{{short description|Taiwanese sweet pastry}} {{For|the American pineapple cake|Upside-down cake}} {{Infobox prepared food | name = Pineapple cake | image = Taiwanese Pineapple Cake 001.jpg | image_size = 300 | caption = ''Fenglisu'', pastry with pineapple filling | alternate_name = Fengli Su,<ref name="Schwankert 2015">{{cite web | last=Schwankert | first=Steven | title=Before and After (Taiwanese): Beyond Taipei's Night Market Snacks | website=The Beijinger | date=January 17, 2015 | url=http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2015/01/17/and-after-taiwanese-beyond-taipeis-night-market-snacks | access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref> pineapple shortcake, pineapple pastry | region = East Asia | national_cuisine = Taiwanese cuisine | creator = | course = Dessert | type = | country = Taiwan | served = | main_ingredient = Pastry (butter, egg yolk, sugar), pineapple jam | variations = | calories = 450 | other = Pineapple tart }}
'''Pineapple cake''' ({{zh|t=鳳梨酥|p=fènglísū|first=t}}; Taiwanese Hokkien: 王梨酥 ông-lâi-so͘) is a Taiwanese sweet traditional pastry where pineapple filling is covered in a thin golden pastry shell.
==History== Both pineapple cake and pineapple tart likely came into fruition around the 16th century when the pineapple, a fruit native to South America, was introduced by Portuguese merchants to the region.<ref name="AD195">{{cite book|author=Andrea Nguyen|title=Asian Dumplings: Mastering Gyoza, Spring Rolls, Samosas, and More|year=2011|publisher=Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale|isbn=978-16-077-4092-6|page=195}}</ref> Around this time, the Portuguese established a presence in places such as Malacca, Singapore and Taiwan, which they referred to as the (now archaic) name "Formosa" for the island.<ref>{{cite web | last = Sujuan | first = Zhan | title = The Taiwan Encyclopedia | publisher = Council for Cultural Affairs | date = 2012-05-22 | url = http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/en/content?ID=3454&Keyword=Spanish+Taiwan | access-date = 2012-05-22 }}</ref> thumb|left|Freshly baked ''fenglisu'' During the Japanese colonial era, the pineapple fruit became a critical component of Taiwan's economy during which Japanese industrialists imported a wide variety of pineapple cultivars and established numerous processing plants.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=8,8,29,32,32,45&post=14054|title=Taiwan's Growing Pineapple Industry - Taiwan Today|last=(Taiwan)|first=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China|date=1960-11-01|website=Taiwan Today|language=en|access-date=2017-07-22}}</ref>
By the late 1930s, Taiwan had become the third-largest exporter of pineapples in the world.<ref name=":0" /> However, when pineapple production in Taiwan shifted toward domestic sales and use of fresh pineapple, local bakeries sought to use this surplus in pastries.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fftc.agnet.org/library.php?func=view&id=20130628135136&type_id=3|title=Pineapple cakes boost Taiwan's rural industries|website=www.fftc.agnet.org|access-date=2017-07-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108083118/http://www.fftc.agnet.org/library.php?func=view&id=20130628135136&type_id=3|archive-date=2019-01-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> While pineapple cakes had historically been produced as a ceremonial food, a combination of governmental promotion and globalization popularized the pineapple cake. Pineapple cakes have become one of the top-selling souvenirs in Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://city543.com/taipei/2014/04/02/pineapple-cakes/|title=The Who's Who of Taiwan's Pineapple Cake Industry|work=City543|access-date=2017-07-22|language=en}}</ref>
Starting in 2005, the Taipei City Government ran an annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival for several years to foster the growth the local tourism industry and promote sales of the pineapple cake.<ref name="PineappleCakeFest">{{cite web |url= https://english.tfam.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=C70A8C69F16C23CF&sms=DFFA119D1FD5602C&s=23FB0EF1D95C7E9D |title= Pineapple Cake Festival to Take Place Next Weekend |author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher= Taipei Fine Arts Museum |access-date=February 1, 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20260201161016/https://english.tfam.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=C70A8C69F16C23CF&sms=DFFA119D1FD5602C&s=23FB0EF1D95C7E9D |archive-date= February 1, 2026 }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://english.gov.taipei/ct.asp?xItem=3648616&ctNode=8472&mp=100002|title=Pineapple Cake Fiesta Kicks off in Taipei|last=黃紫緹|date=2011-08-18|website=english.gov.taipei|language=en|access-date=2017-07-22}}</ref> In 2013, the revenue from Taiwan's pineapple cake bakeries totaled NT$40 billion (US$1.2 billion), and sales of pineapple cakes have also bolstered agricultural economies in rural parts of the country.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://topics.amcham.com.tw/2016/01/the-pineapple-cake-chronicles/|title=The Pineapple Cake Chronicles - Taiwan Business TOPICS|date=2016-01-29|work=Taiwan Business TOPICS|access-date=2017-07-22|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
== Symbolism == {{multiple image|perrow=1 | align = right | image1 = Taiwan Pineapple cakes - 1.jpg | total_width=230 | caption1 = | image2 = Taiwan Pineapple cakes - 2.jpg | caption2 = | footer = ''Fenglisu'' with pineapple filling inside }} In Taiwanese Hokkien, "pineapple" ({{zh|c=王梨|poj=ông-lâi|labels=no}}) sounds similar to a phrase meaning "to come forth, prosperous and thriving" ({{zh|c=旺來|poj=ōng-lâi|labels=no}}).<ref>{{holodict|1270|e=王梨}}</ref> This phrase conveys the hope that many children will be born to the family. As a result, pineapple cakes are often given as engagement gifts, or simply as well-wishing presents in an everyday context.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Today, pineapple cake is considered one of Taiwan's culinary symbols.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hiufu Wong |first1=Maggie |title=40 of the best Taiwanese foods and drinks |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/40-taiwan-food/index.html |website=CNN |date=24 July 2015 |publisher=CNN |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>
== Varieties == Contemporary pineapple cake bakeries have created variations on the traditional pineapple cake. The filling may also incorporate preserved egg yolks or other dried fruits such as cranberries or strawberries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/08/25/2003541153|title=Pineapple cake festival opens in Taipei - Taipei Times|website=www.taipeitimes.com|date=25 August 2012 |access-date=2017-07-22}}</ref>
Bakeries may also add winter melon to the pineapple jam. This practice was initially an effort to make the tart pineapple filling more palatable.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} However, in contemporary bakeries, adding winter melon to the filling may be seen as an indicator of lower quality.<ref name=":5" />
The annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival often featured a contest in which bakeries competed to create pineapple cakes that incorporated unconventional ingredients, such as rice or Taiwanese tea.<ref name="PineappleCakeFest" /><ref name=":4" />
== Production == thumb|''Fenglisu'' skin is typically made with butter or lard The outer skin of traditional pineapple cake is made of lard, but today, butter is more commonly used. The filling is mostly made of pineapple mixed with winter melon.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-23|title=鳳梨酥的前世與今生 - 臺北鳳梨酥文化節 {{!}} Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival|url=http://www.fonglisu.tw/index.php/2015-05-19-07-20-02/2013-05-10-06-31-33|access-date=2021-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523142159/http://www.fonglisu.tw/index.php/2015-05-19-07-20-02/2013-05-10-06-31-33 |archive-date=2015-05-23 }}</ref> In recent years, many merchants have used pure pineapple to make filling. Although its taste is not as dense and soft as the winter melon filling, the unique and rich fruity flavor with such sweet and sour taste of pure pineapple filling are incomparable with winter melon filling.
==See also== * Pineapple production in Taiwan * List of Taiwanese desserts and snacks * List of pastries * Taiwanese cuisine * Taro pastry
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Pineapple cakes}}
{{pastries}} {{Pineapples}} {{Taiwanese cuisine}} {{Portal bar|Asia|Taiwan|Food}} {{authority control}}
Category:Fruit pies Category:Taiwanese pastries Category:Stuffed desserts Category:Pineapple desserts Category:Wax gourd dishes