Taiwan bakery serves up 'Viagra' cake

June 24, 1999
Web posted at: 11:45 a.m. EDT (1545 GMT)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- A local bakery is taking sweet advantage of Viagra's popularity with a blue baked good shaped like the tiny impotence pill.

The drug, introduced to Taiwan several months ago, is a hit. Taiwan newspapers have reported that during the past year's elections, a candidate was giving away free Viagra pills to win votes.

While the diamond-shaped "Viager" cake doesn't actually contain the drug, it is baked with herbs. The batter includes Chinese aloe, dandelion and Rosa laevigata.

"Our cake is different from the Viagra pill in drug effect," said store owner Chang Pi-O. "It is very healthy and contains many beneficial herbs that can keep you in a good mood when you eat it."

Chang says mostly women have been buying the cake as a gift for their boyfriends. One frosting-covered cake costs about $20.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.