Exploring Taiwanese Food Culture
In Taiwan, the tropical humidity sometimes makes you feel like you are swimming through air. In the spring, typhoons rip through the island, leaving behind a trail of mayhem. However, despite certain inconveniences, the locals and visitors to Taiwan often emerge with sun-kissed faces and an air of contentment. After four years of attending a boarding school there, I uncovered one of the explanations behind this joy: the food.
There is a reason it is said that the Taiwanese 'worship' their stomachs. It is not in the sense that they build shrines for their favorite platters, though. In Taiwan, many people just take the whole concept of food pretty seriously. As with all countries, the food culture is comprised of several different categories of cuisine. Because of this, travelers with adventurous taste buds will not be disappointed. If you are currently planning a trip to Formosa Island, or are simply curious what the small country has to offer your plate, here are three points on Taiwanese food culture I picked up that can help to guide you:
Teashops are for anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Newcomers to the boba tea scene may feel overwhelmed when hearing seasoned buyers ordering their drinks. The long, detailed orders sound vaguely similar to those that take place at local coffee shops. 1/4 sweetness or 3/4 sweetness? Grass jelly topping, milk pudding, or both? In Taiwan, almost all teashops allows their drinks to be customizable in terms of toppings, sweetness, size and temperature. The birthplace of boba tea built an entire market around the concept of takeaway drinks that provide customers with moments of release from Taiwan's year-round humid weather. In the summer, mango and peach iced teas are some popular choices. In the winter, ginger, brown sugar, and other warming spices take over the scene. And of course, boba tea is popular all year round. There, competition is fierce; almost every street holds a teashop (or three) with each one scrambling to whip up the next specialty.
A Mango slush and another fruity blended tea. Image Credit: Stephanie Har
Although most stores serve variates of similar drinks, locals know that each store has its own niche. Some whip up tastier milk teas with chewier boba and others concoct fresher fruit juices. Rankings are often matter of preference that mostly travels through word of mouth. I remember booking it to nearby teashops with my classmates the moment school let out. On days where patience was limited or the sun was too unbearable, we had the drinks delivered. Tea was engrained in our lifestyles and no heatwave could get in the way.
After four years of bouncing between stores and refining my preferences for boba teas, I now find it difficult to settle for the powder-based versions in countries far from the island. In addition, prices are usually more than tripled. If you live in one of these places and are undoubtedly hooked on tea already, I advise you to just book a ticket to Taiwan; your taste buds and your wallet will thank you in the long run. On the other hand, if you have only tried the unauthentic version and found it unsatisfying, I urge you all the more to go for a visit. The quality, prices, selections and tastes of the teas there are enough to woo you over. After all, can powdered milk and flavored syrup ever beat an ice-cold, freshly pressed, passion-fruit green tea?
A high school friend and I during our Sophomore year of high school. Image Credit: Annie Liu
Street Food Is Prominent
Taichung, the city my high school was in, is a smaller and more laid-back version of the country's capital, Taipei. On normal streets, due to lack of space, stores are often crammed together so tightly that there is not even room for sidewalks. When I first arrived, having previously lived in China, I was skeptical of the hygiene of the snacks sold in the food stalls that lined these roads. But a week or two was all it took for me to become hooked on zhua bings and Taiwanese fried chicken. I soon learned that street food in Taiwan is as a part of the culture as scooters and boba tea. Although many Taiwanese people love eating out, doing so in Taiwan does not to necessarily constitute hours at a sit down meal. Locals often drop by on their scooters to pick up late-afternoon snacks or entire meals packaged in neat paper boxes.
Taro and sweet potato balls, a Taiwanese classic. Image Credit: Stephanie Har Chua Bing, a flakey yet soft and chew bread, often cooked with eggs and other toppings. It can usually be found in food stands by the side of the road or breakfast shops. Image Credit: Stephanie Har Radish Cake, a popular dish that is prominent in breakfast shops. Image Credit: Stephanie Har
Although many food stalls are open all day, the street food arena truly blossoms after five. Late into the evening, night markets all over Taiwan proudly champion arrays of stalls and stores that sell their own specialties. From fried taro balls to squid on a stick, assortments of unique treats range wide and far. From my Freshman year of high school to the summer after I graduated, I have made more than a few visits to Fengjia, the top night market for food in Taichung. The blinking lights and bubbling atmosphere mixed with good company almost always guarantee memories; it is no wonder the nighttime streets are constantly buzzing with people.
My high school friend and I meet at Fengjia the summer after our first year in University to drink in all the boba tea (and other snacks). Image Credit: Roxanne Chang
There are many options
If you are are interested in Dim Sum, spicy Thai shrimp soup, truffle pizza or fresh sashimi, you will not be disappointed in Taiwan. In Taiwan, there are plenty of options in the food spectrum; your palette is far from limited to traditional Taiwanese cuisine. When it comes down to specifics, individual blogs or more mainstream posts from TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet can give more details on exact restaurants to visit. But the takeaway here that a rainbow of options exist; your next 'foodie' adventure is only a Google search away. As a personal tip, sometimes the hidden mom and pop shops by the side of the road actually serve the most delectable dishes; they may not always appear in the rankings but if they're packed with locals, why not give them a try? Back in high school, I remember queuing in front of a humble food shop. I only ventured there because of the long line of people ahead. The takeaway Cantonese shop ended up serving some of the most authentic Char Siu Pork I had tasted in a while. Take a look at the photos below from either my or my cousin's camera-roll when she visited Taiwan to glimpse a sliver of other possibilities.
A Japanese Rice Meal Set. Image Credit: Stephanie Har
Thai Tom Yum Soup Image Credit: Stephanie Har Beef Noodle Soup, a specialty in Taiwan. Image Credit: Stephanie Har An Indian Dinner during Junior Year. Image Credit: Jenny Sung
During my first year of university, I sat in my dorm room crying internally from the lack of beef noodle soup in Texas. But after a while, I realized a gem of wisdom when it comes to traveling: no matter where you go, refrain from comparing one country's native dishes to what is offered in your current country. It may seem obvious, but I think one of the best mindsets for wherever you go is to try to dive in and appreciate what the locals are enjoying; your worldview and food palette will certainly widen. So if you are traveling to Taiwan, do not be afraid to venture into the street markets or find popular restaurants to sample what the locals are having. Get ready to fill your stomach; the diet can wait until Monday.
