Hualien Mochi is a collective term for the soft, glutinous mochi sweets long produced by Hualien's dessert brands, led by veteran names like Zengi and Amei. Walking into the souvenir street beside Hualien Train Station, the signs of Zengi, Amei, Huiluan, and Yibisu line up one after another, their glass cases holding white, taro-purple, and matcha-green mochi balls printed with Hualien place-name motifs. Nine out of ten shopping bags in tourists' hands contain mochi — it has become nearly synonymous with Hualien souvenirs.
Hualien mochi traces back to founder Zeng Shui-gang, who began peddling red-bean mochi by bicycle around Hualien in 1936. His daughter Zeng Hui-juan and her husband Dong Chun-long revived the street-vending business in the early 1990s, opened a formal storefront in 1994, and registered the "Zengi" trademark the following year — the moment the brand era of Hualien mochi truly began.
What is Hualien Mochi
Hualien Mochi is a general term for the soft, glutinous mochi sweets produced by various Hualien brands. The mainstream recipe forms a dough from glutinous rice flour and starch, fills it with red bean, peanut, sesame, taro, or matcha, shapes it to roughly the size of a ping-pong ball, and coats the outside with a thin layer of rice flour to prevent sticking. Traditional flavors lean sweet and densely chewy; recent years have also brought mochi ice cream, mochi with douhua (tofu pudding), and reduced-sugar versions as spinoffs. The Amis traditional "durun" uses pounded millet for a stickier, more rustic texture, typically served with peanut powder or molasses — belonging to the indigenous food tradition.
Why did Hualien become synonymous with mochi? Zengi Mochi was founded in the 1960s, starting out peddling from a bicycle through the streets, making it one of the founding fathers of Hualien souvenirs; Amei Mochi focuses on a tourist-accessible reinterpretation of the Amis millet durun; Huiluanwan, Yibisu, and Yibisu Bakery each have their own following. Hualien Tourism Information Network lists mochi as the representative Hualien souvenir, and with multiple brands coexisting and all clustered near Hualien Train Station for convenient tourist access, mochi has locked in the fixed impression of "Hualien souvenir = mochi."
How to pick the authentic product
Local know-how
Verified endorsements (ad-free)
- Zengi Mochi was founded in the 1960s, started by bicycle street-vending, and is the leading name in Hualien souvenirs.
- Amei Mochi foregrounds the Amis millet "durun" tradition, combining indigenous culture with modern souvenir packaging.
- Hualien Tourism Information Network explicitly lists mochi as Hualien's representative souvenir, with multiple brands including Huiluanwan and Yibisu coexisting.
Practical tips
- Mochi has a short shelf life (1–3 days at room temperature, about 7 days refrigerated) — eat it as soon as possible after getting home.
- The souvenir street across from Hualien Train Station carries a full range of brands; 30 minutes before your train is enough time to shop.
- Airports and high-speed rail stations may not carry Hualien mochi. If you want it as a souvenir, buy it in Hualien City before you leave.
Data compiled from Hualien County Government Tourism Department, local township farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hualien mochi's Zengi brand actually founded?
Founder Zeng Shui-gang was already selling mochi by bicycle in Hualien in 1936, but the formal Zengi storefront and trademark date to 1994 and 1995, when his daughter's generation rebuilt it as a modern brand.
How is the Amis traditional "durun" different from regular mochi?
Durun is pounded from millet rather than glutinous rice, giving it a stickier, more rustic flavor, typically served with peanut powder or molasses.
How long does Hualien mochi keep?
It keeps for only about 1-2 days at room temperature, so refrigerating it or using a cooler bag right after purchase in summer is recommended.
Sources
- 曾記麻糬創始店（原址）｜國家文化記憶庫 — 創始人曾水港1936年起家、腳踏車叫賣
- 有洋葱！知名「曾記麻糬」創業艱辛 董椿霳獲「跨世代影響力獎」-自由時報 — 1990年代初重新創業沿革