Li Ting Xiang

Founded in 1895 by an immigrant from China’s Fujian Province, Li Ting Xiang specializes in classic sweet treats. Over the five generations that this family store has been in operation, the proprietors have worked hard to match their customers as preferences have shifted towards having smaller-sized selections in a greater variety of flavors, and with dialed-back sugar levels too.

The store’s current top seller is turtle cakes in irresistibly dainty individual portions. Variations on this cake can be found throughout East Asia, and like many traditional sweets, they come loaded with auspicious symbolism. Li Ting Xiang’s twist on the turtle cake is to replace the outer “skin” (usually made of glutinous-rice flour) with a mix of peanut flour and maltose. It offers two filling choices: sesame paste and nougat, both of which balance perfectly with the peanuty casing. Other popular items include several sweet and savory ping xi cake (a type of bun-shaped pastry), crumbly sesame-oil-infused mung bean cakes formed with delicate floral molds, and cinnamon rolls sprinkled with crisp flakes of Taiwanese sugar cookies for an added local flair.

As well as modifying its menu to match contemporary tastes, Li Ting Xiang aspires to change the way these snacks are enjoyed. Traditionally, customers would take their purchase home to share with family, but now visitors can enjoy “Taiwanese afternoon tea” in the store’s bright and airy premises at the northern end of Dihua Street, one of the city’s key heritage-architecture streets.

Before the global pandemic took root, the store even offered DIY sessions during which aspiring pastry chefs could make their own cakes. The classes were paused due to hygiene considerations, but there’s talk that they could start up again sometime soon. Until then, you can either head to the store to enjoy a drink and a treat, or else visit the Li Ting Xiang website to order pre-mixed dough and filling sets that can be cooked up in your own home.