| HOME  CENTRAL TAIWAN TEA
& COFFEE
COMPASS
MAGAZINE  November 2012
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By Javier Siles Translated by Angel Pu
Photos by Vikram Rohella, Lin li han and Fantasystory Inc.
136, XiangShang N Rd, West Dist.
(04) 2319-1768
Hours: 12-9 pm (closed Mondays)
Wireless Internet.
Children's Reading Room (available for rent).
Pets welcome.
Credit cards not accepted.
No 10% service charge.
Sweets Woods is a new Taichung complex housing the following seven shops offering a wide diversity of desserts and drinks.
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Danny's Banana
(04) 2301-4859
Danny's Banana uses Nantou county bananas as its main ingredient for a great variety of desserts. Bananas are first frozen, then turned into the desired sorbet, milkshake or other treats. Coffee is also available.The shop proudly displays a Natural Ingredients Certificate on its wall, together with a Certificate of Halal Product for Muslim consumers. Customers can add four flavorings, including caramel, hazelnut, vanilla and honey, to the Original Milkshake (NT$70 large, NT$60 medium) and other milkshake flavors. Frozen Banana flavors (NT$20/each) include peanut, purple rice, and truffle chocolate. Although this dessert is actually made from bananas, it has an ice cream-like texture and is coated with different flavors of chocolate.
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Litchi Sweets
(04) 2301-1807
Litchi Sweets has its own litchi farm in Taiping district. Every product in the store, including cakes, jelly and macaroons, contains litchis and is also exported to Japan. Also available are bags of dried litchis (NT$80) and a variety box (NT$150) containing Rose Litchi Macaroons, Rose Litchi Cake, Earl Grey/Oats and Litchie Cookies and Italian Litchie Crackers, plus a coffee or Mint and Litchi Honey Drink. Other popular products include Rose Litchi Cakes (NT$350/10 pices) and Litchi Jelly (NT$40).
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Shokolad Russian Chocolate
0926-002-106
Russian chocolate brands here each come in varieties such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, orange chocolate, almond chocolate and brandy chocolate. A coffee, Russian brandy and some chocolate desserts can be enjoyed while sitting down, either inside the shop or at outside seating. A bar of chocolate is NT$165, with two bars for NT$300.
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Bianca Gelato
(04) 2301-6825
The owner here has over 10 years of experience making traditional Italian gelato and all Bianca's products are homemade. Most feature Taiwanese ingredients plus some imported Italian ones, and flavors include Passion Fruit, Green Tea, and Mixed Berry. A single scoop is NT$70 and a double is NT$100. A 600-plus cc box (NT$250) is available for take-out.
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Umbrella Sweets Patisserie
(04) 2305-0569
Umbrella offers Japanese-Western fusion-style sweets. The chef, following recipes of his Japanese master, uses no chemicals and some ingredients are sourced from a Pingtung county farm. Specialties include several kinds of cookies, pastries, Japanese Roll-Cakes and a Cheese Souffle (NT$298) with flavors such as sweet potato, chocolate or raisin. The delicious Fruit de la Passion cake (NT$450; NT$85/piece), containing white/black chocolate and rum raisins, recently won third prize at the All-Taiwan Desserts Contest.
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Pause Bonheur
0925-078-809
Baking was initially just a hobby for owner Olivia, who now makes it her prosperous business. All of her ingredients are from Taiwan. The Panna Cotta, with 100% milk and no added water, has a plethora of flavors like Pumpkin, Milk Pudding, Cranberry and Green Tea with Red Beans. A pot of tea (NT$150) or a pot of tea with a cake or fruit (NT$220) is great for enjoyment with friends.
The average price for the fruit jelly is NT$180. An elegant-looking take-out box with three pancakes (NT$300) or six Panna Cotta desserts (NT$300) is also available.
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Wilson's English Afternoon Tea
0912- 538-040
John has transplanted a part of his Manchester, England hometown to Taichung with Wilson's English Afternoon Tea, featuring a mid-priced variety of homemade traditional English and American desserts such as muffins, cakes, quiche and brownies. This is an ideal place to relax with your sweetheart or friends. Large orders for big events can be made and include delivery service.
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