Taro balls (芋圓, yù yuán) are Jiufen's defining food. Small balls of mashed taro root or sweet potato, tinted purple or orange by their ingredients, are boiled until chewy and served in a bowl of sweet red bean soup, peanut soup, or shaved ice. The texture is somewhere between mochi and a dumpling; the flavour is mildly sweet and starchy. You can't walk the old street without encountering them.
Several stalls compete for the title of best taro balls in Jiufen. Ami Taro Ball (阿柑姨芋圓) near the top of Shuqi Road has the best view — a table on the terrace with the coast below — and is consistently rated the best. Liu Yu Yue on the main street is simpler but has a devoted local following. Both are cheap, around NT$60–80 for a bowl. Eat them hot in cool weather; cold in summer.