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Pure Pastry Shop – we “only sell pure.” Around the central fountain in Chiayi City, “Pure Pastry Shop” starts selling its castella in the afternoon. Made with fresh eggs, flour, sugar, pure milk and other natural ingredients, the cakes contain no premix or margarine, hoping that this everyday Taiwanese treat can bring back the island’s simple, honest spirit. Loyal customers range from 1 to 99 years old; young and old alike love the cake’s soft, sweet fluffiness—it stays tender even when cold and is easy to digest. A 93-year-old grandpa often comes in the afternoon to buy a cake; since each order is baked on the spot, he sometimes dozes off on his scooter during the 15- to 20-minute wait, and the staff gently wake him—adorable. The Pure team sees itself as ambassadors of Chiayi cuisine, running the “Pure Neighborhood Chief” column that pairs the castella with local delicacies: seventy-some-year-old Chiayi classic Jen-Wei-Jhen meat floss, the time-honored Wu pickled radish from East Market, Master Long’s golden kimchi, and more. They also give back—partnering with the Eden Social Welfare Foundation on the “Fly-High Angels” cake to raise funds for early-intervention children, spreading Taiwan’s spirit of “pure love.” Chiayi City East District, Gongming Rd. 404 0958 609 173 13:00 – 18:00, irregular days off (see Facebook page) https://www.facebook.com/PurePastry2017