Lao You Hao Taro Balls Introduction
Old Friend Taro Ball was established in 1990. The first-generation owners, Lin Rong-ji and Hsia A-mei, hoped that the store would become a good friend to everyone, hence the name "Old Friend." Hsia A-mei, known for her skills in making snacks, received rave reviews from the neighbors in Jiu Fen for her cookies, buns, cakes, taro balls, radish cakes, and草仔粿 (rice cakes). Encouraged by the neighbors and the rise of the Jiu Fen business district, they closed their original rice store in 1990 and opened a taro ball shop. Initially, the shop sold not only taro balls and sweet potato balls but also soup dumplings and other snacks. As the taro ball business grew, they were unable to make other snacks, leading to the establishment of a store specializing in taro balls and sweet potato balls.
