Taiwanese pig's blood rice cake is a cooked, savory snack made with rice and pig's blood. Its compact rice texture, flavorful sauce and fragrant peanut coating make it a distinctive part of Taiwan's street-food culture.
This page introduces a steamed street-food preparation served with sauce, roasted peanut powder and a little cilantro. It also explains the ingredients openly so visitors can decide whether the dish suits their tastes and dietary requirements.
What Is Pig's Blood Rice Cake?
Pig's blood rice cake is made by combining rice, often glutinous rice, with pig's blood and seasonings, then cooking the mixture into a firm cake. The finished food has a dark color and visible rice grains.
Here, the word "cake" describes its formed shape. It is a savory rice food rather than a baked dessert. The version introduced here is fully cooked before serving.
Pig's Blood Rice Cake and Mi Xue Gao
You may encounter the names zhu xue gao, meaning pig's blood rice cake, and mi xue gao, a broader term for blood rice cake. Naming practices vary between vendors and products.
Blood rice cakes may be made with pig's blood, duck's blood or other animal blood, depending on the recipe. The name alone does not always establish the full ingredient list. This introduction focuses on the pig's blood version.
The Steamed Street-Food Preparation
- Steam the already-cooked rice cake until warm.
- Brush or coat it with the chosen sauce.
- Add roasted peanut powder.
- Finish with a little cilantro, if desired.
Common sauce choices include soy-based sauces, sweet chili sauce or chili sauce. The seasoning, sweetness and spice level depend on the vendor and the customer's preferences.
What Does It Taste Like?
The rice cake has a dense, firm and chewy texture. Its seasoning provides a savory base, while the toppings contribute much of the aroma and flavor contrast.
Roasted peanut powder adds a nutty fragrance. Sauce may introduce savory, sweet or spicy notes, and cilantro adds a fresh herbal flavor. The result depends on the recipe and the balance of toppings.
How to Enjoy It
Take a small bite so the rice cake, sauce and peanut powder can be enjoyed together. Vendors may serve it as a rectangular portion on a bamboo skewer or in smaller pieces with utensils.
Keep any skewer or food pick outside your mouth while removing the food. If you prefer smaller portions, ask whether the vendor can cut the rice cake before serving.
Ingredients and Dietary Information
Contains peanuts.
Contains pig's blood. Not vegetarian or vegan. This version is not suitable for diets that exclude pork or animal blood.
Sauces and seasonings may contain soy, wheat or other allergens. Ask the vendor about the complete ingredients, the type of animal blood used and possible cross-contact. Removing peanut powder alone does not establish that a serving is safe for someone with a peanut allergy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does pig's blood rice cake contain actual blood?
Yes. The preparation introduced here contains pig's blood mixed with rice and cooked into a firm cake.
Is it served raw?
No. This is a cooked rice product. In the featured serving style, the cooked cake is steamed until warm before sauce and toppings are added.
Is it a sweet dessert?
No. It is a savory snack, although sauces or peanut-powder mixtures may add sweetness depending on the recipe.
Does every blood rice cake use pig's blood?
No. Blood rice cakes can use different animal blood ingredients. Confirm the actual recipe with the vendor or product label.
Is the peanut coating included everywhere?
No. Peanut-coated steamed rice cake is one serving style. Recipes, toppings and preparations differ between vendors.
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Come Taste Taiwan!
Learn about the ingredients and traditions behind Taiwan's distinctive snacks, then choose the foods that suit your preferences. Come to Taiwan and taste the delicious food!
A CLOSER LOOK
The story in pictures
Images and video use AI-generated visuals for food and travel storytelling. Actual dishes, ingredients, portions and scenery vary. This feature does not represent a specific vendor.
