Ming Yang Sugar Cane Milk King

Review

Ming Yang Sugar Cane Milk King stands at the corner of Zhongxiao Road and Hezuo Street in the South District's Zhongxiao Night Market, right beside Wei Quan sticky rice, so many people grab a cup after their rice cake. Reports say it has been selling in the market for over forty years; another article calls it a fifty-year-old name passed down three generations. Plenty of Taichung locals grew up drinking it, and it has been featured by several media outlets. Now that chain tea shops rarely offer pure sugarcane juice, an old-school sugarcane stall like this has become a draw in itself.

There are five sugarcane drinks, plus milk-based, floral-herbal, sweet-sour and tea drinks. A 2026 roundup says the stall uses red sugarcane from Puli, Nantou, pressed to order. The signature sugarcane milk is lightly sweet without being cloying, the cane aroma blending naturally with the milk. Sugarcane lemon uses lemon's tartness to balance the cane's sweetness, so it never feels heavy, making it a good palate cleanser after fried or grilled snacks. One writer also found the lotus root milk quite refreshing.

Diners and media mostly describe it as old-fashioned, cooling and an unusual combination, and clear negative reviews are hard to find. Note, however, that most coverage dates from 2018 to 2022, and recent first-hand reviews are scarce. Older reports list NT$20 for a small cup, NT$35 for a large and NT$80 for a bottle, good value for a night-market drink, though prices may have changed.

Hours differ between sources: a 2022 report says 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., while our data says 2:30 p.m. to midnight, so check before you go. Say small or large before ordering, and you can also buy a whole bottle to take home. Zhongxiao Night Market runs along a road with cars and scooters passing, so watch for traffic while queuing. Street parking is scarce; park at the Zhongxiao parking lot or the underground lot at Changchun Sports Center and walk over, or come by scooter.

It suits anyone strolling Zhongxiao Night Market who wants an old-fashioned cold drink to cut through the grease. On a first visit, order the sugarcane milk for the signature; if you dislike sweet drinks, choose sugarcane lemon. A cup right after rice cake or fried snacks is just right.