The Disappearing Tradition

Rice is the main staple food in our country, and people are used to feeling full by eating rice every day. However, with economic development, noodles have gradually replaced rice, followed by the widespread influence of Western fast-food culture. In terms of staple food, breakfast, hamburgers, fried chicken, bread, buns, and steamed buns have replaced rice and side dishes on the dining table, and traditional rice dishes seem to be gradually disappearing.
Half a century ago, almost every household in Lukang had several cake molds, which were all wooden carvings. They express the wishes, joys, and blessings of the people through the craftsmanship of artisans. In addition to the longevity turtle, there were also patterns of auspicious flowers, fruits of the four seasons, and mascots.
In the past agricultural society, every household would make cakes and cook red turtle cakes. But nowadays, wooden molds are nowhere to be found and have become antiques. Children used to watch the fire, grandmothers cooked cakes, and mothers made red turtle cakes for worship, but now they have become commodities that can only be bought in the market. Traditional craftsmen are also becoming fewer and fewer. Combined with the habit of consuming flour-based snacks on the market, traditional red turtle cakes are gradually disappearing from our daily diet.

We came across a story titled "Reluctant to Let Go: Grandma's 'Red Turtle Cakes' Made into 'Baked Biscuits' by Her Granddaughter."
The owner, Yang Shuyu, expressed the desire to revive the tradition of her 80-year-old grandma making red turtle cakes during festivals. The kitchen was filling with fragrance and creating an atmosphere of traditional celebrations. A young girl in her twenties who is unwilling to let her grandma's red turtle cakes disappear. She used her baking skills to innovate by transitioning from using a large wood stove to a small gas stove and iron pan. She opened a tea house by Sun Moon Lake in Nantou. Despite a generation gap of over 60 years between the grandmother and granddaughter, their collaboration over the years has sparked different approaches, bringing attention to red turtle cakes.
In another story, "Red Turtle Cakes Get Smaller! Colliding with Brownies and Thai Pork and Basil Stir-fry for New Flavors," a business owner in Yilan sought to give red turtle cakes new life. They not only developed mini versions of red turtle cakes but also combined them with brownies and Thai pork and basil stir-fry, blending Eastern and Western flavors. They even paired them with ice cream, transforming red turtle cakes from a treat reserved for special occasions into a new choice for afternoon tea.

Although rice has been overshadowed by noodles and cakes are no longer prominent in modern diets, cakes are beloved snacks enjoyed by both humans and deities. Nowadays, cake molds hang in prestigious art shops as revered antiques, and some even find their way into museums for admiration. We believe that the cake culture rooted in rice will one day be revived in our stomachs.