Aside from all the sites and attractions that you get to enjoy when you visit Taiwan, you can also indulge your taste buds in the rich and vibrant taste of the food that the country has to offer. Although Taiwan is a relatively small country, each different region provides a wide variety of local goods and products that you can try. These products can be packaged, making it more convenient should you decide to buy these products as gifts to your family and friends when you get back home.
TEA
Taiwan is considered as a Tea Empire mainly because of its topography and climate which makes it an ideal place to grow tea plants. There are four mainstream teas that are available in the country: Wenshan Baozhong, Dongding Oolong (Wulong) Tea, Pekoe Oolong Tea and the Tie Guanyin. You could also choose to buy a wide variety of teapots that are readily available in the market. For instance, if you are looking for a porcelain teapot, you could go to Yingge, the ceramics capital of Taiwan. Aside from that, you could also purchase teabags if you prefer enjoying a cup of tea in a more convenient way.
PEANUT BRITTLE
Another Taiwanese specialty product that you can buy is the peanut brittle. These are made of peanuts that are cooked in malt sugar and then afterwards left to cool and harden. Then they are cut into small bars, wrapped and then package in gift boxes and plastic bags. The most famous place where you can buy peanut brittles is the small island of Kinmen which has fresh air, good water quality and rich soil making the peanuts produced there superior than anywhere else.
PINEAPPLE CAKE
Pineapple cakes are another widely produced food in Taiwan. These cakes have a sweet and sour taste to it, in addition to the soft outer skin of the cake which makes it seem as if it melts in your mouth. Aside from that, Taiwan is also known for producing canned pineapple, pineapple drinks as well as pineapple jams.
SHAOXING AND GAOLIANG WINES
If you are into wines, then the Shaoxing and Gaoliang wines are definitely a must-have in your list. The golden yellow Shaoxing wine is made by fermenting glutinous rice, penglai rice, wheat and other ingredients. This wine is made in the Ailan Plateau where the water is said to be pure and sweet. On the other hand, Gaoliang wine is produced in Kinmen, a place in Taiwan that has a hot, dry weather and has an unpolluted environment, ensuring that the wine has a fine taste and is superior in quality.
CANDIED FRUITS
The candied fruits are also ideal gifts for your friends at home. People from Taiwan usually call these preserved fruits salty, sour and sweet. The salty taste comes from the salt that was rubbed on them; the sweet taste coming from the sugar that was used to ferment the fruits; and the sour taste which was caused by the fermentation. There is a wide variety of fruits that you can choose from including mangoes and plums among others.
You should definitely buy some of these local products when you go back home from your visit to Taiwan. Whether you choose to buy tea, peanut brittle, pineapple cake, wines or candied fruits, your family and friends will definitely love it. Not only are they perfect as gifts to your loved ones back home, but they are also a representation of the rich culture and tradition of the country.