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Souvenirs are not merely the endpoint of a journey but an extension of a city’s culture. The 2026 Taichung Top Ten Gifts showcase a mature and diverse range—from innovative reinterpretations of traditional pastries to distinctive products that blend design with everyday aesthetics—collectively painting a flavorful cultural landscape unique to Taichung.
Within the pastry category, distinct identities are formed via storytelling and a depth of craftsmanship. DearCreme uses European-style butter and locally sourced ingredients to create its “Flying Space Capsule Gift Box”, expressing a soothing, modern baking aesthetic. Meanwhile, LI CHA PIN JI reimagines traditional Han-style pastries as mountain cookies, blending imagery inspired by Taiwan’s mountain ranges with western dessert techniques to successfully overturn conventional perceptions of traditional pastries.
Focusing on a translation of local culture, Xiong Gai Qiao delicately showcases a Taiping Butterfly Pastry Trio with its “Dancing Butterflies & Red Fruit Fig-Tree” butterfly pastries, allowing baked goods to become repositories of memory. In addition, Wang Lai Ba presents its figure-eight shaped pineapple cakes to convey auspicious blessings, establishing itself as a signature choice for festive gift-giving.
Daily sweets also demonstrate this refined positioning. The 7 Days Orange Chiffon Cake, made with oranges from Fengyuan District’s Gonglaoping, offers a light, refreshing flavor ideal for everyday enjoyment; the Joy Joy Golden Butter Pastry Gift Box–Baseball Edition draws inspiration from Taichung’s baseball culture, infusing an athletic spirit into pastry design; and Comfort Donuts French Puff Pastry Donuts apply French laminated pastry techniques to reinvent the donut for a shareable souvenir with a crisp, yet airy, texture. Sweet and savory preferences are equally addressed with the Babuu House Berry Nice Time Gift Box, featuring strawberry cream-filled wafer rolls, and The Lee Scallion Pork Floss Egg Rolls, pairing locally sourced scallions with savory pork floss for a perfectly balanced mouthful. 3:15PM transforms moroheiya—a flavor rooted in Taichung locals’ collective memory—into a diverse range of desserts and tea beverages.
In the specialty creative & cultural category, souvenirs further extend into expressions of lifestyle and taste. Mi Yue Mochi Tang, known as the “literary youth” of the mochi world, appeals to younger consumers; the Rose Petal Tea from ROSE HOUSE blends British afternoon tea culture with environmental awareness, elevating a sense of ritual in gift-giving. Originating in the Fengjia Night Market, Uncle Being’s grilled corn reinvents the classic satay-style corn into a snack ideal for binge-watching, while Hareta showcases its artisanal devotion to premium ingredients through Hokkaido Fresh Cream Pudding, making it a popular choice among chilled desserts.
In the beverage category, PON PAI Fiber Black/White Fungus Drink uses black and white wood ear mushrooms to create a low-calorie, wellness-focused option; and Orsir Coffee and Chuan Coffee demonstrate Taichung’s depth in the specialty beverage scene, respectively utilizing innovative tea-coffee crossovers and curated selections sourced from Taiwanese small-scale coffee farmers.
Cheng Chi Fried Shallots also highlights local ingredients and an artisanal spirit in its refined gourmet selection, while Liz Single-Malt Vinegar, earning recognition with international flavor awards, combines fermentation craftsmanship with design aesthetics. Carpenter further reinforces sustainability by integrating Carbon Fixation concepts into its gift box.
Overall, the 2026 Taichung Top 10 Gifts have evolved from simply being “tasty” or “beautiful” to becoming story-driven and value-conscious. Whether they are the meticulous craftings of pastry artisans or creative products responding to modern lifestyles, these souvenirs now serve as powerful cultural symbols, representing not just gifts but the very spirit and identity of the city.
First Prize: Pastry & Bakery Category
7 Days – Orange Chiffon Cake
Made with fresh mandarin orange juice from Gonglaoping in Taichung’s Fengyuan District, this chiffon cake directly mixes citrus juice into the batter. Its texture is soft, moist and light with a gentle, refreshing orange aroma. Balanced and not overly acidic, it finishes with a delicate fruity aftertaste.
Joy Joy Golden: Butter Pastry Gift Box–Baseball Edition
Baked with hand-harvested salt flowers from Chenggong Salt Fields, the pastry crusts of these items are baked in two high-temperature stages for distinct, crisp layers. The filling combines caramelized condensed milk and chewy mochi, while a base of white sesame seeds and brown sugar adds rich, roasted aromas.
The Lee: Scallion Pork Floss Egg Rolls
Originally from a traditional Taichung wet market pork butcher, these egg rolls use locally grown Da’an scallions, adding a clean, fresh aroma and light finish. A generous scallion pork floss filling is wrapped in a thick, sturdy egg roll shell, achieving a perfect sweet-savory balance.
DearCrème: Breezy-breezy Gift Box
DearCrème carries forward the time-honored craftsmanship of a traditional family workshop. By insisting on premium European butter and fresh local ingredients, we create cookies that delight both adults and children alike. Breezy-breezy Gift Box is a unique dual-flavor pairing—one sweet and one spicy. It invites you on a journey of sensory exploration, navigating the delicate balance between sweet and savory, richness and heat.
Babuu House: Berry Nice Time Gift Box
The “Berry Bliss” Strawberry Cream Wafer Rolls are made with cone-style butter cookies filled with strawberry cream. Crafted with anhydrous butter and natural strawberry powder, they are crisp, rich and free of artificial flavorings, coloring or preservatives.
3:15PM: Smile Angel Collaboration–Moroheiya Fortune Gift Box
delicious” philosophy. A collaboration with Smile Angel Bakery, this gift box transforms Taichung’s traditional moroheiya culture into a warm, meaningful pastry set.
WANG LAI BA: Good Luck Pineapple Cake
Inspired by Fengyuan’s original “Huludun” name, Wang Lai Ba pastry company created Taiwan’s first figure-eight shaped pineapple cake. Encasing fillings sourced from local Taiwanese farmers, the crispy pastry crust releases a naturally sweet pineapple fragrance with every bite.
Xiong Gai Qiao: Dancing Butterflies & Red Fruit Fig-tree–Taiping Butterfly Pastry Trio
Based in Taichung’s Taiping District, Xiong Gai Qiao emphasizes low sugar, oil, salt and carbon concepts, using local ingredients and low-temperature baking with no additives. Each butterfly pastry requires five days of hand folding and slow baking, resulting in delicate, crisp layers that hold together beautifully.
LI CHA PIN JI: Assorted Mountain Cookie
LI CHA PIN JI inherits century-old pastry techniques and incorporates western, Japanese and French dessert influences. Inspired by Taiwan’s mountain landscapes, these pastries offer tea fragrances and a fruity sweetness with crispy shells and dense, tender fillings.
Comfort Donuts: French Puff Pastry Donuts
Crafted with French laminated pastry techniques, each donut takes over 10 hours to make, from preparation to baking. Multiple folds create a crisp outer layer and soft interior, providing a light, non-greasy texture that remains refined even after cooling.
First Prize – Creative & Cultural Products Category
Liz: Single-Malt Vinegar–Sanxing Snow Pear Vinegar
Founded in Taichung’s Fengyuan District in 1999, Liz’s Vinegar crafts its Sanxing Snow Pear Vinegar with sorghum as the fermentation base. After nine meticulous brewing stages, the result is a refreshing, well-balanced sweet-and-sour flavor with no artificial additives.
Carpenter x Golden Horse Awards 62nd Joint Collection: Gathering Gift Set
- The official Golden Horse Awards gift set includes:
- -Golden Horse 62 limited-edition stacking game (62 blocks, 15 layers)
- -Storage pouch
- -Da’an Farmers’ Association “Gold Brick Rice” (300g)
- -Da’an Distillery “Nine Downwind” Brandy (100ml, 40% ABV)
Uncle Being Roasted Corn: ‘One Stick’ Corn Kernels Gift Box
Chuan Coffee: Hidden Realm Aromas–Taiwan Diamond Coffee Selection
Chuan Coffee focuses on small-scale Taiwanese coffee farmers, aiming to “rewrite your impression of Taiwanese coffee”. From bean to cup, each brew expresses the terroir and depth of Taiwan’s land.
Cheng Chi Fried Shallots: Golden Shallot Oil Gift Box
With 46 years of expertise, Cheng Chi uses Taiwanese red shallots and non-GMO canola oil. Slow-cooked at low temperatures, the oil retains a natural aroma, stays clear and light, and pairs effortlessly with everyday cooking.
PON PAI: Fiber Black/White Fungus Drink
This plant-based drink is made from naturally farmed black and white fungus, using local agricultural produce. Low in calories and rich in nutrients, it balances health and flavor while supporting ESG values and sustainable agriculture.
Hareta: Hokkaido Fresh Cream Pudding
Made with rich egg custard and Hokkaido Tokachi fresh cream, this pudding is silky and smooth. Paired with slightly bitter caramel made from Japanese refined sugar, it achieves perfect sweet-bitter balance—no flight to Hokkaido required for enjoyment.
Orsir Coffee: Beauty Whisper Tea-Coffee Gift Box–Wuling Jinxuan Black Tea
Founded in Taichung in 1993, Orsir Coffee has committed itself for over 30 years to direct trade and direct origin products. The Beauty Whisper Tea-Coffee preserves the coffee’s original flavor while introducing the honeyed sweetness and lingering finish of black tea.
Rose House: Rose Petal Tea
Founded in 1990, Rose House pioneered British afternoon tea culture in Taiwan. Inspired by The Little Prince, the brand blends English tea traditions with eastern tea aesthetics, creating a cross-cultural tea-and-art lifestyle brand.
Mi Yue Mochi Tang: Mochi Gift Box
Founded in Taichung in 2020, Mi Yue Mochi Tang is known for its stylish store design and innovative flavors. The brand emphasizes natural, easy-to-digest mochi, allowing even sensitive consumers to comfortably enjoy this delicacy.
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