Taiwan is a relatively easy environment in which to live, but inevitably many expatriates find the transition to a new culture to be a challenge. If you’re an expat in Taiwan, you have probably experienced some symptoms of culture shock. Maybe excitement about living in such a vibrant culture, or perhaps exasperation at the crowded…
The island’s economy may no longer revolve around sugar cane, but many reminders of that period remain. Several of the world’s poorest countries are dependent on sales of a single agricultural commodity, among them Burundi (the livelihood of 55% of the population is tied to the coffee crop) and Malawi (tobacco represents over 70% of…
Any traveler with the good fortune of a window seat when flying through clear skies into Taiwan will catch alluring glimpses of the island’s dramatic topography. Rugged mountain landscapes more than 1,000 meters above sea level account for 32% of Taiwan’s land area. A similar proportion is taken up by hills and other uplands at…
The scenic eastern county offers a wide variety of Hakka, Hoklo, and indigenous foods. By Steven Crook & Katy Hui-wen Hung Like other tourists, foodies often begin and end their visits to Taiwan in Taipei. Some go as far south as Tainan to try that city’s “little eats” (小吃, xiaochi). If they do head over…
What does it mean for a food to be described as “Q” and what is the derivation? A decade or so ago, the restaurant reviews by local writers in the Taiwan newspaper where I was features editor often dwelt at great length on the chewy nature of certain dishes. To vary the wording, the reviewers…
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 handful of Taipei eateries look to preserve the culture, atmosphere, and – most importantly – the flavors of Taiwan’s once-ubiquitous veterans’ villages. Taiwan’s juan cun (眷村) – or military dependents’ villages as the Chinese term is usually rendered in English – are one of the more notable features of Taiwan’s urban and rural landscape….
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…
Odd, unusual, or just different, the country’s cuisine is perfectly capable of delighting and surprising in equal measure. Photos courtesy of Chopstick Travel Visitors to Taiwan may well have experienced locals gleefully offering them unaccustomed foods, in order to impress and perhaps enjoy a good-natured joke at the guests’ expense. For example, stinky tofu is…
From smashed avocados to beetroot lattes, the city’s restaurants and cafes are catching on to the latest international eating trends. There’s something wonderfully devilish about an otherwise health-oriented brunch place that also serves a wide range of alcoholic beverages. After all, a piña colada is the perfect accompaniment to a plate of poached eggs. The…
