Puli Shaoxing wine lees pastries are a Nantou snack made from the leftover lees of Shaoxing rice wine at Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation's Puli Brewery, transforming what would otherwise be discarded fermentation byproduct into pastries, mochi, and ice cream with a subtle rice-wine fragrance. Puli Brewery traces its roots to a distillery founded in 1911 under Japanese rule, and successfully test-brewed and launched Shaoxing wine using the town's Ailan spring water in 1952, cementing Puli's reputation as the birthplace of Taiwanese Shaoxing wine; once baked into pastry dough, the alcohol evaporates and leaves only fragrance, with a restrained sweetness that pleasantly surprises travelers who don't usually enjoy heavily sweet treats.
Puli Brewery's predecessor, the Puli Distillery, opened in 1911 under Japanese rule and was brought under state monopoly control in 1922 after the colonial government implemented an alcohol monopoly system; in 1952 the brewery successfully test-brewed Shaoxing wine using Puli's Ailan spring water and launched it commercially, marking the start of Taiwanese Shaoxing wine production. Today the brewery also produces Shaoxing-wine-derived products such as popsicles (red bean, taro, peanut, and other flavors), Shaoxing rice cake, Shaoxing marinated dishes, and Shaoxing sausage.
What Are Shaoxing Wine Lees Pastries
Shaoxing wine lees are the solid residue left after glutinous rice mash fermentation, containing trace amounts of alcohol and rich in amino acids and ester aromatic compounds. Puli Brewery incorporates food-grade wine lees into the pastry dough; during baking the alcohol evaporates, leaving only the fragrance. The finished product has a crisp outer crust; the filling varies by style — jujube paste, red bean, or plain sugar — with overall low sweetness and a faint lingering rice wine note. The mochi version has a soft, sticky texture with a more pronounced wine aroma; the ice cream version is a summer seasonal offering.
The Puli Tourist Brewery has a souvenir hall serving as the main sales point for wine lees food products, with a tasting area inside. The brewery itself has a history of over one hundred years; the Shaoxing wine brewing technique traces its origins to craftsmen who immigrated from Zhejiang province, and Puli's soft water quality is considered a key factor in the brewing's success. Pastry shops in the surrounding area also produce their own versions using wine lees from the brewery, with slightly different recipes available for comparison.
How to Enjoy Like a Local
Local Knowledge
Verified Sources
- Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation Puli Tourist Brewery official website provides a full account of the development history of wine lees processed food products — the only official source of information.
- Nantou County Government tourism website's Puli Township specialty page lists brewery souvenirs as one of the township's representative souvenir items.
Visitor Tips
- The ice cream version is summer only and often sells out by afternoon; if this is your primary goal, plan to arrive in the morning and confirm it is available that day.
- The wine lees content in old-street pastry shop versions differs from the brewery's own version, resulting in slightly different flavors — comparing both is worthwhile, but don't confuse them as the same product.
- Wine lees pastries contain trace amounts of alcohol (almost entirely evaporated during baking); those with extreme alcohol sensitivity may wish to ask staff to confirm.
Sources: Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation Puli Tourist Brewery Official Website, Nantou County Government Tourism Website Puli Township Specialty Page. Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Puli Shaoxing wine lees pastries?
They are pastries made by Puli Brewery from the leftover lees of Shaoxing wine fermentation, including flaky pastries, mochi, and ice cream with a subtle rice-wine aroma.
When did Puli Brewery start producing Shaoxing wine?
Puli Brewery's predecessor opened in 1911, and the brewery first successfully test-brewed and launched Shaoxing wine in 1952 using local Ailan spring water.
Will eating wine lees pastries make you drunk?
No — most of the alcohol evaporates during baking, leaving only trace amounts along with the fragrance, so eating them normally won't cause intoxication.
Where can you buy Puli Shaoxing wine lees pastries?
The souvenir hall inside Puli Tourist Brewery, which also has a tasting area, is the main place to buy and sample them.
Sources
- 埔里酒廠 - 維基百科，自由的百科全書 — 埔里酒廠創立年份（1911）、1952年紹興酒試製成功上市、酒粕衍生產品資訊