By MOOK Travel & Lifestyle Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin
During festive holidays, mullet roe is always a highlight on the dining table. Its rich aroma paired with the sweetness of white radish is simply intoxicating. But how is mullet roe actually made? Located in Yancheng District, Kaohsiung, the “Chen Fang Mullet Roe Learning Factory,” with a history and experience spanning sixty years, not only makes its products highly popular among locals, but is also currently the only mullet roe tourism factory in Taiwan. It offers guided tours and DIY workshops where visitors can make their own mullet roe. This allows guests to not only savor this time-honored delicacy but also to create it themselves while learning quick and convenient cooking methods.
The DIY classes at the learning factory are perfect for families. (Photo provided by Chen Fang Mullet Roe Learning Factory)
The first-generation owners of Chen Fang Mullet Roe Learning Factory originally operated a tiny 2-ping shop in the Yancheng Market. When the second generation took over, they introduced professional production processes and established standardized procedures, moving away from traditional open-air sun-drying. They now use fully transparent indoor climate-controlled rooms to better manage temperature and humidity, while also eliminating outdoor contamination from dust and insects. Additionally, they have built a Mullet Culture Museum within the factory, showcasing mullet culture and local folklore to preserve historical heritage.
A guided tour of the Mullet Culture Museum gives children a deeper understanding of mullet culture. (Photo provided by Chen Fang Mullet Roe Learning Factory)
The mullet roe learning factory also offers DIY experiences covering the entire processing journey—from cleaning and salting to shaping and pressing—giving participants a hands-on taste of the full production process. Once the semi-finished mullet roe is made, visitors can choose to take it home themselves or leave it in the factory’s care for delivery via mail order. After seven days, you can enjoy your freshly made, homemade mullet roe.
In addition, the factory offers lessons on making mullet roe rice balls and grilled mullet roe, each session lasting about 10–15 minutes. The grilled mullet roe lesson teaches visitors how to grill mullet roe using ignited 58% sorghum liquor, enabling them to learn a quick and easy cooking method that lets them enjoy delicious mullet roe at home with ease.
Fully transparent indoor climate-controlled rooms ensure hygiene and cleanliness in mullet roe production. (Photo provided by Chen Fang Mullet Roe Learning Factory)
Visits to the mullet roe learning factory require advance booking. Each visit costs NT$50 and lasts about 40 minutes. Guided tours plus DIY experiences cost between NT$100 and NT$350 per person, lasting approximately 60–90 minutes. Factory website: www.a-ten588.com.tw.
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