Taiwan is an island nation with a diverse culture, a synthesis of many different cultures such as China, Japan, Portugal... That colorful diversity has greatly influenced many aspects of Taiwan's culture, including cuisine. However, Taiwanese people know how to mix and choose ingredients and create unique characteristics of this country's cuisine.
By pageEaterTaiwanese cuisine revolves around the combination of sweet and salty flavors. Therefore, the island nation's street food has many sweet dumplings filled with savory meats along with other typical stir-fried dishes.
Taiwan's street food world is bustling and vibrant all year round. But if you plan to visit this beautiful island this summer, Travellive suggests some dishes you can't miss.
Grilled meat buns
This dish was brought to Taiwan by the Fuzhou people who migrated. According to ancient customs, Taiwanese people often enjoy this dish at the end of the year. They believe that barbecued meat buns symbolize wealth and prosperity because they are shaped like gold bars. The dish consists of two layers of steamed buns, sandwiched between which is grilled pork filling along with vegetables, pickles, peanuts and coriander. Barbecued meat buns are sold abundantly in night markets. In Taipei, barbecued meat bun carts are always the most crowded places.
3-cup chicken (sanbeiji)
Three Cup Chicken is an iconic Taiwanese dish. Sanbeiji Chicken is made from three main ingredients: 1 cup of rice wine, 1 cup of soy sauce, and 1 cup of sesame oil, along with many spices such as ginger, garlic, and basil.
This dish is usually served with rice or porridge. In addition, some variations of Sanbeiji are also prepared with pork or frog meat instead of chicken. Sanbeiji chicken is a popular dish. Therefore, visitors can enjoy this dish right on the street or in a luxury restaurant.
Sticky potato dessert
This is the most popular dessert in Taiwan. Colorful chewy sweet potato dessert is made from three different types of potatoes: purple potato, sweet potato, and taro. The dish is served with sugar syrup and gypsum.
Pineapple cake
Pineapple cake is a traditional Taiwanese food. It is often given as a gift for special occasions or weddings. The famous Taiwanese pineapple cake is covered in a layer of sweet butter, creating a blend of sweet and sour flavors. Besides pineapple, this cake also has many other flavors such as: cranberry, strawberry, plum,...
Taiwanese iron eggs
Iron eggs are a common snack for Taiwanese people. However, the process of making this dish is extremely complicated. The eggs are stewed in soy sauce for 3 hours, then dried and then soaked again. This process is repeated for 1 week. Each egg must go through 11 stages as above to produce a dark black shell. Iron eggs are often vacuum-packed with many different flavors such as garlic, chili, soy sauce and traditional flavor.
Oyster omelet
This is a popular dish in Taiwan’s night markets. Oysters are fried with eggs, potatoes, and flour, along with a bit of lettuce. Starch (usually potato starch) is mixed into the egg batter, giving the egg shell a thicker consistency. The dish is served with spicy sauce or chili mixed with lemon juice, adding more flavor.
Sticky rice with Chinese sausage
Sticky rice with Chinese sausage is a special dish, inspired by the European and American hotdog. The sticky rice is seasoned to taste, stuffed into a tube to create shape. Then, the sticky rice is grilled over a red fire with Taiwanese sausage until cooked. Finally, the seller splits the sticky rice layer in half through a small slit, sandwiching the sausage with cucumber and chili sauce. The sticky rice is soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and goes perfectly with the salty and sweet sausage.
Grass jelly
Grass jelly originated in Chiayi, but you can easily find it in Alishan. This jelly has the same texture as grass jelly. The dish is a tasteless, soft jelly crystallized from grass flowers. It can be served with milk tea, lemon juice or honey, all of which are delicious and suitable.
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Travel Talk - Next Stop: Taiwan!
The program is organized by Travellive magazine in collaboration with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
The content of the Travel Talk will revolve around Taiwan travel experiences, tourism policies related to Covid-19, Taiwanese cuisine, must-see destinations... shared by 2 veteran travel bloggers.Lee Cheng-jiandBui Viet Ha (Ha La La)
By participating in the event, guests will have the opportunity to receive special attractive gifts from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and travel bloggers.
Time: 15:30 - 18:30 on May 28, 2022
Location: Stage A, Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, District 1, HCMC
