Meishan Traditional Douhua

Review

Meishan Township is the mountain town below the Taiping Suspension Bridge and the Alishan tea areas, and Meishan Traditional Douhua sits on Zhongshan Road in the town centre. Reports say it was founded in 1964, has been serving for nearly sixty years and is now in its third generation, an old-fashioned shop loved by locals and visitors alike. The shop says it uses non-GMO soybeans and has no branches elsewhere, so you have to come to Meishan to try it.

The curd is smooth with a slight spring, and the brown sugar syrup is fragrant without being cloying. The most popular bowl is peanut with tapioca; the mixed bowl lets you pick two toppings, and single toppings include job's tears, mung bean, red bean, tapioca and peanut. Sweetness and ice are adjustable. Red bean, mung bean and job's tears soups are also sold, and five dollars more turns any bowl hot, which is lovely on a cold day.

Most diners praise the friendly prices, the natural soy flavour and toppings cooked just right, and many make it a regular stop when visiting Meishan or heading up the mountains. Bloggers note that it is a small roadside stall with very few seats, and you may need to take a number when busy; one visitor found it takeaway-only on a long holiday and ate at a nearby convenience store. Overall reviews are steady with few clear complaints, the main inconveniences being seating and queues.

Reports put each bowl at about NT$30 to NT$35, with the signature and mixed douhua both NT$35; go by the menu on site. Hours are roughly 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Google listing notes it closes when sold out. Closing days differ between sources: older reports say Tuesdays, while Google shows both Mondays and Tuesdays, so check before you go. It is about ten minutes from the Meishan exit of National Freeway 3; take care with roadside parking.

It suits travellers heading to or from the Taiping Suspension Bridge, Ruili or the Alishan tea areas who want a snack stop in Meishan, and anyone who loves old-fashioned desserts. First-timers can order the signature peanut and tapioca douhua at half sugar; on cold days, have it hot or add a bowl of hot red bean soup. On busy holidays, take it away and stroll to Meishan Park.