Are you a corn soup fan or a hot and sour soup fan? The 4 most popular soups to eat with dumplings in Taiwan

▲What kind of soup do you prefer with your dumplings? (Illustration / Provided by KUNI)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Dumplings are one of the common staple foods in Taiwan, but many people also habitually order a bowl of soup to go with them. But what kind of soup pairs best with dumplings? Below is a compilation of various opinions, selecting 4 types of soup that netizens consider the most compatible. See which camp you fall into.

▲Rich and creamy corn soup is the top choice for many. (Illustration / Provided by Eastern News)

1. Corn Soup
Rich and creamy corn soup is considered by many to be the best soup to pair with dumplings. Its hearty flavor complements the taste of dumplings well, and some people even put the dumplings directly into the corn soup to enjoy together, believing the soup enhances the dumpling flavor. Others say using the water from boiling dumplings to make corn soup results in especially delicious results—making it one of the popular soup choices.

▲Hot and sour soup also has a large following. (Illustration / Provided by Old K)

2. Hot and Sour Soup
Another popular favorite is hot and sour soup. It features a rich variety of ingredients such as black fungus, shredded bamboo shoots, tofu, and shredded carrots. Its thick, tangy and spicy flavor is especially refreshing in the cold winter. Some people even put half their dumplings into the hot and sour soup to make “hot and sour dumpling soup,” enjoying two flavors in one bowl, making it another beloved pairing.

▲Egg drop soup (top right in the photo). (Illustration / mimi Han)

3. Egg Drop Soup
A quintessentially Taiwanese egg drop soup always plays a supporting role wherever it goes. With its light taste and affordable price, it’s a great choice for many, and seaweed egg drop soup is especially favored by foodies.

4. The leftover water from boiling dumplings
When serving dumplings, it's inevitable that some of the cooking water gets poured into the bowl. Some netizens say they love drinking that “dumpling water,” and others mention seeing many people at night markets drinking the soup used to boil dumplings. This quirky choice also has quite a few supporters.