Taiwan Food Atlas

Huwei Sugar Factory Popsicles

Taiwan Sugar's direct-run red bean and taro popsicles inside a century-old sugar factory — old-school flavors best enjoyed beside the railway
📍 Yunlin · Huwei🏆 Specialty-tier · Desserts🍦 Century-old sugar factory, Taiwan Sugar direct-run

Huwei Sugar Factory Popsicles are a traditional stick-format frozen treat made and sold directly by Taiwan Sugar Corporation inside the Huwei Sugar Factory complex, a mill established in 1906 by Dai Nippon Sugar Manufacturing Company that once had Taiwan's highest crushing capacity after a 1924 expansion and remains one of the few factories that still runs a sugar railway. Step into the complex and century-old red brick buildings and narrow-gauge tracks lie quietly in the heat, while a queue always forms at the ice cream counter for red bean and taro popsicles — the old-fashioned taste Yunlin people have grown up with.

Huwei Sugar Factory was established in 1906 by Dai Nippon Sugar Manufacturing Company, with its first mill starting operations in 1909; after expansion in 1924, total crushing capacity reached 4,900 metric tons a day, once the highest-capacity sugar mill in Taiwan. Its ice cream counter is located at No. 1, Minzhu 3rd Road, Huwei Township, with popsicles priced around NT$18–23 each.

What are Huwei Sugar Factory Popsicles

Huwei Sugar Factory popsicles are traditional stick-format frozen treats made and sold directly by Taiwan Sugar Corporation within the Huwei Sugar Factory complex. The standard lineup includes red bean, peanut, taro, pineapple, sour plum, chocolate, milk, and other flavors, all sweetened with unrefined sugar or Taiwan Sugar's own product. The method is straightforward: sugar water plus ingredients, frozen in molds, then a wooden stick inserted. No elaborate cream swirls or fillings — just pure, simple popsicles with a clean sweetness and honest ingredients. Sold at pocket-money prices, they represent the Taiwan Sugar system's classic old-school frozen treat.

The significance of Huwei Sugar Factory lies in its identity as a working century-old sugar factory. Located at No. 1, Minzhu 3rd Road, Huwei Township, the factory was established during the Japanese colonial period by Dai Nippon Sugar Manufacturing Company and was once the largest sugar factory in East Asia. It remains one of the few factories in Taiwan that still has sugar railways and some active sugar-making functions. Taiwan Sugar operates a direct ice cream counter within the complex; the signature red bean and taro popsicles are a must-try for visitors from Yunlin and Chiayi. The point isn't how remarkable any single popsicle is — it's the experience of eating ice cream inside a century-old sugar factory. That's the category-level draw.

How to enjoy Huwei Sugar Factory Popsicles the authentic way

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Signature red bean + taroOn your first visit, order the classic red bean and taro — generous fillings, clean sweetness, the least likely choices to disappoint from the Taiwan Sugar popsicle lineup.
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Walk over to the sugar railway firstDon't rush off after buying — walk over to the sugar railway and narrow-gauge station to eat there. The century-old railway plus popsicle is the complete experience.
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Late afternoon in summer is the sweet spotNoon in Huwei is intensely sunny; arrive after 4 p.m. when the temperature drops, the setting sun hits the red brick buildings at an angle, and conditions are just right for both photos and popsicles.
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Pick up factory souvenirs while you're thereNext to the ice cream counter there's a Taiwan Sugar merchandise stand with cane sugar, molasses, healthy sugar tablets, and molasses biscuits — pick up retro souvenirs all in one stop.

Local knowledge

Objective endorsements (sponsored content filtered out)

  • Huwei Sugar Factory is at No. 1, Minzhu 3rd Road, Huwei Township; Taiwan Sugar's official website confirms the ice cream counter location and the signature red bean/taro popsicle items
  • Huwei Sugar Factory was the largest sugar factory in East Asia during the Japanese colonial period and is one of the few factories in Taiwan that still has sugar railways and partial sugar-making functions
  • Popsicles are run directly by Taiwan Sugar Corporation — the brand belongs to the factory's cultural and creative park as a whole, not to a single shop

Visitor tips

  • Weekend afternoons draw crowds and queues; a parking lot is available nearby but spaces are limited — avoid Sunday midday
  • Popsicles sell out when they're gone; popular flavors (taro, red bean) sometimes run out in the afternoon, so arriving earlier is better
  • Combine with Huwei Combined Hall (Eslite Bookstore), Yunlin Glove Puppet Museum, and Huwei Iron Bridge for a Huwei half-day trip

Data compiled from the Yunlin County Government Department of Culture and Tourism, township-level farmers' associations, and large volumes of public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos to be replaced with channel-exclusive material after Dio's on-site shoot.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Huwei Sugar Factory established?

Huwei Sugar Factory was established in 1906 by Dai Nippon Sugar Manufacturing Company, with its first mill beginning operations in 1909.

How large was Huwei Sugar Factory's production capacity historically?

After expanding its first mill's equipment in 1924, total crushing capacity reached 4,900 metric tons a day, making it Taiwan's highest-capacity sugar mill at the time.

Where is the ice cream counter and how much do popsicles cost?

The ice cream counter is at No. 1, Minzhu 3rd Road, Huwei Township, with popsicles priced around NT$18 to 23 each.

Is Huwei Sugar Factory still operating today?

Yes, it's one of the few century-old sugar factories in Taiwan that still retains its sugar railway transport function.

Sources