Fàn Tuán! Exploring the Depth of Rice Balls in Taiwan
Rice Ball (Fan Tuan)
TaiwanTaipei, Ningxia Night Market
- Food Travel Log
- My current Taiwanese food obsession: Fantuan. In short, it’s a fun stuffed rice ball. One bite and the glutinous rice is chewy, with an overflow of fillings. The taste is so complex I can’t identify all the ingredients, and the crispy texture is delightful. It’s also enjoyed in China and Hong Kong. The world of rice balls is deep.
- Taste Rating
- Price
- 50 New Taiwan Dollar
- Meal Date
- 5/4/2023
- Insights from the Gourmet AI
- Fan Tuan is a type of rice ball widely enjoyed in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. It uses sticky rice and is filled with a variety of ingredients such as meat, peanuts, pickles, and fried dough sticks (youtiao), offering a rich flavor and diverse textures. In Taiwan, it is popular as a breakfast item and can be bought at night markets throughout the region, although in its early days it was developed as a household preserved food or portable meal. The best way to eat it is to casually lift it with your hand and take a bite-sized piece. Recently, creative takes on Fan Tuan have appeared in trendy food trucks and cafes, truly showcasing the diversity of rice balls. The author of this blog, while exploring new food cultures, has a passion for attempting his own rice ball designs, but it seems that his rice balls also suffer from being "complex in flavor," just like their appearance.
Map: Discovery Location of This Food