New gift options from Penghu—scallop shrimp crisps, oyster crisps, chicken thistle tea, and cactus tea

Text and photos by Wei Ruyu

When someone returns from a trip to Penghu, the fragrant and chewy black sugar cake and ice-heart cake are always the delicious treats people eagerly anticipate; or else it’s the richly flavored scallop paste, as if having a bottle at home could instantly elevate all kinds of cooking. And as time passes and travelers come and go, the people of Penghu have not stood still either—they’ve developed new flavors by combining local ingredients, giving both old friends and newcomers fresh surprises time and again, showcasing the vibrant spirit of island life. In recent months, scallop shrimp crisps, oyster crisps, chicken thistle tea, and cactus tea have become the new stars on Penghu’s gourmet gift scene.

Penghu locals have condensed common seafood into convenient crisp packages, creating portable snacks and drinking accompaniments. These include “scallop shrimp crisps,” which offer a crispy texture mixed with a hint of scallop flavor, as well as an oyster flavor variety. Especially after savoring the island’s fresh oysters, trying the less commonly found “oyster crisps” lets you experience the unique taste crafted through different cooking methods.

Besides seafood, the island’s unique plants are also treasures the people of Penghu take pride in. Aside from the commonly used xiangru grass, boiled into xiangru tea as a cooling beverage, residents have also started using the nationally treasured plant—Echinops grijsii, also known as chicken thistle—to make tea bags for sale. It’s said that this plant, which thrives in harsh conditions of high heat and strong winds, boasts considerable nutritional value.

Additionally, the cactus (Catcus variety), often dubbed Penghu’s red apple, may originally hail from Mexico and the West Indies, but ever since the Dutch introduced it to Penghu in 1645, it has gradually become a beloved staple for residents. Once its spiky exterior is removed, its sweet-and-sour, vitamin-C-rich nature has been transformed into friendly treats like cactus ice cream, cactus jelly, cactus gummies… and before this autumn arrived, it made its debut as cactus tea, becoming a healthful hot drink companion for the cooler months.