Tongji Anping Douhua (Main Store)

Review

Tongji is the dessert shop most often named in Anping. Supertaste notes it has been around for more than fifty years and now has branches in Tainan and Kaohsiung, with the main store at 433 Anbei Road. Many people swing by for a bowl after Anping Fort or the old street, and the celebrity photos on the walls mark it as a fixture of the Anping itinerary.

The douhua uses non-GMO soybeans, and the white version is fine and smooth, served in syrup cooked from cane sugar that lets the soy flavour come through. Beyond the original there are bamboo-charcoal black douhua, fresh-milk douhua and soy-milk douhua. You can pick two toppings free, with red bean, mung bean, pearls and lemon the favourites; summer brings tapioca shaved ice and snow ice, and portions are generous for a dessert.

Diners often praise the clear soy aroma, sweetness that never cloys and low prices, calling a chilled bowl a perfect cool-down. Some prefer the charcoal black douhua as even silkier. Criticism mostly concerns crowds and noise at peak tourist times and a touristy feel. The lemon version is noticeably tart and not for everyone, and the fresh-milk douhua cannot be paired with lemon, so check before ordering.

The main store runs from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., late enough for an after-dinner treat. Seating is on long benches in a roomy space, and although weekend peaks bring a queue, service is fast and the line moves quickly. A bowl of rich soy-milk douhua costs NT$45, and you can buy a whole tub to take home. A second Anping branch, also on Anbei Road, makes a handy backup.

It suits anyone exploring Anping who wants an inexpensive dessert, families with children and travellers after traditional douhua. First-timers can try white douhua with red bean and pearls; switch to lemon for something brighter, choose soy-milk douhua for a richer bowl, and add ice on a hot day.