Coffin Bread is a classic Taiwanese snack originating from Tainan. It was invented by a person named Xu Liuyi. To attract good fortune, some shops have renamed it "Official Wealth Bread." The bread is deep-fried at high temperature until golden and crispy, thin as a cracker, and filled with ingredients such as onions, chicken, squid, peas, and carrots. With its multi-layered flavors, it’s best enjoyed hot...
Tainan Anping Snack: Dongyang Cuttlefish Soup
Guanzao handmade soap is crafted with sincere dedication by a group of practitioners. It is a pure soap that allows everyone to connect with handmade soap in daily life. Starting with cleansing and skincare, it encourages loving oneself as well as the Earth. The soap is presented artistically, infused with vitality, and comes in a variety of shapes and types to satisfy your visual...
Tainan: Stir-fried Eel A specialty of Tainan. Seasoned with sugar, salt, and "jiuwang" (a local ingredient), this stir-fried dish retains the fish's freshness along with a subtle sweetness.…
Puli is rich in local produce, and its cuisine is no exception—especially its ingeniously crafted wild vegetable banquets and Shaoxing wine feasts, which are widely praised. Among the wild vegetables favored by locals, none is more unique than the wild ginger flower. This delicate, elegant riverside blossom, once known for its graceful charm, is transformed by local chefs into a delightful dish that leaves an unforgettable lingering flavor on the palate. The wild ginger flower can be...
Water bamboo shoots, nicknamed "beauty legs" for their appearance, are in season from May to September. Those grown with mountain spring water in Puli are crisp, sweet, and fragrant. Locals often boil or steam them to preserve their original flavor. Passion fruit, another key crop in Puli introduced from Brazil during the Japanese colonial period, is in season from September to December, while red sugarcane is harvested from November to...
Dongding tea is hailed as the finest tea in Taiwan. It is produced in Lugu Township, Nantou County. The fresh leaves are picked from tea trees of the Qingxin Oolong variety, hence it is also called [Dongding Oolong]. Dongding is the name of the mountain, and Oolong refers to the tea variety. However, based on its fermentation level, it is a lightly semi-fermented tea, and its production method is similar to that of Pouchong tea, so it should be classified under the Pouchong...
It is a wild fish species about 10 centimeters in length, commonly referred to as “Qila,” “Qili,” or “Zhi La” by Hoklo people. Closely tied to the lifestyle of the Thao people, it carries a strong local flavor. The Qila fish mainly inhabits low-altitude rivers and lakes, thriving in high temperatures—its population increases as the weather gets warmer. Therefore, to enjoy Qila...
Zhushan Township in Nantou County is renowned as the “Bamboo Town,” producing a wealth of bamboo species such as Lingyuan Moso bamboo, Ma bamboo, Gui bamboo, and Green bamboo. The advantage of crafting bamboo products lies in the full utilization of every part of the bamboo — for example, bamboo sheaths can be woven into women’s handbags; underground stems (bamboo rhizomes) can be made into walking sticks and tobacco pipes, and even the inner bamboo membrane can...
Puli rice noodles, renowned alongside Hsinchu rice noodles, are "water noodles" made by boiling. They have a coarser appearance but, thanks to the high-quality water, mild climate, and use of pure glutinous rice as the main ingredient, they offer a fragrant, chewy, and springy texture. These qualities make them a sought-after local specialty among tourists. (Nantou County)…
Fried sugar candy is a famous traditional specialty of Nantou County. It is made from premium peanuts, white sugar, and maltose using a traditional folk craft method where the mixture is “beaten” with wooden sticks. In the Hokkien dialect, “beaten” is called “gong,” hence the name “gong tang” or fried sugar candy. Legend has it that during imperial times, local officials often presented distinctive vegetarian snacks to the emperor. After tasting them with his tea, the emperor praised them highly...
The butter crumb pastry from Nantou County is the most famous, known for its fragrant, chewy, and layered texture, often spread across the entire island by pilgrims. When talking about butter crumb pastry, one cannot overlook its predecessor, the “crumb pastry.” Originally, the “crumb pastry” was an engagement gift box in coastal regions. Compared to the more refined boxed wedding pastries in terms of craftsmanship and ingredients, it was considered less delicate, hence also nicknamed the “commoner’s pastry”…
The top-grade Black Pearl wax apple is a prized fruit of Taiwan. The most precious gift presented to 1 President 1 during his visit was the Black Pearl wax apple. With an elegant appearance, it has a unique fragrance, a sweet and delicious taste, and an especially crisp texture. The skin of the Black Pearl wax apple boasts a waxy sheen, while its flesh is spongy, juicy, sweet, and carries a faint...
Nantou County’s sorghum liquor is Taiwan’s top-ranked liquor, ranked alongside Alishan and Sun Moon Lake as one of the “Three Treasures of Taiwan.” The Kinmen Distillery was founded in 1952, just one year younger than the Moutai Distillery. In the past, due to the isolation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, people on the mainland rarely had the chance to taste sorghum liquor, and even fewer knew about it. Sorghum liquor is made from the region’s specialty drought-resistant sorghum and draws on...
Shuangdong is a well-known kingdom of betel nuts in the country. The landscape is dominated by endless betel nut trees and betel pepper leaf fields, along with the impressive sight of Shuangdong’s betel nut pavilions lining the streets. Thanks to its superior geographical conditions, the betel nuts produced here are exceptionally refreshing. Coupled with the region’s unique recipes and locally grown aged leaves, they offer a distinctive taste that is renowned across Taiwan…
Suiyi Canteen is known for many signature dishes, but its Baocai Vegetable and Three-Cup Garlic Eel are the most highly praised. Baocai Vegetable, commonly known as "pig’s milk," is a wild vegetable often found in rural areas. It’s simple to prepare—just lightly blanched and served with a dipping sauce, resulting in a tender and refreshing texture. The Three-Cup Garlic Eel is slowly braised in a specially made iron pot over low heat. Its uniqueness lies in the...
This stall only sells oyster vermicelli in the morning. For over 20 years, it has built a strong reputation in Caotun. The freshness of the oysters and the noodles that stay firm and don’t turn mushy after prolonged cooking are what make this oyster vermicelli so delicious. Add to that the rich aroma of chopped scallions, and it’s simply mouthwatering. (Nantou County)…
Rice vermicelli, made from rice, originally came from China’s Fujian region. Due to Nantou’s year-round strong winds, the area’s unique climate is particularly well-suited for making rice vermicelli, which gradually developed into a local specialty. In classification, Nantou rice vermicelli can be divided into two types: “water vermicelli” and “steamed vermicelli.” Among them, the type known as water vermicelli, which has a…
Duck preserved in salt is a refreshing side dish made from duck skin, duck gizzard, and scallions, ginger, and garlic that are quickly stir-fried over high heat to bring out strong flavors, resulting in a crispy yet not greasy texture when eating the duck gizzard. The method used in Nantou County involves selecting older, more economical ducks with lower market prices. After gutting the ducks, they are coated with coarse salt, pepper, and other spices, then flattened using bamboo…
is a fairly well-known snack in Lukang. The vermicelli soup here is especially richly garnished, cooked with pork, dried shrimp, eggs, onions, and vermicelli, all simmered together in a pork bone broth. It's thick, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying to slurp down. The owner’s warm hospitality adds even more charm to this delightful little dish. (Changhua County)…