Skippy Peanut, Brown Sugar, & Salted Egg Tang Yuan Flavours Available In Taiwan
Winter Solstice, or Dong Zhi (冬至), is just around the corner, and chances are, your parents have already chope you for a reunion dinner this weekend.
But no Winter Solstice reunion dinner is complete without glutinous rice balls, also known as tang yuan (汤圆).
While most of us may be familiar with traditional tang yuan flavours like peanut and sesame, ah balling manufacturers in Taiwan recently launched wacky tang yuan flavours.
They come in the most intriguing ingredients like brown sugar, tapioca pearls, and strawberry that make us want to fly our fams over for reunion dinner.
1. Skippy peanut butter
Peanut-flavoured tang yuans are probably the most common variety out there. Yet Skippy, the popular peanut butter spread brand, has revolutionised this seemingly age-old dish by releasing their own version of the dessert.
As expected, Skippy’s tang yuans are peanut-flavoured and is filled with a special mix of both its smooth and crunchy spread, so fans from both camps will be pleased.
From the looks of it, the fillings appear to be extra runny as compared to conventional tang yuans made using grated peanuts.
Where to get: FamilyMart outlets
Price: S$3.10 (NTD 69) for a packet of 10
Unique factor: 7/10
2. Salted egg
Salted egg fans need not wait till next year’s Mid-Autumn Festival to get your fix.
Gui Guan, a food company in Taiwan, recently launched salted egg tang yuan that will instantly satisfy your cravings.
Basically, think liu sha bao but with a chewier texture.
Where to get: 7-Eleven outlets
Price: S$2.65 (NTD 59) for a packet of 10
Unique factor: 7/10
3. Strawberry condensed milk
If savoury tang yuans are too jelak for your liking, FamilyMart has also recently released strawberry condensed milk ah ballings for those who prefer something fruity.
If you’re someone who likes taking food porn pictures for the ‘gram, these pink strawberry condensed milk tang yuans will make your reunion dinner photo stand out on your followers’ feed.
Where to get: Familymart outlets
Price: S$2.47 (NTD 55) for a packet of 10
Unique factor: 6/10
4. Brown sugar
From ice cream to egg tarts to even crabs, brown sugar has seemingly ‘invaded’ everything we consider as food. Now, it’s Mr tang yuan‘s turn.
Truedan, a Taiwanese bubble tea brand, recently launched brown sugar ah ballings filled with sweet caramelised syrup.
Best of all, they are versatile as heck and go well with milk, bubble tea, or even dry with pearls and grated peanuts on the side.
Where to get: Familymart outlets
Price: S$2.65 (NTD 59) for a packet of 10
Unique factor: 8/10
5. Brown sugar tang yuan with tapioca pearl filling
If you’re a bubble tea fan who’s scrolling through the article cussing about the striking absence of tapioca pearls, you’re in for a treat.
As if brown sugar tang yuans are not amazing enough, our friends from Taiwan also has ah ballings with tapioca pearl fillings.
According to online reviews, the brown ‘skin’ of these glutinous rice balls has a subtle brown sugar flavour.
Unlike the pearl-less brown sugar tang yuan, these ah ballings have condensed milk-based fillings coupled with chewy tapioca pearls.
Where to get:Â
Price: S$3.55 (NTD 79) for a packet of 10
Unique factor: Over 9,000
6. Bonus: BBT tang yuan in Singapore
If you’re mourning the fact that these are only available in Taiwan, there appears to be a glimmer of hope. Local supermarket Sheng Siong has caught on to the trend of levelling up their glutinous rice balls too.
They have 3 classic flavours that are proven to be all-time favourites of Singaporeans who have a sweet tooth — Pearl Milk Tea, Gula Melaka, and Purple Potato Yam.
Image courtesy of MS News reader
They will be available till 31 Dec, perfect if you can only hold your family reunions a week after the actual date of Winter Solstice.
As for the rest of the wacky tang yuan that are exclusive to Taiwan, now’s the time to ask your friends currently holidaying in Taiwan for a favour.
If you’ve anyone who’s there at the moment, it’s time to put them through the ‘friendship trial’.
MS News wishes everyone Happy Winter Solstice.
Featured image adapted from Beauty321, Instagram, Instagram.
