Walking along Longtan's Dachang Road, you often see a marble slab set up outside a shop, a craftsman hammering the still-warm peanut candy into pieces, cutting it into blocks, and packing it into boxes. The air carries the sweetness of malt, roasted peanuts, and a hint of milk — a souvenir-shop scene that has continued in Longtan's Hakka village for over half a century.
What is Longtan Peanut Candy
Longtan Peanut Candy is a handmade Hakka soft candy: whole roasted peanuts coated in malt syrup, then hammered and shaped. Unlike the hard, crisp peanut candies found around Beigang and Yunlin, the Longtan style leans toward a softer confection — somewhere between nougat and peanut brittle. Each bite is richly peanut-flavored without being sticky; the malt sweetness is present but not cloying. Common flavors include original, nori, sesame, and coffee. Block-cut gift boxes are one of the most representative souvenirs from the Taoyuan Hakka townships.
Why Longtan? Hakka candy-making culture is at the core. Longtan is one of the main Hakka population centers in Taoyuan. From the 1960s and 1970s onward, the area became known for making peanut candy and Hakka rice snacks. The Hakka tradition of "seasonal foods, rice as the staple" made sweet confections an important ceremonial food. The Taoyuan City tourism website lists Long Qing Peanut Candy and other long-established brands; the cluster of shops along Dachang Road has formed a peanut candy street. The category is the draw; preferences for softness and flavor vary by brand.
How to Eat It the Local Way
Local Knowledge
Verified Credentials (ads filtered)
- The Taoyuan City Government tourism website lists Long Qing Peanut Candy and other Longtan peanut candy brands.
- Since the 1960s and 1970s, Longtan's Hakka village has been known for peanut candy-making, forming part of the Hakka rice-and-sweet-snack food culture.
- Long Qing, Man Ting Xiang, and other long-established shops stand side by side along Dachang Road — the category cluster is the main point of observation.
Practical Tips
- Peanut candy contains oils; once opened, consume it soon. At room temperature in summer it tends to sweat and lose flavor.
- The craftsmen's hammering and cutting process usually takes place during morning production hours — arrive early if you want to watch.
- Texture varies by brand. Sample before you decide how many boxes to buy — saves regret later.
Information compiled from Michelin Guide, Taoyuan City Government Tourism Bureau, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with channel-exclusive material after Dio's on-site shoot.