Chang Xing Tangyuan Ice

Review

Chang Xing Tangyuan Ice on Zhonghua Road in Douliu is a three-generation ice shop, and several Douliu food guides name it the town's signature dessert stop. The menu follows the seasons: shaved ice in summer and hot sweet rice ball soup in winter. Supertaste's Yunlin snack roundup lists it alongside Beigang's famous tangyuan soup.

The signature is the mixed tangyuan ice. Reports say both the rice balls and the mochi are made from pure glutinous rice batter, so they are chewy and springy rather than mushy. Toppings such as red beans, mung beans and tapioca pearls go on the ice, and the sweetness is moderate. In winter, plain tangyuan soup, glutinous rice porridge and mochi rolled in peanut or sesame powder are popular too.

Diners praise the firm rice balls, the wide choice of toppings and the fact that both hot and cold versions are good, with some wanting a second bowl; the shop is also reasonably clean. Because it is famous, though, queues are common at weekends and after dinner, and while tables turn over quickly the wait can be long. Some find the flavours traditional without surprises and prices a bit higher than ordinary ice shops.

It opens roughly from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., making it handy for dessert after a meal. Sources disagree on closing days: one says it never closes, another lists Tuesdays, so check before going. It is in central Douliu, close to Taiping Old Street and A-Guo-Shi Squid Soup, so it fits into the same walking route.

It suits fans of old-fashioned sweet soups and handmade rice balls, and families with children. In summer order the mixed tangyuan ice with red and mung beans; in winter try hot tangyuan soup or rice porridge and share a plate of mochi. When it is busy, take away and eat as you walk.