Hachibei Store - The Original Hualien Sweet Potato Shop Introduction
Centennial Store - Hebisu Bakery, Originator of Hualien Sweet Potato. Hebisu Bakery was established in 1899 (the 32nd year of the Meiji era / 12 years before the founding of the Republic of China) and has over a hundred years of history. "Hebisu" refers to one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan, the God of Wealth, and the name was chosen during the Japanese occupation for its auspicious meaning and the idea of abundant financial resources. The signature product, "Hualien Sweet Potato," took three years of meticulous research and development to be launched. The finished product is made entirely of filling without any outer skin, which is why it was originally referred to as "Filling Yam." This product won multiple awards from the Emperor of Japan during the Taisho and Showa eras, becoming a tribute to the Emperor at that time. The store retains banners and medals as a historical testament to this honor. The traditional handmade production process allows the original flavors of Hualien Sweet Potato, Hualien Yam, Millet Cake (Millet Mochi), and Shachima to be continuously passed down. With careful research and improvement, new Hualien specialties have also been created, such as Mochi Cakes, Yam Heart Sweet Potato Cakes, Fresh Milk Cakes, Hebi Star Cakes, Brown Sugar Q Sweet Potato, and Brown Sugar Q Yam... among others, showcasing the new charm of the century-old Hebisu in this new era.
