Peacock Crispy Snacks
Kong Que Xiang Su Cui is a popular snack widely enjoyed in Taiwan and other Chinese-speaking regions. Introduced in Taiwan in the 1960s, this product has long been loved by locals as a flagship item of the ""Kong Que"" brand. Made primarily from rice flour and corn flour, it is known for its sweet and savory flavor, featuring aromatic sesame and maltose, as well as its light texture achieved by baking rather than frying. Easily found in Taiwanese supermarkets and convenience stores, it is considered a beloved national snack enjoyed by people of all ages.
- Taste Rating
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- Price
- 25 New Taiwan Dollar
- Meal Date
- 5/3/2023
- Food Travel Log
- I found a mysterious snack at a Taiwanese convenience store: Peacock Crispy (Kongque Xiangsu Cui). It’s a Taiwanese soul snack. The adventurous packaging urged me to try it. Shaped like fish, it had a sesame aroma, with a honey-coated, crispy, sweet-and-savory flavor. The adventure led to Taiwanese beer.
AI Gourmet Analysis
Overview
Peacock Aromatic Crispy (Chinese: 孔雀香酥脆, English: Peacock Aromatic Crispy) is a traditional Taiwanese snack. It is one of the signature products of the long-standing “Peacock” brand, long loved in the Chinese-speaking world, especially Taiwan, and is easily found in local supermarkets and convenience stores. Typically, the snack is not deep-fried (non-fried), making it a low-calorie, health-conscious choice popular as a light snack.
Origin and Spread
Peacock Aromatic Crispy is a series introduced by the long-established Taiwanese snack brand “Kuai Kuai” (乖乖) after its founding in 1968 and comes in several variations. With Taiwan’s economic development since the 1960s, it spread as a popular snack focused on local flavors and unique shapes. The brand name "Peacock" originates from the animal character featured on the product and its vibrant packaging design.
Characteristics
Shape and Production Method
This product is characterized by its small fish-shaped form, with many mini fish-shaped snacks packed inside each package. Its appearance is golden and shiny, sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds on the surface. Rice flour, corn flour, and similar ingredients are used in production, and the surface is coated with a thin glaze made from maltose or sugar during the seasoning process. The non-fried, baked style results in a crispy, light texture.
Flavor and Texture
Peacock Aromatic Crispy offers a perfect harmony of fragrant sesame flavor, subtle sweetness from maltose, and a light saltiness. With every bite, the snack provides a satisfying crunch along with a lingering sweet and salty aftertaste—a defining trait. The balance of sweetness and saltiness reflects a distinctive aspect of Taiwanese snack culture and makes it enjoyable both as a tea-time treat and a beer snack.
Nutritional Value and Health Consciousness
The non-fried cooking method used in Peacock Aromatic Crispy keeps its fat content lower than typical fried snacks, catering to health-conscious consumers. Baking at high temperatures rather than frying in oil preserves the quality of the ingredients and the nutrients in sesame (such as B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants), resulting in a light and healthy finish.
Cultural Significance and Local Presence in Taiwan
Peacock Aromatic Crispy is a national snack that has been loved across generations in everyday Taiwanese life. It is consumed in a variety of settings, such as school shops, homes, bus trips, cinemas, and parks. The packaging and characters are frequently updated, keeping the snack appealing to new generations. In recent years, the snack has also become widely available in Chinese supermarkets and Asian grocery stores outside Taiwan, making it popular among overseas Taiwanese communities and snack fans abroad.
Similar Snacks and Cross-Cultural Comparisons
Throughout East Asia, there are many snacks similar in ingredients or preparation, but Peacock Aromatic Crispy stands out for its striking appearance, sweet-salty flavor, and crisp texture. Other notable Taiwanese snacks include Kuai Kuai green bean flavor and various corn snacks. In Japan, there are fish-shaped rice crackers, and in China, there are baked rice flour snacks, illustrating a diverse range of related products.
Summary
Peacock Aromatic Crispy is a snack deeply rooted in Taiwan’s local food culture and daily life. With its airy baked texture, sweet-salty flavor profile, and roasted sesame fragrance, it offers a quintessentially Taiwanese taste experience appreciated by many. Easily available at convenience stores in Taipei and elsewhere, it is highly recommended as a casual souvenir or food experience when visiting Taiwan.