San Xie Cheng 三協成
I Highly Recommend ☆☆☆☆☆
Taipei shop offering: Traditional Chinese Pastries / Traditional German Cake / Wedding Cake, 喜饼 / Mooncake, 月餅 / German Bread / German Jam / German Dessert / French Snacks / Strudel / Cookies / Pâte de Fruit / Muffins / Sauerkraut / Free Tea / Free Samples of Almost Everything
Address:
No. 81, Zhongzheng Rd., Tamsui District, New Taipei City 251
新北市淡水區中正路81號
Phone: (02) 2621-2177
Hours: 9am - 8pm Daily
Last Reviewed: 18 December 2016
San Xie Cheng was established way back in 1935. The father of the current boss, Mr. Li Zhiren (李志仁先生), founded the cake shop and learned the art of baking from an old cake master in Sanzhi Township. Li Zhiren's two brothers joined the shop and that's why the bakery was named 三協成餅舖 (Sān Xié Chéng Bǐng Pù, Three Association Cake Shop).
Having been open for so long, San Xie Cheng Bakery can prove that they have desirable products without marketing. At San Xie Cheng, the ingredients list for their food items is short. In many Western countries, especially The U.S.A., the list of ingredients is way too long because they add so many artificial ingredients.
My friend, Angela Chen, first took me to San Xie Cheng back in 2013. Since then, I've been returning on virtually every visit I make to Tamsui because I can't get enough of their wedding cake and pastries. They have an assortment of Chinese, German, and French pastries, bread, and snacks. The main focus is on their delicious Chinese wedding cake, both large and small. My two favorite wedding cakes of theirs are sesame (their most popular item) and green tea with roselle. My second favorite products of theirs are curry and cherry blossoms pastries. I like how they make delicious wedding cake for any occasion and not just weddings, because of this, you don't have to order it weeks in advance or feel weird enjoying a delicacy that is normally only eaten for weddings. Besides having some of the most delicious wedding cakes, they're also, by far, cheaper than any other place.
The best thing about San Xie Cheng is that there are samples for almost everything food item in the store. They even give you free tea to accompany your free cake and pastry samples. The owner is very nice and will often ask you were you're from if you're not a local. I was told from Angela Chen that he is self-taught in communicating in several languages. He likes to practice these languages if you reside from one of the countries they derive from. Sometimes he sings along to international songs while pouring the free tea, but I haven't seen him do it within the last year (year of 2016).
As long as you don't cut in the free sample line or move too slowly, you'll be met with kindness, and if I were you, I probably wouldn't make a second walk through the free sample section unless you're going to buy something. Sometimes I take two walks through the line, but I always buy something, so they find no problem with it. They're being charitable enough to give their customers free samples, so don't take advantage of their generosity by making too many walks through the sample line, moving too slowly through it, or cutting in line; basically, use your common sense in the ethics of manners. If you're from China, you might have to take a course in basic manners before entering the store -- OMG, did I just say that?
San Xie Cheng is about a ten-minute walk from Tamsui MRT Station. There are two entrances to San Xie Cheng: one from the Tamsui Old Street (Huanhe Street along the waterfront) and Zhongzheng Road. I've taken a picture from both entrances below so you'll not miss them. The Zhongzheng Road entrance is more easily spotted due to its signage. There is also a museum owned by San Xie Cheng beside the cake shop on the second floor and on the first floor near the waterfront entrance/exit.
Vegetarian options: Their number one selling item, Sesame Cake [white sesame wedding cake] (NT$135) is specifically labeled as vegetarian. It also has the 卍 symbol on it (symbol of peace in many religions, not a Nazi swastika), so it can be eaten by Buddhist Vegetarians as well (Taiwanese vegetarians can eat less ingredients than vegetarians throughout the world). There are also red circle stickers on products, but I don't know what it indicates. I'll ask on my next visit and update this information (maybe vegan?).
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San Xie Cheng 三協成餅舖 bei Stefan website
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San Xie Cheng 三協成 Chinese review by Tanya
San Xie Cheng 三協成 Chinese review
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Address:
No. 81, Zhongzheng Rd., Tamsui District, New Taipei City 251 新北市淡水區中正路81號 Phone: (02) 2621-2177 Hours: 9am - 8pm Daily Chinese & English Labels Cash Only Large Wedding Cake: NT$135 Free Sample of Almost Everything Free Tea Click on the link below for their Google Map page for the street view and/or other visitor's photos. Afterwards, you can click the dedicated back button on Google Maps to view the destination on a full-screened Google Map for directions. San Xie Cheng 三協成 |
TV spot on San Xie Cheng 三協成餅舖
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