The Four Taro Brothers of Jiasian／甲仙芋頭四兄弟 芋餅香誘人
The Four Taro Brothers of Jiasian
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
Jiasian is famous for its agricultural products and taros are top of the list. The Jiasian taro has a silky texture that remains springy after it's cooked. Its delicate fragrance has a lingering effect that is best savored slowly. Many bakeries in Jiasian have developed various taro pastries which the people have come to love. In 2013, four bakeries came together to create the "Four Taro Brothers of Jiasian" gift set. Each bakery combined its best quality taro and top-notch pastries, to contribute to a collaborative product. It has certainly become one of the most popular products in the area.
The "Four Taro Brothers of Jiasian" includes the Walnut White Jade Taro Puff from "Tongshuai", the Egg Taro Puff from "Sanguanwang", the Original Pure Taro Puff from "Taro King" and the Whole Wheat Mochi Taro Puff from "Diyijia". All four agreed to make the pastries with recipes and methods that had been passed down by their fathers and grandfathers. They could only use natural ingredients and the highest grade taro. No additives such as coloring and flavoring agents could be included in the recipe. The pastries were filed with pure diced taro, cooked in a double boiler and enhanced only with sugar. The four bakeries were dedicated to providing their customers with the finest quality taro products.
Each of the four pastries has their own charm. The Walnut White Jade Taro Puff features a creamy taro and walnut filling. The walnuts release fragrant oils, with the flavors integrating and complimenting each other. The Egg Taro Puff and the Original Pure Taro Puff are both traditional flavors. The filling is made from salt cured duck egg yolk and combined within the taro filling. Generations of patrons have enjoyed the delicious combination of the salty egg yolk with the sweet taro filling. The Original Pure Taro is made solely of taro and does not need any additional embellishments. Lastly, the Whole Wheat Mochi Taro Puff is made of a whole wheat flour shell, with mocha in the center.
Once customers sample the "Four Taro Brothers of Jiasian", they get hooked and highly recommend the delicious pastries. Profits have been significant and are being reinvested in building partnerships with contracted taro farmers and sponsorships for school events schools such as Jiasian Elementary and Jiasian Junior High.
Mr. Chen Jhing-jhong, owner of Tongshuai Taro Ice, decided against centralizing his kitchen because of the many older employees that work in his bakery. He realizes the bakery is not just responsible for the livelihood of his family but also for those who work for him. In order to maintain a long tradition, does not only mean maintaining the flavors, but also assisting with the welfare of the neighborhood.
The business was originally located at the entrance of the Nanheng Route, however when the route was undergoing reparations, the business suffered a setback. However, the "Four Taro Brothers of Jiasian" were able to turn around the sluggish sales. Now, people not only come to see the area but also to purchase the products. This has enabled local businesses to develop better products and revitalize the local economy. Who would have imagined this little taro pastries were to become the hero in revitalizing local business!
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Reservation require for:"Four Taro Brothers of Jiasian"
Phone: (07)675-2818
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甲仙芋頭四兄弟 芋餅香誘人
◎文／侯雅婷
甲仙芋頭遠近馳名，其質地綿密且帶有QQ口感，烹煮後，芋頭淡淡的香氣唇齒留香，越咀嚼越有一番滋味，當地芋餅店紛紛開發出各式的芋頭伴手禮，讓人想吃芋頭就想到甲仙。去(2013)年4間當地老字號的芋冰芋餅店：統帥、三冠王、甲仙第一家和小奇芋，首度攜手推出「芋頭四兄弟」芋餅禮盒，殷實的製餅功力和純正的芋頭點心，讓消費者一吃上癮！
「芋頭四兄弟」芋餅禮盒有4種口味，每家店各自製作一款芋餅，分別為：「統帥」的核桃白玉、「三冠王」的蛋黃芋泥、「小奇芋」的原味純芋和「甲仙第一家」的胚芽麻糬等芋餅。為了保障「芋頭四兄弟」品質，大夥建立共識，遵照上一代長輩製餅習慣，僅使用芋頭製成芋泥餡，回歸芋頭原味，因此嚴謹地挑選芋頭，精選又香又Ｑ的芋頭製餅，呈現芋頭原味，摒棄色素和香料，且自個兒桿餅皮、製做芋泥內餡，芋頭內餡所的顏色為切塊後的芋頭，隔水加熱、再加糖，食材本身自然轉變的顏色，而非添加色素所呈現的顏色。堅持使用天然芋頭原料，要給消費者最道地的甲仙芋頭特產。
「芋頭四兄弟」4款芋餅各自精彩。核桃白玉芋餅使用芋泥餡包覆著核桃，烘焙時核桃油脂滲出與芋泥結合，很對味！蛋黃芋泥和原味純芋兩款屬古早味芋餅，蛋黃芋泥使用芋泥餡料包裹住4分之1顆鴨蛋，加上，兩者口感出奇的協調；原味純芋彰顯100%芋頭內餡淡淡的芋香和綿密紮實的口感，一種簡單迷人的好味道；胚芽麻糬芋餅以小麥胚芽桿成餅皮，與芋泥餡包裹麻糬，呈現三種層次細膩口感 。
「芋頭四兄弟」因為好吃，回客率頗高，很受顧客好評；其盈餘用於契作芋頭、支付甲仙國中、小活動使用經費等。統帥芋冰城老闆陳敬忠談起，老餅店裏有許多老員工，所以不設置中央廚房，他說經營餅店不僅養活自己的家庭，也讓員工的家庭能繼續下去。傳承道地甲仙芋餅的好滋味之餘，也延續關懷在地的人情味。
甲仙過去地處南橫公路入口，觀光旅遊發達繁榮了甲仙，當地芋頭生意風光一時，囿於南橫公路尚未修復完成，商圈生意不復以往，但「芋頭四兄弟」品牌讓外界再度聚焦甲仙最優質的芋頭糕點，也激勵當地業者推出更棒的產品。活絡商圈，這次甲仙用芋頭糕餅打頭陣！
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甲仙「芋頭四兄弟」購買資訊：
電話：(07)6752818 (須預訂)
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