Nestled in Neiwan Old Street, “Mountain Legend Fresh-Milk Mochi” opened in April 2000. The name expresses the hope of offering something different in Neiwan Village and becoming a local legend. Using pure fresh milk, the shop creates creative Hakka delicacies—fresh-milk mochi and fresh-milk “cow-wallow” mochi—melt-in-the-mouth treats safe for babies and grandparents alike; a must-buy souvenir when visiting Neiwan.
The famous “wet” mochi—cow-wallow mochi—is a traditional Hakka afternoon snack. In the past, Hakka clans lived halfway up the mountains; while farmers worked the slopes, women at home pounded glutinous rice into mochi, the most filling grain. For the syrup they chose brown-sugar ginger juice: brown sugar to cool the body—“lest the farmers suffer sunstroke after a day in the fields”—and ginger to drive out chill—“in case a sudden mountain shower left them cold.” The name “cow-wallow” comes from dropping mochi into the ginger syrup; its shape recalls water buffalo leisurely wallowing in a pond during slack farming seasons, hence the name.