Penghu Salty Biscuit is a round savory pastry made by Shengxing Bakery in Magong since 1864, reported as Taiwan's longest-operating confectionery. Golden and lightly crisp outside, soft and fragrant with scallion-lard aroma inside, it is savory with a whisper of sweetness — for a century a staple gift for Penghu weddings and festivals.
Shengxing Bakery on Ren'ai Road in Magong was founded in 1864 (the 3rd year of the Qing Tongzhi reign) and has been reported by Business Weekly as Taiwan's longest-operating confectionery, now run by its fifth generation and kept out of convenience-store distribution. Quanli Biscuit (originally Xingji Bakery), founded in 1896, won a gold medal at the Republic of China's first National Food Industry Exhibition; together the two shops are considered Penghu's defining salty-biscuit institutions.
What is Penghu Salty Biscuit
Penghu Salty Biscuit is a small round pastry about 6–8 cm in diameter and 2 cm thick, made from flour, lard, sugar, salt, fried scallion, and pepper. The skin is golden and lightly crisp; the interior is soft and fragrant with scallion-lard aroma. The flavor is savory-sweet — salty with a hint of sweetness and a gentle pepper spice. Unlike the sweet pastry tradition of Taiwan's main island, Penghu Salty Biscuits occupy a savory-sweet middle ground: relatively dry and ideal for pairing with tea, with a long shelf life. In earlier times, they were dry rations carried aboard by sailors and fishermen heading out to sea.
Shengxing Bakery on Ren'ai Road in Magong was founded in the 3rd year of the Qing Tongzhi reign (1864), and has been reported by Business Weekly as the longest-operating confectionery in Taiwan. It is now run by the fifth generation of the family, who insist on keeping the product out of convenience stores and e-commerce, selling only handmade biscuits at the original location. Another shop, Quanli Biscuit, was founded in 1896 (early Japanese colonial era) and has won baking gold medals; it stands alongside Shengxing as one of Penghu's two salty biscuit institutions. Salty biscuits, brown sugar cake, and peanut brittle are Penghu's Three Major Souvenirs and flagship products promoted by the county tourism bureau.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Objective notes (sponsor-free)
- Shengxing Bakery was founded in 1864; Business Weekly has reported it as Taiwan's longest-operating confectionery, and it insists on staying out of convenience stores.
- Quanli Biscuit was founded in 1896 (early Japanese colonial era), has won baking gold medals, and stands alongside Shengxing as one of Penghu's two salty biscuit institutions.
- Together with brown sugar cake and peanut brittle, salty biscuits are Penghu's Three Major Souvenirs and a flagship product promoted by the county tourism bureau.
Visitor tips
- Shengxing's original location is on Ren'ai Road in Magong; the shop front is weathered and easy to miss — look carefully for the house number.
- Salty biscuits keep for about 2–3 weeks at room temperature — longer than brown sugar cake — so it's fine to buy them on your first day.
- Shengxing insists on handmade production with limited output; during peak season, the biscuits often sell out in the afternoon — go in the morning.
Information compiled from the Penghu County Government Tourism Bureau, township farmers' and fishermen's associations, and large volumes of public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with the channel's exclusive footage after Dio's on-site shoot.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shengxing Bakery founded?
In 1864, reported by Business Weekly as Taiwan's longest-operating confectionery.
Is there another historic salty-biscuit shop?
Quanli Biscuit, founded in 1896, won a national food industry gold medal and is considered Shengxing's counterpart.
How does it differ from main-island sweet pastries?
Penghu salty biscuits are savory with a hint of sweetness and scallion-lard aroma, unlike the elaborate sweetness of main-island mung bean pastries.
Sources
- 全台歷史最久糕餅店澎湖盛興製餅：獨家配方百年未改、維持手工傳統婉拒統一超商 — 商業周刊報導盛興1864年創立、全台歷史最久糕餅店
- 金牌獎 澎湖名產 百年老店【泉利糕點】鹹餅 — 泉利1896年創立與烘焙金牌獎資訊