Old Friend Taro Balls Introduction
Old Friend Taro Balls was established in 1990. The first-generation owners, Lin Rongji and Xia Amei, hoped that this shop would become a good friend to everyone, hence the name "Old Friend." Boss Xia Amei is skilled in making snacks, including cookies, steamed buns, cakes, taro balls, radish cakes, and草仔粿, all of which have received rave reviews from neighbors in Jiufen. Encouraged by neighbors and the rise of the Jiufen business district, they closed down their original rice shop in 1990 and opened the taro ball store. Initially, they sold not only taro balls and sweet potato balls but also soup dumplings and other snacks. As the taro ball business flourished, they could no longer produce other snacks, so they eventually became a specialty store focusing primarily on taro balls and sweet potato balls.
