A-Yu Rice Cake Introduction
The first shop specializing in "mazuan" on Jinshan Old Street is Ah Yu Mazu, which has been established for over 20 years. Ah Yu's mother, Guo Li-yu-yun, started making mazuan as a child to help support her family. After mastering her craft, she tried to transform what was originally an offering for deities into a snack enjoyed year-round. She later introduced a variety of flavors, breaking away from the basic versions that only used peanuts and sesame seeds, making it a well-known souvenir in the Jinshan area. Even former New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu and current mayor Yang Shiyuan are regular customers, and it has become one of the welcome gifts for the city government. In the early days, mazuan was larger in size, but it has since been redesigned into a smaller, bite-sized treat that is very popular among young people, bringing a delightful taste of happiness.
