Pineapple Cake 鳳梨酥

Spoken In Taiwanese (a dialect of Chinese, very similar to those spoken in southern FuJian Province), Pineapple pronounced like On-Lie, very similar to “Fortune is Coming.” The fruit therefore became a symbol for prosperity and a favorite gift. But fresh fruits are perishable, Pineapples are particularly unwieldy, most importantly, they are not expensive enough for serious gifting. The solution is the delicious Pineapple cake, a snack that is uniquely Taiwan.

First of all, it is really not a cake, more a cookie. Imagine Pop Top with Pineapple filling, but morphed into the shape of a ring box. There are probably hundreds of bakeries in Taiwan making Pineapple cakes. When I was a kid, people would bring those all the way from Keelung city; everyone knew the best was made by Lee Hu (李鵠) then. Nowadays, there will be a Pineapple cake tournament every year and the gold medalists will command great sales for years to come.

ChiaTe (佳德) seems to the latest fad. On this raining day, I arrived at a 300+ feet queue that snaked around the next corner. Polite attendants worked the queue, keeping order, offering bottle water, and reminding everyone the quota: only 7 boxes for each customer. We watched people carrying out large bags and got anxious, “Would there be any left when it is my turn?” It felt like the bakery version of the iPhone debut.

The best ones have light, flaky, and buttery shell that can crumble with the slightest squeeze. The filling must be distinctly Pineapple, a bit chewy, and not overly sweet. Pineapple cakes are a bit dense. A couple will make a wonderful breakfast or a afternoon snack. The perfect companion will be a nice cup of hot green tea that leaves the grassy freshness in your mouth. Coffee will do, but sweet drinks, like soda, will not. I have never tried them with wines. I love to microwave it for 5 seconds first. The filling will be slightly warm and extra fragrant.

Next time you are in Taipei, give it a try.