Here in Taiwan candy (or lollies if you haven’t yet been Americanized) are somewhat of a hit and miss affair.

Sure I have a sweet spot (no pun intended) for those little $100 per some local measurement I have no idea about where you just fill up whatever lollies you want in a plastic bag. But at the end of the day I know I’m buying machine-made gummies from who knows where and with who knows what in it.

Thus, even the slightest hint of tradition and love of making sugar treats in Taiwan invariably elicits an enthusiastic response from me.

It was on a walk through Wulai’s Old Street where I came across the ‘Sugar Onion’ store.

Outfront you have (I assume) the guy who owns the store, and with his dad he puts on a pretty good show making sugar candy (I’ve had this before but can’t remember the exact name for it).

Quite similar in how pasta is made (from memory), there’s a lot of stretching and showmanship in moulding what is essentially a lump of sugar dough type material into candy.

And he must be doing something right as there’s always a crowd out front enthusiastically watching him go about his work.

After he’s made his batch, it’s then dutifully cut up by his parents and ready for purchase. The father looks like he knows a bit about the trade so not sure if this is a father-son thing or whether the dad just helps out.

For $100 or $150 TWD or so (can’t remember exactly) you can buy a bag of his homemade sugar candy.

And if you’re wondering about the use of the word “onion” in the name (糖蔥), I’m told it’s due to the candy looking a bit like garlic, the bottom of a spring onion (the white bit).

Taste wise the candy readily melts in your mouth and appears to have no preservatives in it. The owner was kind enough to stress that once opened we sealed the candy and keep it in the fridge, otherwise eat it within 48 hours.

Mmmm, not something I can have too much of in one sitting but deliciously better than industrial candy… just make sure you don’t accidentally cut your tongue on any sharp surfaces as the candy melts in your mouth!


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