Taste of Taiwan

Anytime you visit a new place, sampling the local food is always one of the most exciting parts...at least, I think so. The Taiwanese love to snack and with a plethora of night markets, food isn't hard to find.  However, I was surprised to find so many food items unique to Taiwan. This is only a small list of some of the interesting food and drinks I encountered during my week here. 

Bubble Tea 

If you’re not familiar with the coined terms “bubble tea” or “boba’ or “pearl tea” this is one drink you can’t miss on the crowded streets of Taiwan. Just as much as you see people walking around Chicago holding a Starbucks cup, you’ll probably see more people walking or driving motorbikes around Taipei with a bubble tea in hand. This drink originated here in Taiwan in the 1980s and has since become popular throughout the world. I searched up and down numerous alleyways to find Chen San Ding, one of the most popular spots amongst locals. When I finally found it, the line was long and twisting around the corner. I didn't get a picture, but I was excited to see the guy whose face is on the cup working that night. 

The “bubbles” you see at the bottom are made from tapioca starch. The tapioca is made fresh here, cooked in brown sugar, and kept warm at all times. Once the pearls are in your drink, it is topped with fresh Taiwanese milk and ice. Technically, there is no “tea” actually involved; I felt a little deceived when I realized this. They also give you a wide straw to drink from that is big enough for the bubbles to fit through.

Stinky Tofu 

Yeah, this is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You can’t say you’ve been to Taiwan without trying this world famous dish. Stinky tofu is made of large squares of fermented tofu fried in oil and then cut into four smaller pieces and served with a garnish of pickled cabbage. If you hold your nose then it tastes just like a plain ol’ piece of fried tofu with a crisp outside and soft center. But where’s the fun in that? Inhale and relish the stench! Any local will tell you that the smellier, the better.

Shaved Ice Mountain 

This is a traditional Taiwanese dessert. Basically, it's an oversized pile of shaved ice topped with various flavorings such as mango pieces, strawberries, and kiwis. However, there are numerous variations you can order with different toppings. Some are also drenched in condensed milk. It's kinda like an huge, advanced form of a snow cone. 

Peanut Ice Cream Roll Up

This was hands down my favorite food I tasted in Taiwan and the flavors work surprisingly well together. First, they shave a huge block of peanut brittle with a wooden thing and then put the shavings in an empty spring roll/crepe wrap. Then they add three scoops of ice cream: pineapple, taro root, and peanut (one of each). Finally, it's topped with a sprinkle of cilantro and wrapped up like a burrito. Yum!

Obnoxiously Tall Ice Cream Cone 

I really don’t know what else to call this. This concept is so funny to me because I’ve never seen anything like this before but I guess it's really not that crazy of an idea to make a few extra spins on the soft serve machine. However, I was a little disappointed to discover what Taiwanese call “ice cream” isn’t very rich and creamy. I would probably say it's closer to sherbet. Nonetheless, still a perfect treat for a hot September day. 

Iron Eggs 

I still think these are a bit strange-looking but they are a Taiwanese addictive delicacy, I’ve been told. It’s called the “iron egg” because these mini quail eggs are tough as nails. With a rubbery consistency, these chewy eggs are dyed black from soaking in soy sauce.  They are cooked for hours in soy sauce and then air-dried. The entire process is repeated over several days until the protein becomes tough and chewy. You might see a common trend here that Taiwanese love things with a chewy texture. Urban legend says you can play ping-pong with iron eggs.

Fried Quail Eggs 

This looked very odd to me at first, but these fried quail egg balls were pretty tasty. Honestly, I thought they tasted just like any other egg but in miniature form. I particularly liked watching the vendor crack the wee little eggs into the frying contraption. They only take about a minute to cook and then you’re served four on a stick – lovely.

Red Bean Cake or Cartwheel Pies

This iconic Taiwanese pastry is a hockey-puck shaped cake filled with warm, sweet red beans. They have an eggy batter enclosing a filling - either sweet red bean (most common), cream, or chopped turnip. They're then cooked in an iron griddle. I love the crunchy outside and soft inside. Very tasty.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/losinar

Turnip Cake

This dish is served in small cube form - made of shredded radish and plain rice flour. I preferred mine with some chili sauce and soy sauce. While this is a popular Asian food dish, specifically in Taiwan it is commonly eaten for breakfast. I give a thumbs up for turnip cake.  

Pigs Blood Cake

I know what you're probably thinking. Any food with the word "blood" in it doesn't really sound too appetizing to me either. This is a hot, spicy snack that can be found at any night market in Taiwan. The “cake” is made from sticky rice and hot pig’s blood, then cut into a rectangular shape and served on a stick.  I can't believe Alan actually convinced me to taste this. I had a tiny, tiny bite of his and while I actually really liked the spicy flavor, I was not a fan of the rubbery, chewy texture. I'll probably pass on the pigs blood cake next time.

'Lil America 

While this is nothing special to Taiwan, I couldn't resist writing about this. While wandering around the Gongguan night market, I found this little gem stand called "Welcome to Lil' America." This food vendor serves: deep fried Oreos, deep fried Twinkies, deep fried Snickers, deep fried bananas, deep fried truffles, and funnel cakes. Sounds about right.

Which dish would you like to try?