Ming Hsiang Bakery Introduction
Ming Hsiang Bakery is a century-old pastry shop located in Xikou Township (since 1915), founded by Mr. Chen Tian Song. The pastry-making techniques at Ming Hsiang Bakery were learned by Mr. Chen from skilled masters in Xikou Village. One of the most representative souvenirs from Xikou Township is the "Niaozi Bing" (Bird Cake), which utilizes the pastry techniques he learned to mold Hakka traditional "Sweet Potato Cake" into various shapes (such as birds, fish, leaves, gourds, pipes, and water caltrops), and was thus early referred to as "Se Bing" (in Taiwanese, meaning pastries of various shapes and colors). Each Niaozi Bing is handmade by the third-generation owner, Mr. Chen Gan Yu, adhering to the century-old traditional methods. The baked Niaozi Bing features a golden, crispy exterior and a solid filling. With the changes of time, Ming Hsiang Bakery has developed more flavors, currently offering five choices for customers, including sweet potato, taro, red bean, mung bean paste, and matcha. In addition to Niaozi Bing, the shop's Dragon and Phoenix Cakes and Mian Cha (Sesame Tea) have also been recognized with awards, so when visiting Ming Hsiang, remember to take home not just the Niaozi Bing but also the Dragon and Phoenix Cakes and Mian Cha to make your trip worthwhile!
