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Central Dist. · Desserts & shaved ice
Lao Hsueh Hua Chai
Long-standingGift boxLocal favorite
VerdictFengyuan's century-old mung bean pastry, with a crust that flakes like snow
A century-old Fengyuan bakery named by a calligrapher in 1900; its signature snowflake pastry has a puffy white crust and soft bite, and the savory cake is a regulars' repeat buy.
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Review
Lao Hsueh Hua Chai is a century-old bakery in Fengyuan. Founder Lu Shui opened Hsueh Hua Chai around 1900, and reports describe it as Taiwan's first shop dedicated to Chinese-style mooncakes during the Japanese colonial era; its name was inscribed by the calligrapher Liu Hsiao-tsun. In 1959 Lu Shui handed Hsueh Hua Chai to his eldest and second sons and, with his third, fifth (Lu Sung-chi) and sixth sons, opened a separate shop called Lao Hsueh Hua Chai, which the third generation took over in 2000. Lu Shui is also known as the father of the mung bean pastry.
The signature snowflake pastry is a mung bean pastry. The crust is baked on one side, with distinct layers so thin that they flake off at the first bite like snowflakes. The filling is fine hulled mung bean paste plus a meat paste seasoned with shallots fried in lard and sesame. Second-generation Lu Sung-chi replaced the small cubes of pork fat used in the early days with a smooth meat paste and cut the sugar, giving a sweet-savory, lighter result that won first prize at a 1973 pastry exhibition. Its other signature is the savory egg cake, steamed from duck eggs and flour with braised minced pork in the middle.
The media generally praise its rich shallot aroma and delicate crust, and a shopping ranking places the snowflake mooncake near the top of mung bean pastries for its generous size and layered savory flavor. Note that it contains lard and meat, so it is not vegetarian, and it keeps only about 5 days at room temperature; some coverage is government-sponsored content and may read as promotional. Sources disagree on price: one says about NT$360 for six, while a shopping site lists a reference price of NT$750 for six, so check before you go.
Opening hours also vary: some sources say it opens at 8:30am, others at 10am, closing around 9pm, so check ahead. Around Mid-Autumn Festival it usually concentrates on mooncakes and other items may be paused. The shop keeps an old-fashioned interior and is tucked in a lane off Zhongzheng Road in Fengyuan. Sources do not mention parking or payment methods.
It suits anyone who wants a box of traditional mung bean pastries and enjoys sweet-savory flavors. Buy the snowflake pastry on your first visit and eat it soon after; add a savory egg cake if you want to try one more thing. Before Mid-Autumn, it is best to phone ahead.
Why go
- The snowflake pastry's thin crust flakes off at every bite
- Mung bean paste with shallot meat filling, sweet-savory and not heavy
- The savory egg cake with braised pork is another signature
- Keeps only about 5 days at room temperature, so eat it soon
- Around Mid-Autumn it mostly sells only mooncakes
- Prices and hours vary between sources, so check first
What people say
Liked
- Distinct crust layers with a light, snowflake-like texture
- A rich shallot meat filling with a pleasing sweet-savory balance
- A full century of history gives the gift a story to tell
Complaints
- Contains lard and meat, so vegetarians cannot eat it
- Short shelf life, only a few days at room temperature
- Price information varies widely, making it hard to budget ahead
Summarized from the common views of bloggers, media and diners; not direct quotes.
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Photo credits: Koala0090 (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons)
Location
台中市豐原區中正路212巷1號Directions ↗
Sources
This page is compiled from the articles below and rewritten in our own words. Hours and prices change, so check before you go.
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