plain, filled with sweet red bean paste, rolled in peanut powder, or served in modern variations like ice cream mochi, this versatile dessert can be enjoyed in countless ways!
7. Bak Kwa (jerky) Soft buns (肉干面包)
These jerky buns combine barbequed pork jerky and pork sung with soft Asian milk bread, making the perfect sweet and savory snack. The fluffy buns have a tender bread exterior with pieces of caramelized bak kwa and pork sung inside. The bread is lightly sweet while the bak kwa adds a smoky-sweet flavor, making these buns a fan favorite in Asian bakeries.
We recommend you use our Hometown BBQ pork jerky and pork sung to make your own delicious Bak Kwa buns at home!
8. Egg Roll cookies (香酥蛋卷)
Taiwanese egg roll cookies (香酥蛋卷) are light, crispy cylindrical wafers made from a delicate egg batter. These airy cookies have a delightfully flaky texture with a subtle sweetness and rich egg flavor. These cookies are often enjoyed with tea and are particularly popular during Lunar New Year when they're given as gifts, packaged in decorative tins.
9. Taiwanese nougat (牛軋糖)
Taiwanese nougat (牛軋糖) is a chewy, milky white candy that features crunchy roasted nuts. The texture is softer and more tender than traditional European nougat, with a melt-in-your-mouth quality. These sweet treats strike a perfect balance between the smooth, creamy nougat base and the satisfying crunch of nuts, making them a popular gift during holidays and a beloved everyday snack that's often packaged in individual wrappers for easy sharing. Taiwanese nougats come in different flavors such as mango, matcha, and taro.
10. Fruit Jellies (果冻)
These refreshing jellies come in many delicious fruit flavors such as lychee and passion fruit with a texture that’s soft and bouncy. The jellies have a smooth, delicate texture that's firmer than Western gelatin desserts but still very soft making them a perfect light dessert or snack, especially during hot summer days.
11. Iron Eggs (鐵蛋)
Iron eggs are small eggs that are recooked and dried in a soy marinade, resulting in a chewy, firm, and super flavorful snack. These dark brown eggs get their name from their dense, bouncy texture that develops during the multi-day cooking process. You can find them at night markets and convenience stores across Taiwan, where they're enjoyed as a protein-rich snack by locals.
12. Sun biscuits (太陽餅)
Sun biscuits are a beloved Taiwanese pastry from Taichung, featuring a flaky, layered exterior that features a sweet maltose filling. Each delicate bite reveals buttery, paper-thin layers that melt in your mouth satisfyingly before giving way to the chewy, honeyed center!
13. Taiwanese sesame candy (芝麻糖)
Similar to a brittle, Taiwanese sesame candy is made from toasted sesame seeds and caramelized sugar, creating a sweet and nutty treat with a satisfying crunch. These candies have a distinctive glossy appearance and are often wrapped individually, making them a popular gift during holidays and festivals for children and adults alike.
14. Traditional Taiwanese beef jerky (牛肉乾)
Taiwanese beef jerky is a lot more softer compared to Western counterparts due to different cooking and processing methods that allow the meat to retain more moisture. Here at Hometown Jerky, we’ve mastered the most tender beef jerkies that you will ever find on the market! Our jerkies are surprisingly soft and juicy, making them super delicious and satisfying to eat. Our softest jerky is our fruit flavored one, a hit amongst children with small teeth. We also offer other delicious traditional flavors such as 5 spices and BBQ pork jerky.
Our delicious Hot Peppered flavored jerky!
15. Pork sung/floss (肉鬆)
Pork sung is a fluffy, cotton-like dried pork product with a sweet-savory taste, commonly used as a topping for congee, rice, or in pastries. At Hometown Jerky, we make pride in creating the lightest and melt-in-your-mouth pork sung! Each batch is meticulously prepared through a traditional dehydration process that creates the signature cotton-like texture while preserving the rich umami flavor. Perfect as a topping or snack on its own, our pork sung brings the authentic taste of Taiwan to your table, made with no added artificial preservatives and packed fresh to ensure maximum flavor and freshness.
Try our delicious pork sung today!
As a family-owned business, we take pride in sharing our family recipes and traditions. Each batch of jerky is carefully crafted using techniques that have been passed down through generations of our family, ensuring the same authentic taste that our customers have come to love and trust. We hope that you get the chance to try our most popular products to experience the rich flavors of Taiwan!
