They were originally known as qima cakes until former president Chiang Ching-kuo, who was serving as Minister of Defense at the time, visited Matsu in 1964. He took an immediate liking to the delectable little treats and exclaimed, "Matsu is the only place you can find these things.
民國五十三年故總統蔣經國赴馬巡視，品嚐之後大為驚艷，說道：「只有馬祖才能吃到的好點心，得改名『馬祖酥』才名副其實。」