Dishes
custard pudding
布丁
Also called: 焦糖布丁 · 雞蛋布丁 · 手工布丁 · caramel pudding · purin
A set egg custard with caramel, the Japanese-style 'purin' that Taiwan adopted as its everyday pudding.
Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC0What it is
A semi-set dessert of egg, milk and sugar, usually with a layer of caramel. Taiwanese call it 布丁 (pudding). It is close to French crème caramel and to Japan's purin.
Where it comes from
According to Chinese Wikipedia, pudding reached Japan with Western food in the Meiji era and came to Taiwan with the Japanese after 1895. Today most people in Taiwan first think of the packaged Uni-President pudding.
How it is made
Sugar is cooked to caramel and poured into a mould, then the custard mix goes in on top. It is cooked gently, often in a water bath, and turned out so the caramel runs over the top.
How to eat it
Have it after a meal, or as an add-on at an ice shop.
In Kaohsiung
At Huang Family Tapioca Ice in Kaohsiung a handmade pudding with a strong egg flavour is sold as an add-on to the brown-sugar tapioca ice. At Jai Mi Ba (吃麵吧) in Tainan the caramel pudding has cheese blended right through it and a firmer bite.
Where to eat it in Kaohsiung
Sources