The Taiwanese baking market presents an annual opportunity of about NT$60 billion. To promote the use of domestic rice flour and develop new products incorporating local ingredients, the Agricultural and Food Agency organized the “2024 National Rice and Grain Delicacies Creative Competition” to capture the baking market.
The competition targets legally established food and baking businesses, with participating products required to use domestic indica rice flour as the main ingredient and comply with relevant regulations. This year saw 44 businesses entering 71 gift boxes, marking the largest participation in the past five years. Judges evaluated entries from various aspects including appearance, commercialization feasibility, flavor, and use of domestic ingredients, resulting in 3 gold awards, 5 silver awards, and 10 honorable mentions.
"2024 National Rice and Grain Delicacies Creative Competition" Award Ceremony (Image / Source: Agricultural and Food Agency Official Website)
Gold Award winners include:
- "Yoshino Rice Flour Crispy Gift Box" by Xiao Nong Xiao Shi Business, which uses the excellent properties of rice flour combined with local Taiwanese ingredients such as Schisandra and Roselle, receiving high praise for its appearance, creativity, and flavor.
- "Puff Three Brothers - Rice Puff" by Wendong Foods, features the unique garlic aroma and vanilla seeds from Citao Township in Yunlin County, offering a distinct and rich flavor.
- "Phoenix's True Joy" by Kuo Zheng Foods Co., Ltd., inspired by Tainan’s Phoenix City, incorporates specialty ingredients like Sanxing scallions, green Sichuan peppercorns, and mullet roe, creating a gluten-free rice egg roll that showcases the versatility and deliciousness of domestic rice.
Silver Award winners include:
- "Leaf Crisps (Mung Bean Flavor)" by Hua Yu Desserts
- "Summer Berry Rice Flavored Egg Roll Gift Box" by Tian Mi Food Baking Co., Ltd.
- "Tea Rice Phoenix Tea" by Ouba Ma Foods Co., Ltd.
- "Apricot Fortune Rice Gift Box" by Biscuit Maker Baking Workshop
- "Lace Rice Cake - Shrimp Seaweed" by Jiu Jiu Jin Cheese Shop
These products offer layered, eye-catching designs and diverse flavors, breaking away from traditional gift box images and appealing to younger consumers.
The Agricultural and Food Agency emphasizes that domestic rice flour not only aids digestion but also reduces fat content in baked goods, enhancing the product’s texture and crispiness. The 18 award-winning gift boxes are both delicious and stylish, making them ideal for gifts and catering to young consumers' desire for fresh and innovative flavors.
