Taiwan's Most Coveted Pastry: Changhua Prison's 'Iron Window' Egg Yolk Pastry Sells Out Limited 100,000 Units Amidst Price Hike

Taiwan's Changhua Prison is once again seeing overwhelming demand for its "Iron Window" brand egg yolk pastry, famously difficult to obtain. This year, a limited production of 100,000 pastries is available, and despite a price hike from 41 to 47.5 New Taiwan dollars per unit, the rush to pre-order has been extraordinary.

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The 'Iron Window' brand egg yolk pastry from Changhua Prison is the most difficult to grab in all of Taiwan. This year, only 100,000 units are available, and they've even increased the price. The two ordering lines were overwhelmed as soon as they opened.

On the first day of sales, the two dedicated ordering phone lines were instantly jammed. Many customers reported making nearly a hundred attempts without success, while others considered themselves lucky after just over sixty calls. The scene has been compared to the frantic scramble for concert tickets, highlighting the pastry's cult status.

Last year, the prison's "Iron Window" mooncakes sold out 70,000 units in just four hours, causing the online ordering system to crash and leading to complaints from those unable to secure any. This year's egg yolk pastry, sold in boxes of eight for 380 NT dollars, is still considered a high-value option compared to commercial brands, despite the 16% price increase.

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This year, the baking class dispatched 10 baking experts. Because we insist on handmade production, the daily output is only about 550 boxes. The limited quantity, combined with years of accumulated reputation, causes the phones to be constantly busy on the first day of sales. We hope the public will give us understanding.

Deputy Warden Cheng Che-cheng explained that the pastries are handmade by ten skilled inmates in the prison's baking program. With a daily output of only about 550 boxes, the limited quantity combined with years of accumulated reputation fuels the intense demand. He stressed that the initiative is not for profit but aims to equip inmates with vocational skills for successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society, with each pastry carrying the profound meaning of social transformation.

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We emphasize that launching mooncakes is not for profit, but we hope to let the inmates learn a skill and successfully reintegrate into society. Every delicious egg yolk pastry carries the profound meaning of social transformation.