Jinri Honey Twist House

Review

Jinri Honey Twist House is tucked away at No. 12, Lane 7, Zhongxing Street in West District, near the CMP Block shopping area. It is a handmade snack shop of about half a century, with every step done by hand through a laborious process. Locals treat it as an insider's souvenir, and roundups of Taichung souvenirs from Supertaste, Yam Travel and Trip.com all include it.

The signature honey twists are coated in malt syrup and topped with sesame and almond slices; they are soft with a light crispness, carrying honey and sesame aromas, and come out fresh every afternoon. The almond crisps are harder and crunchier, with a clear almond fragrance and a faint honey note; one report suggests pairing them with strong Chinese tea. A 2023 report lists the honey twists at NT$100 a pack and the almond crisps at NT$120 a pack. Neither is very sweet, and the almond crisps also come in individually wrapped packs suited to gifts.

Media generally describe them as sweet but not cloying, easy for people who rarely eat sweets, and easy to finish a whole bag without noticing. Descriptions of the texture vary slightly, some calling it soft and others crisp, so choose to your taste. The most common complaints are that the shop is hard to find down the lane and often sells out when demand is high; reports suggest coming back early the next day if it is gone.

Hours vary by source: most say Monday to Saturday 10:00–21:00 and Sunday 11:00–17:00, while others say it closes on Sundays or shuts at 8:00 p.m., so check before going (tel. 04-23052099). You can also order through the official website.

It suits anyone wanting traditional Taichung snacks to share with colleagues, friends and family. Go after the afternoon batch comes out, and buy one pack each of honey twists and almond crisps to compare soft and crunchy.