Alternative names Taiyang bing Course Dessert Main ingredients Maltose Place of origin Taiwan | Type Pancake Created by Lin family Food energy
(per serving) 460 kcal (1926 kJ) | |
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Similar Pineapple cake, Sweetheart cake, Iron egg, Mooncake, Nougat | ||
A suncake, or taiyang bing, is a popular Taiwanese dessert originally from the city of Taichung, Taiwan. The typical fillings consist of maltose (condensed malt sugar), and they are usually sold in special gift boxes as souvenirs for visitors. Some famous suncake pastry shops always have long lines of people waiting to buy boxed suncakes.
The shape of suncakes is round, and they may vary in size. They are characterized by flaky crusts. Most people eat them with Chinese tea, and some people dissolve them in hot water to make a porridge-like dessert.
Origin of the suncake
The first suncakes were made by the Lin family in the She-Ko area of Shengang Township, Taichung County (now part of Taichung City). The Lin family used condensed malt sugar as a filling for cake pastries. Later on, pastry maker Wei Qing-hai modified the cakes to their current form.
Though not originally called "suncakes", they were given the name by the owner of "Sun Booth", one of the most famous pastry shops that sells them. The name was not trademarked, and other pastry shops have used the same name for their own suncakes.
