Pizza Hut Breaks Out Of Its Shell With Unusual ‘Turtle’ Pie
Image via Pizza Hut Taiwan
Pizza Hut Taiwan is serving up a pizza that’s more Cowabunga than the typical pepperoni and pineapple. First of all, it’s green. It’s also garnished with cilantro. Oh, and it has red eyes and webbed feet.
Meet the Stuffed Crust Double Filling Mugwort Mochi Turtle Pizza, which is a mouthful in all sense of the word. According to Taiwan News, the dish is marketed with some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle nuances—complete with throwing stars in the advertisement—and although pizza makes a prominent presence in the series, that’s not what’s being celebrated here.
View this post on Instagram
Phew, because one shudders to think that’s Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, or Leonardo on a plate.
"Turtle pizza" by Pizzahut Taiwan pic.twitter.com/T9dWTzxClN
— Titus Chiu (@TitusChiuTW) March 20, 2024
As it seems, the character pizza pays tribute to the upcoming Qingming Festival in early April. Also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, it’s a time for families to honor their ancestors by visiting their gravesites, cleaning them up, and making food and other offerings.
The turtle, now in pizza form, happens to be a symbol of longevity in Taiwanese culture. Taking a slice of inspiration from the local delicacy that is mugwort cake—a sweet rice cake infused with the herb mugwort—Pizza Hut has incorporated chewy mochi pieces across the item.
For a savory punch, the chain added a filling of preserved rice and a sprinkling of cilantro, staple ingredients in Taiwan. Red bean paste, a classic dessert element, brings a touch of sweetness to the dish.
Finally, the edible reptile is served with a decadent cheese-stuffed crust and decorated with tater tots, delivering a true East-meets-West creation.
Pizza Hut Taiwan's latest monstrosity is...a turtle-shaped mochi pizza with cilantro??? What in the...https://t.co/5eV0b0zkF7 pic.twitter.com/14NIBQg8jU
— Brian Hioe 丘ç¦æ¬£ (@brianhioe) March 20, 2024
Its looks might put patrons off, but as they say, slow and steady wins the race. Maybe.
Pizza Hut Taiwan launches mugwort mochi ninja #turtle #pizza! ðŸ¢Turtle topped with mugwort #mochi, #cilantro, and tater tots with red bean and cheese filling. #TECOBOSTON pic.twitter.com/lw1xmPntiV
— Taiwan in Boston (@TecoBoston) March 20, 2024
[via PopYummy and Taiwan News, images via various sources]
