QQ egg

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QQ eggs
QQ eggs freshly fried at a Taiwanese night market
TypeFried food
CourseSnack
Place of originTaiwan
Region or stateSouthern Taiwan
Main ingredientsSweet potato flour, sugar, tapioca starch
VariationsSweet potato balls (地瓜球), Chewy balls (啾啾蛋)

QQ eggs (Chinese: QQ蛋; pinyin: QQ dàn) are a popular Taiwanese night market snack made from sweet potato flour and tapioca starch, deep-fried into golden, crispy spheres. Known for their chewy texture and sweet aroma, QQ eggs are considered a southern Taiwanese variant of the more widely known sweet potato balls (Chinese: 地瓜球; pinyin: dìguā qiú). The snack has become a cultural symbol of Taiwan's vibrant street food scene and regional culinary diversity. [1]

Overview

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QQ eggs are small, spherical, and golden-brown after deep-frying. They are typically made from mashed sweet potato mixed with tapioca starch and sugar, then shaped into balls and fried until puffed and crispy on the outside while maintaining a chewy, elastic texture inside. The name "QQ" in Taiwanese Mandarin refers to the pleasantly chewy mouthfeel, a texture highly appreciated in Taiwanese cuisine.[2]

Regional naming differences

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There is an ongoing debate across Taiwan over the proper name of the snack. Internet discussions on the popular forum PTT and Dcard revealed that people from northern Taiwan, including New Taipei and Taoyuan, typically call the snack "sweet potato balls" (地瓜球), while residents of southern Taiwan, particularly in Kaohsiung, prefer the name "QQ eggs".[3][4]

Other local names include "啾啾蛋" (jiū-jiū dàn) used in Yunlin County and "燒馬蛋" (shāo-mǎ dàn) found in some rural areas. In Taichung, vendors have even combined both terms, selling "QQ sweet potato balls" (QQ地瓜球) to appeal to both northern and southern visitors.[5]

Texture and taste

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Enthusiasts note subtle textural and taste differences between the two variants. "Sweet potato balls" (地瓜球) are described as lighter and hollow inside, with a crispy shell that gives a satisfying crunch. "QQ eggs", by contrast, have a denser and chewier consistency, with a texture similar to mochi.[6][7][8]

Cultural significance

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QQ eggs and their northern counterpart sweet potato balls are staple items in Taiwanese night markets and symbolize the nation's diverse regional food culture. The playful rivalry between "QQ egg" and "sweet potato ball" enthusiasts often appears in online discussions and media, reflecting both local pride and humor in Taiwanese culinary identity.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 張政慧; 黃瑞麟; 陳心慈 (31 January 2024). "古早味「燒馬蛋」考倒大眾　北部叫地瓜球.南部稱QQ蛋". Chinese Television System (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  2. ^ "你都怎麼叫？北部：地瓜球 南部：QQ蛋 宜蘭稱：燒馬蛋". Mirror Media (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  3. ^ "高雄「一顆1元地瓜球」太佛心！堅持不漲價背後藏感人故事". ETtoday (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 17 May 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  4. ^ 黃育仁 (27 July 2020). "這是「QQ蛋」還是「地瓜球」 網論戰..." Chinese Television System (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  5. ^ 黃瀞瑩; 謝鈞仲; 許世良 (18 May 2018). "地瓜球？QQ蛋？一秒分辨你是北部人還是南部人". SET News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  6. ^ "到底叫QQ蛋還是地瓜球？老饕吃出心得神解析「真的不一樣」". United Daily News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 6 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  7. ^ 林郁婷 (6 October 2021). "叫地瓜球還是QQ蛋？　資深老饕曝心得神解析：真的有差". ETtoday (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  8. ^ 賴俊佑 (6 October 2021). "地瓜球就是QQ蛋？內行曝2者差異：是改良版". SET News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  9. ^ 張士哲 (6 October 2021). "地瓜球、QQ蛋是不同東西？　老饕點出「關鍵差異」". TVBS News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 31 October 2025.