Handpicked locally-grown Taiwanese soybeans！ Richly milky and naturally sweet Tainan soy milk

Text & photos /Sean

One day while riding my bike past the railway tracks on Shulin Street, I caught a glimpse of a new shop out of the corner of my eye. I immediately turned around to check... and sure enough, it was a newly opened store. The name has a bit of... a literary vibe. Currently, the shop only sells soy milk, but they plan to offer tofu pudding in the future. Since it's just the owner making everything by hand, the daily supply is limited.

The highlight of Nanguo Soybeans should be that 100% of the soybeans are sourced from Taiwan. Since they are domestically grown, there’s naturally no concern about genetic modification (as for whether they’re organic, personally I’m not that fussed—after all, being organic isn’t necessarily correlated with non-GMO, and the issue of organics is more about regulatory compliance). From my research, among the soybeans currently grown in Taiwan, there’s no concern about GMOs. What does happen is unscrupulous vendors adulterating the product (mixing in imported soybeans to increase profits), engaging in deceptive business practices.

As for how to tell the difference? Actually, you’d need to compare the raw ingredients directly, or it’s something professionals in the industry would be better equipped to do. For the average consumer, it’s really difficult to distinguish GMO from non-GMO just by looking with the naked eye, let alone by taste—trying to “drink” the difference. After all, Taiwan’s soybean production is low, making it relatively sought-after, so the practice of mixing in other beans definitely exists. But personally, I’d rather trust retailers that proudly declare their products as non-GMO. Trust is mutual—if there’s no mutual trust, then choosing between GMO and non-GMO doesn’t really mean much. That’s the end of my bean knowledge tidbit—back to drinking soy milk.

The soy milk from Nanguo Soybeans, whether you smell it or drink it, has an incredibly rich bean flavor. According to the shop owner, he uses two types of beans—one leaves a milky aftertaste, and the other has a slightly sweet flavor. I think what I had was the milky type.

For those who enjoy a rich and bold taste, the soy milk from Nanguo Soybeans should really hit the spot. Add them to your must-try list, and when fate brings you there, come buy a bottle and give it a try.

Nanguo Soybeans
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Address: No. 179, Section 1, Shulin Street, East District, Tainan City (at the start of Shulin Street, by the railway)
Phone: 06 214 7196
Business hours: Tue–Sun: 8:00 – 12:00, 15:00 – 18:00 (Closed on Mondays and irregular holidays)

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