Pineapple cake is a classic Taiwanese pastry made of a buttery flaky crust wrapped around a pineapple filling and baked; Taichung is one of Taiwan's cities with the highest density of pineapple cake brands, clustered along Ziyou Road. The representative brand, Chen Yun Bao Chuan, traces back to 1908, when founder Chen Yun started a pastry business in Fengyuan; after a second generation trained in Japan and a third generation developed the shop's signature 'small mooncake,' the fourth generation combined the family name with 'Bao Chuan' in 2013 to formally establish the 'Chen Yun Bao Chuan' brand and open its Ziyou Road storefront — now recognized by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs as a distinguished century-old shop.
According to Taichung's official tourism website, Chen Yun Bao Chuan's lineage traces to 1908, when first-generation founder Chen Yun sold pastries in Fengyuan's Sanjiao Street; the second generation, Chen Chin-chuan, founded Bao Chuan Confectionery in Japan; the third generation, Chen Tseng-hsiung, opened Taiwan Bao Chuan Main Store on Fengyuan's Chungcheng Road in 1975 and developed the shop's signature 'small mooncake.' It wasn't until 2013 that the fourth generation, Chen Kun-hung, combined founder Chen Yun's name with 'Bao Chuan' to formally establish the 'Chen Yun Bao Chuan' brand and open its Ziyou Road storefront in Taichung's Central District — now recognized by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs as a distinguished century-old shop.
What is Pineapple Cake
Pineapple cake is a classic Taiwanese pastry made of a flaky crust of butter, flour, egg yolk, and sugar encasing a pineapple filling, baked and cut into square or brick shapes, each individually wrapped for gifting. The filling comes in two styles: one blends in winter melon paste for a smoother texture and stable sweetness; the other uses pure native pineapple (tu fengli), which is noticeably tart with a coarser fiber texture and is called "native pineapple cake." The crust is valued for its buttery fragrance and layering — a good pineapple cake should be flaky then crumbly on the palate, not sticky, and pairs perfectly with a sip of tea.
Taichung is one of the cities with the highest density of pineapple cake brands in Taiwan. Ziyou Road and Shifu Road are home to multiple century-old and contemporary brands. According to the Taichung City Government Tourism Bureau, Chen Yun Bao Chuan was founded in 1908 and has been passed down through five generations, making it the representative established pastry shop of central Taiwan. Other well-known brands including Rit Sun and Li Chi each have their own following, collectively making Taichung pineapple cake synonymous with Taiwan's souvenir culture. This guide does not favor any single shop, using a "Ziyou Road pastry street brand tour" as its anchor and encouraging readers to treat the whole street as a pineapple cake gallery.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Verified facts (sponsor-free)
- According to the Taichung City Government Tourism Bureau, Chen Yun Bao Chuan was founded in 1908 and has been passed down through five generations — the representative long-established pastry maker of central Taiwan.
- Taichung is one of the cities with the highest density of pineapple cake brands in Taiwan; the Ziyou Road and Shifu Road area forms the brand cluster.
- Pineapple cake is a category found across Taiwan. This guide uses the "Taichung Ziyou Road brand tour" as its anchor and does not designate any single brand as the best.
Visit tips
- Brand shops on sections 1 and 2 of Ziyou Road are dense — a single street lets you compare multiple flavors in one go. Afternoon tea time is a good window.
- Peak gift seasons (Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Mother's Day) bring visible queues. For large orders, book in advance or avoid the final week before the holiday.
- Combine with Sun Cake Old Street, Miyahara, and Second Market for a Taichung old-city dessert souvenir route.
Data compiled from the Michelin Guide, Taichung City Government Tourism Bureau, and a large volume of public reviews. Sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with Dio's own channel footage after on-site shooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pineapple cake?
Pineapple cake is a classic Taiwanese pastry of buttery flaky crust wrapped around a pineapple filling, made either with winter melon paste or pure native pineapple.
When did the "Chen Yun Bao Chuan" brand name officially begin?
The name was only formally adopted in 2013, when the fourth generation combined founder Chen Yun's name with "Bao Chuan."
How far back does Chen Yun Bao Chuan's history go?
Its lineage traces back to 1908, when first-generation founder Chen Yun sold pastries in Fengyuan; the business has since passed through multiple generations.
Sources
- 陳允寶泉-自由總店－臺中觀光旅遊網 — 官方旅遊網，五代傳承歷史、2013年正式定名
- 台中百年糕餅店陳允寶泉 5代製餅傳奇 — ETtoday報導，各代傳承細節