Yilan Taro Paste is a dessert made fresh daily from local taro by long-established shops in Toucheng and Jiaoxi, prized for its soft, richly fragrant texture and made without frozen pre-mixed product. Taro paste balls, taro paste rolls, and taro paste puffs each have their devotees, making this the most substantive dessert choice on Yilan's old-street souvenir strips.
Long-established taro paste shops in the Toucheng and Jiaoxi area include Yishunxuan in Jiaoxi, founded more than 50 years ago and known for its "pure taro cream roll" and other taro paste souvenirs featuring visible taro chunks, and A-Zong Taro Ice in Toucheng, with nearly 60 years of history, located beside Toucheng Train Station on Provincial Highway 2, which uses no added flavoring, coloring, or dairy in its traditional-style taro ice (bua-put). No official Yilan County government report on taro production statistics for the Toucheng-Jiaoxi area could be located; this section is based on shop histories and media coverage.
What is Yilan Taro Paste
Yilan taro paste is made from locally grown taro (a variety cultivated in Toucheng and Jiaoxi) that is steamed and then mashed into a smooth paste, mixed with lard (traditional version) or vegetable oil and sugar. High-quality taro paste is pale purple with a hint of grey, silky-smooth with no lumps, and melts on the tongue with the characteristic powdery fragrance of good taro. It is shaped in different ways: taro paste balls (round, filled with red bean paste or black soybean paste), taro paste rolls (wrapped in a thin crepe), and taro paste puffs (encased in pastry and baked) — distinct textures, same base.
The Yilan County Agriculture Department's taro production area report and the Toucheng Township Farmers' Association's taro promotional materials both note that Toucheng and Jiaoxi are important taro-growing areas in Yilan, where soil and climate conditions produce a fluffier, starchier taro than flatland varieties. The County Government's tourism website lists Yilan taro paste as a local specialty; there are more than a dozen dedicated or multi-product shops selling taro paste on Toucheng Old Street and Jiaoxi Old Street, each with different recipes and seasoning ratios, creating a competitive ecosystem.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Verified sources
- The Yilan County Agriculture Department's taro production area report confirms Toucheng and Jiaoxi as the main taro-growing areas in Yilan, with documented variety characteristics.
- The Toucheng Township Farmers' Association has taro promotional materials covering the history and variety characteristics of locally grown taro.
- The County Government tourism website lists Yilan taro paste as a local agricultural specialty, with Toucheng Old Street as the primary promotional venue.
Visitor tips
- Some products marketed as 'Yilan taro paste' in tourist areas use taro sourced from other counties or frozen taro paste mix. Confirm the origin before purchasing.
- Taro paste shops are dense on both Toucheng Old Street and Jiaoxi Old Street; buying from one shop on each street and comparing the aroma and smoothness is recommended.
- Taro paste has a fairly high fat content (lard in the traditional version). Those watching fat intake can look for shops that use vegetable oil instead.
Sources: Yilan County Agriculture Department taro production area report; Toucheng Township Farmers' Association promotional materials; County Government tourism website. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which shops are known for Yilan taro paste?
Yishunxuan in Jiaoxi (50-plus years, known for taro cream rolls) and A-Zong Taro Ice in Toucheng (nearly 60 years, known for traditional taro ice) are the two most frequently cited shops.
Is there an official production certification for Yilan taro paste?
No official Yilan County government report on taro production statistics for the area could be located; the dessert's reputation rests on long-running shop histories and media coverage.
What is the difference between taro paste balls, rolls, and puffs?
All three share the same taro paste base but differ in shape: balls are filled and rolled round, rolls are wrapped in a thin crepe, and puffs are encased in baked pastry.
Sources
- 奕順軒鮮芋奶凍捲 — 礁溪奕順軒店史與產品介紹
- 阿宗芋冰城‧宜蘭美食好吃的古早味芋冰 — 頭城阿宗芋冰城官網，店史與製法