When winter weather arrives, a soak at one of Taiwan’s many hot springs is an attractive way to ward off the chill. Certain foods are also said to help achieve the same purpose. “Cold” is, of course, a relative term. For those coming from overseas locations with harsh winter climates, Taiwan’s cold season might seem…
Snake bites are fairly rare, only a few common species are venomous, and antidotes are widely available. When you see a snake while hiking along a country trail, it would be useful to know the difference between a harmless greater green and the similar-looking but venomous green tree viper. If you live near open farmland…
After living in Taiwan for two decades, regular Wine & Dine contributor Mark Caltonhill returned to his native UK at the end of 2013. Now he’s back and looking at what has changed on the food scene. Returning to Taiwan after a five-year absence, my initial reaction was that prices seemed a lot higher. Currency…
A good way to become more familiar with Taiwan’s geography is to acquaint oneself with the specialty food items of places around the island. A number of Taiwanese foods are closely associated with particular cities or towns, even if they can now also be found in other sections of the country. Join us on a…
After spending around two decades in Taiwan, three years ago TOPICS contributor Mark Caltonhill returned to live in the UK. Within weeks, he was missing “three-cups” slow cooking, kongxin cai (空心菜), and perhaps most of all, stinky tofu (臭豆腐). Here is his report. Arriving at Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport in the 1990s after each annual…
