Are Taiwan’s best souvenirs “Darkie Toothpaste”? Korean travelers: It’s so minty it numbs your scalp!

▲ Toothpaste that gives an extra-cool sensation has unexpectedly become one of Taiwan’s specialty products. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong, same below)

By Reporter Chen Rui-zhong / Taipei

In recent years, the number of Korean tourists visiting Taiwan has been steadily rising, and many bring back souvenirs after their trip. Products such as Darkie Toothpaste and 3:15 Milk Tea have become must-buy “Taiwan specialties” for Korean travelers. One Korean even said that brushing with Taiwanese toothpaste makes their teeth feel cleaner!

▲ Packaged milk tea, instant noodles, and chocolate balls are all beloved Taiwanese souvenirs among Koreans.

Mr. Zheng, a Korean national who works as a senior executive in Taiwan, stated,Most Koreans enjoy drinking alcohol, and after drinking, using Taiwanese toothpaste feels especially cool and refreshing, making their teeth feel cleaner.Another Korean, Ms. Kim, also mentioned that although she hasn’t been to Taiwan,friends returning from Taiwan often give her toothpaste as a souvenir, and brushing her teeth with it leaves her “scalp numb from the intense coolness!””

▲ The Taiwan specialty section at Carrefour Guilin Store.

Additionally, a can of Pure Drink packaged milk tea, which costs around NT$23–25 in Taiwan, is priced at KRW 2,300 (approximately NT$70) in Korean convenience stores. Meanwhile, a bubble tea from a Taiwanese drink shop costs about KRW 3,900–5,200 (approximately NT$119–159) in Korea. As a result, convenient and affordable instant packaged milk tea has become an extremely popular souvenir.

▲ In Korea, a cup of bubble tea costs between NT$119 and NT$159.

Ms. Lee, a Korean traveler, said that sweet Taiwanese milk tea tastes great and that she really enjoys it—she drinks it when traveling in Taiwan. Most beverage shops on Korean streets mainly sell coffee, juices, and herbal teas, not as diverse as in Taiwan, and packaged milk tea used to be rarely available in stores. However, in recent years, seeing the milk tea trend, Korean manufacturers have started selling milk tea packets.

▲ Mango QQ gummies are also one of the popular souvenirs.

Besides toothpaste and milk tea, Korean travel websites have previously shared must-buy items at Carrefour, includingMango QQ gummies, Grape QQ chocolate balls, fruit beer, pineapple cakes, Mhan-Da-Van instant noodles, Pure Drink, Bear Baby fabric freshener bags, and facial masks.All of these made the list. As a result, Carrefour Guilin Store, located near Ximending, has set up a Taiwan specialty section, where foreign tourists are often seen shopping.

▲ Two Korean women purchased over 10 cans of packaged milk tea and half a dozen tubes of toothpaste.

According to statistics from the Tourism Bureau, the number of Korean tourists visiting Taiwan in July this year reached 69,000, a 52.76% increase compared to the same period in 2015. Lin Meng-shao, PR manager at Carrefour, also noted that among all Carrefour branches in Taiwan, Guilin Store and Dazhi Store have the highest number of Korean visitors. The stores also offer multilingual broadcasts and signage to serve foreign customers.