Mochi Rice Cakes 麻糬
Mochi Rice Cakes is featured among the local specialties of Taiwan.
Image notes
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Mochi Rice Cakes (麻糬) are a Hualien (花蓮) specialty with a documented Hakka tradition. The tourism authority highlights the filled cakes associated with the Tzen family (曾姓).
How they are made
Its account describes glutinous rice being ground by hand. The resulting rice mass is pressed dry, then repeatedly tossed and kneaded. The finished wrapper is described as fine, soft and elastic without sticking to the teeth, with a filling that has a substantial texture.
A Hualien tradition
The Tourism Administration (Ministry of Transportation and Communications) connects their development with an elder of the Tzen family who moved from western Taiwan to Hualien, selling mochi along the way to earn a living. The cakes gained local appreciation and became one of Hualien’s specialty foods.
Sources & reading
Written from the linked sources and fact-checked against them on 2026-09-30. Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.