Kinmen Gongtang Peanut Candy is a traditional confection made by pounding roasted peanuts together with malt sugar, its century-old lineage traced to “Mingji,” founded by Chen Shiming in 1911 in Tongshan, Fujian, before relocating to Kinmen and reopening in Jincheng. Walk into any gongtang shop on Boyu Road in Jincheng and the air carries the mingled scent of roasted peanuts and malt sugar, tourists stuffing box after box into their luggage — the offshore island's strongest culinary memory.
The century-old gongtang shop “Mingji” was founded in 1911 in Tongshan, Fujian by Chen Shiming, who later relocated to Kinmen amid wartime upheaval and re-established the business in Nanmen Lane, Jincheng; his fourth son, Chen Jinfu, became the third-generation successor and founded “Chen Jinfu Hao” to carry the family brand forward, representing Kinmen at the First National Products Exhibition in 1959, where the handmade gongtang won the “Best Quality Product Award.” Shengzu Food traces back to a gongtang shop opened in Shanwai in 1990, which became an integrated factory-and-storefront open-view tourist factory in 1993 — one of the earliest of its kind in Kinmen — before formally being renamed Shengzu Food Co., Ltd. in 1999.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the “gong” in gongtang mean?
One theory traces it to Ming-dynasty tribute offerings to the imperial court; another links it to the Hokkien word for “pounding” — both explanations coexist.
Who founded the earliest gongtang shop in Kinmen?
“Mingji” was founded by Chen Shiming in 1911 in Tongshan, Fujian, and later reopened in Jincheng, Kinmen after he relocated; his fourth son Chen Jinfu became the third-generation successor and founded “Chen Jinfu Hao.”
What award did Mingji gongtang win?
In 1959, Mingji represented Kinmen at the First National Products Exhibition, where its handmade gongtang won the “Best Quality Product Award.”
When was Shengzu Food's tourist factory established?
Shengzu traces back to a gongtang shop opened in Shanwai in 1990, and became a combined factory-and-storefront open-view tourist factory in 1993 — one of Kinmen's earliest.
Sources
- 【金門伴手禮】陳金福號貢糖 | 百年老字號.金門貢糖達人 — 名記1911年創立、陳世命、陳金福第三代傳人、1959年獲獎細節
- 聖祖食品 - 公司沿革 — 聖祖食品1990年前身、1993年觀光工廠、1999年更名官方沿革