Looking back, I knew I’ve always enjoyed the flavour of sesame. My mouth waters when I think of tahini, Japanese sesame sauce on salads, and toasted sesame seeds on top of bread. And I would always love to “help” my family drizzle sesame oil very generously on any Chinese food (especially on porridge and steamed chicken). But it’s only after I bought my 10th sesame-flavoured food in Taiwan that I finally realise: maybe I am actually crazy about sesame.
Some of my encounters with sesame have been unforgettable (dramatic, I know), so here goes my top 5 sesame food/beverages:
- Yong Fung Sheng: Sesame bun
This is the sesame bun that made me fell in love with sesame buns. Soft and warm steamed buns with a nutty, earthy, and slightly sweet sesame paste. What’s not to love? Plus, the ratio of filling to bun, and its sweetness level was perfect. (I tried a few other sesame buns which did not pass this requirement haha.) And out of the 10 (or more) times I’ve bought them, their taste is always consistent.
I’ve bought this so many times, not only because of its taste, but also due to its good price-to-value ratio (or as Taiwanese say, CP value). It was only 25 NTD per bun when I first came to Taipei. Recently, due to inflation, they increased the price to 30 NTD per bun.
My go-to order in this shop is a pair of meat bun and sesame bun. Their meat bun also tastes amazing. Savoury and juicy, one of the best in Taipei.
Location: Yong Fung Sheng
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bHyjmdZcDnAYJuvx7
2. JellyJelly Cafe: Sesame-flavored cake
This sesame cake is one of the first desserts I ate in Taipei, and it set the bar high.
This soft and fluffy Japanese-style chiffon cake is layered with light sesame-flavoured cream, and topped with a nutty sesame powder. It’s a delicious light dessert option, perfect for those who want something sweet without feeling too heavy afterwards. Plus, it looks pretty.
Side notes:
- The price for one slice of cake was like a full meal (180 NTD)
- Tried other flavours from this cafe, but nothing beats this sesame cake.
Location: JellyJellyCafe 慢工
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CgvepHPD4JD6aDx87
3. Tai Yi Milk King: Sesame tangyuan
Three chewy tangyuans with a warm and rich sesame filling, served with sweet red bean soup. This tangyuan from Tai Yi Milk King blew my mind when I first tasted it. It was that good.
Tangyuans are a traditional Chinese dessert made of glutinous rice flour, and served in a hot broth or syrup. It’s traditionally eaten during winter solstice.
In Indonesia, tangyuans are more familiarly known as wedang ronde (wedang means “warm drink” in Javanese, and ronde comes from the Dutch word rond which means “round”), served with a soup made of ginger and palm sugar. (Perfect for rainy days.) It’s considered as a local dessert in many parts of Java. I personally love how a bowl of tangyuan can show us cultural exchange, and particularly how Chinese cuisine and culture are localized in Indonesia.
Back to Tai Yi’s tangyuan.
The sesame filling was wonderful — not many other places managed to nail the texture as smooth and runny as this one. (If you found a better place, do let me know!) Any “soup” will go well with them — either peanuts, red bean, or a mix of both.
I went here on my teacher’s recommendations, and I reported back to her the next day. I told her in Chinese, “It was so good that it moved me. I almost cried.” My classmate laughed and said that I had a really romantic way of describing food.
Hands down, the best sesame tangyuan I’ve had (so far).
Location: Taiyi Milk King
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ucRD6hUwsSHhGLbE7
4. Fu Yuan Hao: Sesame bun
After eating so many sesame dishes, this sesame bun stands out for its unique taste. The paste tastes of pure sesame: nutty and bitter. You almost don’t taste anything except sesame.
It punches you with the richness and bitterness of the sesame paste, and surprisingly, I really liked it.
My teacher (the same one who recommended Tai Yi Milk King) told me that this shop uses a traditional fermentation method, which is supposedly better for your gut. If you usually have digestion problems when eating steamed buns or bread, you might want to try their buns.
They also have some other flavours, like the Osmanthus & Sesame bun — the osmanthus gives the bitter sesame a slight sweet and fruity flavour. Oh, and their meat buns are delicious too!
Note: Reheat the bun for the best experience.
福圓號(永康門市)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FS3BZKDpFAvCVumL9
They have a few other branches, so do check out which one is closest to you.
5. SOMA: Sesame milk tea
SOMA is known for its premium tea. Hence, it’s a bit on the pricier side, but it’s definitely worth a try if you’re a tea person.
The tea was fragrant and left a pleasant bitter aftertaste. It somehow reminds me of Chun Shui Tang’s famous bubble milk tea. The nutty sesame flavour blends really well milk tea, and as a whole, it was creamy and not overly sweet. I loved it.
I don’t think you need to alter the sugar level here (like we usually do in other beverages shop). You can go with the store’s recommendations on the sugar and ice level.
You can also try their other flavours or mocktails. Everything I’ve tried so far are delicious! (I sipped some of my friends’ drinks.) I wished they also sell boba toppings to go with their milk tea — that would be the ultimate combination for me.
Wished I had known about the shop earlier!
Location: SOMA 特調飲品 永康旗艦店 Tea & Mocktail
https://maps.app.goo.gl/oEcXuwbDD8Z66fda6
They also have a few other branches in the city.
***
Admittedly, my mouth watered while writing this. Haha.
My stay in Taiwan has definitely deepened my love for all things sesame, and I can’t wait to return to them very very soon.
If you’re as excited as I am when seeing 芝麻 in the menu, you might want to check these places out. And let me know what you think after!
