Lin Yong Tai Xing Preserved Fruits (Anping Old Street)

Review

Lin Yong Tai Xing, on Yanping Street in Anping Old Street, is the preserved-fruit name people mention most in Anping. A yam.com gift guide says it is more than 130 years old, now in its fourth generation, and has been named an outstanding century-old business by the Tainan city government. There is another branch on Anping Road near the canal, but the old-street shop is the one visitors know best.

The shop sticks to traditional pickling and focuses on natural, nostalgic flavours. Regular items include huayingzi plums, dried sweet plums, pitted plums, black plums, liquorice mango, salted plums, star fruit and eight-treasure plums. A columnist for FoodNext notes that packaging is still the classic paper box while production uses modern methods with no artificial colouring, and singles out the liquorice-scented green olives as a nostalgic favourite.

Shoppers widely recommend the plums and the dried tomato and guava, saying the sweet-sour balance is spot on and they make a safe gift for older relatives; some find newer flavours such as mango or kiwi unremarkable. Criticism includes a cramped shop that is hard to browse when busy, prices that have risen in recent years with smaller portions, and past complaints about the owner's brusque manner, though recent opinions vary.

Hours are roughly 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; sources give different days off, most often Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so check before you go. If a basket looks empty, the item may not be sold out, so ask staff to restock. Published unit prices are scarce, so go by the tags in store. Parking on the old street is awkward, and drivers may prefer the canal-side branch.

It suits anyone hunting for old-style Tainan gifts or who loves sweet-sour snacks. First-timers can start with huayingzi plums, black plums or salted plums, then add a bag of dried tomato or guava. Traditional paper boxes make the nicest gifts, and if you dislike strong sourness, ask staff for a milder pick.