Walk into any souvenir shop along Boyu Road in Jincheng or around the Kinmen Winery and the air carries the mingled scent of roasted peanuts and malt sugar. Chen Jinfu Hao, Shengzu, Mingji, Tiangong, and other long-established shops line the street, tourists stuffing box after box of gongtang into their luggage. This is Kinmen's acknowledged top souvenir — a ritual offering with roots in the Ming dynasty that has survived four hundred years and remains the offshore island's strongest culinary identity.
What is Kinmen Gongtang Peanut Candy
Gongtang is a traditional confection made from roasted peanuts and boiled malt sugar. While still hot, the mixture is repeatedly beaten and folded, then cut into pieces. One theory traces the name "gong" to tributes (gong) offered to the imperial court during the Ming dynasty; another links it to the Hokkien word "gong" (to pound or beat). The texture sits between crispy and tender — it melts on the tongue while delivering a rich peanut flavor. The simultaneous presence of a salty version and a sweet version is the defining character of Kinmen gongtang.
Why does it represent Kinmen? Kinmen's peanut varieties and the island's red sandy-clay soil give the peanuts an exceptionally full, aromatic oil content; the dry sea wind and stable climate prevent the candy from becoming sticky. Chen Jinfu Hao traces its lineage back to Mingji, established in 1911 — four generations over a century; Shengzu is known for its large-scale open-view factory where visitors watch the candy being made. Over a hundred flavor variations exist today, including bamboo leaf, seaweed, pork knuckle, sesame, and spicy.
How to eat it the local way
Local knowledge
Verified facts (sponsored content filtered)
- Listed first on the official must-buy souvenir list by the Kinmen County Tourism Bureau (kinmen.travel).
- Chen Jinfu Hao traces its lineage to Mingji, founded in 1911, passed down through four generations over a century; Shengzu is Kinmen's largest open-view gongtang factory.
- Kinmen gongtang originated as a Ming-dynasty ritual offering, made by beating malt sugar with peanuts; the character "gong" carries both the meaning of tribute and the Hokkien word for pounding.
Visitor tips
- Kinmen Airport and Boyu Road in Jincheng form the main gongtang strip, with all major brands represented for easy comparison — over 30 varieties available.
- Gongtang is crispiest within 7 days of opening; once it absorbs moisture the texture hardens. Consider dividing into small boxes for gifting.
- The factory tour draws crowds on weekends with tasting queues forming; a weekday morning visit is recommended for filming the demonstration without the rush.
Data compiled from the Kinmen County Tourism Bureau, Kinmen Winery, and a large volume of public reviews, with sponsored content filtered out. Photos will be replaced with channel-exclusive footage after Dio's on-site shoot.