Taiwan by MasterChef Travel

Taiwanese food is a melting pot of culinary influence, ranging from the Portuguese to Chinese and Japanese. To delve deep and truly understand Taiwan's flavours, try the street food - it's some of the best in the world.

With a hectic lifestyle, many Taiwanese do not cook themselves, instead relying on delicious and cheap xiaochi - small though substantial dishes, eaten and shared together. Each stand specialises in one type of dish only - perhaps stinky tofu, oyster omelettes or baozi, savoury steamed buns - meaning each chef is an expert on their chosen dish. The phenomenon has even spread to restaurants - Din Tai Fung is perhaps the most famous to serve xiaochi.

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Delectable dumplings
Perhaps one of the most well-known restaurants to come out of Taiwan, Din Tai Fung now has branches all over the world, and its Hong Kong branch was awarded one Michelin star in 2010. Don't miss the speciality soup dumplings, or xiaolongbao.

Can't go wrong with oolong
Taiwan produces three main types of tea; green, black and oolong - of which it is responsible for 20% of the world's production. Take a trip to a tea farm to experience a traditional tea ceremony and tastings.

A xiaochi experience
Absorb the sounds, smells and sights of the Shilin night market. Snack on famous xiaochi - fried pancakes, dumplings, beef noodle soup and tempura; all washed down with a drink of bubble milk tea.

Tofu for you
Visit a tofu factory, and discover the secrets of this Taiwanese food staple. Most famously served as stinky tofu, it is fermented in brine and deep-fried, served alongside chilli sauce and crispy pickled vegetables.

Taste the real wasabi
Most commercially produced wasabi is a mixture of horseradish, mustard and food colouring. Be surprised when tasting the real deal - made from wasabia japonica plants, it has a smoother, herbier taste - and loses flavour after 15 minutes.

Ascend Taipei 101
Head to the top of the second tallest building in the world, standing at 508 metres. The indoor and outdoor observatories give uninterrupted, 360-degree views of the sprawling city beneath.

Explore Alishan National Park
Wander through the forests of Alishan National Park. With a varied geological landscape, there are plenty of views to admire and plants to discover; oolong and wasabi is grown within its borders.

Cruise on Sun Moon Lake
The largest body of water in Taiwan, an early morning boat ride along the surface of Sun Moon Lake offers stunning vistas across the still, turquoise waters.

Discover colonial Anping
Situated in the middle of Tainan city, Anping features a fort built by the Dutch in the 17th century, as well as temples and museums, which give insight into the history of the area.

Admire Chinese artefacts
Pay a visit to the National Palace Museum. The permanent collection of more than 696,000 items covers the 10,000 years of Chinese history, and includes high-quality pieces such as the jadeite cabbage.

Location: The island lies across the Taiwan Strait, off the south-eastern coast of China.
Capital: Taipei
Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and non-religious.
Etiquette:

  • If speaking about the People's Republic of China, refer to it as 'mainland China'.
  • Saving face is important - it's best not to point out anything that may be taken as an embarrassment; the same goes for losing one's temper in public.
  • Pointing and beckoning with the palm up is considered rude; if you need to call someone over, make sure your palm is facing downwards.
  • If using chopsticks, do not position them upright in your rice bowl as the gesture symbolises death.

Languages: Standard Chinese
Population: 23,373,517 (approx.)
Size: 36,193 sq km
Time Zone: GMT +8
Currency: Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Visa requirements: Holders of British citizen passports do not require visas for travel to Taiwan, and can remain for up to 90 days.
History: Dating back to the earliest human habitation, Taiwan has a long and varied history. First inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines, the island was colonialsed by the Dutch in the 17th century, then taken over by the Chinese before Japanese occupation began in 1894, lasting for 50 years. After the second world war, Japan handed Taiwan back to China, and Taiwan faced authoritarian rule under Chiang Kai-shek until his death in 1975, and then his son Chiang Ching-kuo. After declaring martial law over in 1987, Chiang Ching-kuo passed away and left vice president Lee Teng-hui to rule, the first ever Taiwanese-born president. He brought Taiwan into the modern era to shape the country into what it is today.


What to read

Island in the Stream: A Quick Case Study of Taiwan's Complex HistoryBy April CJ Jin and Jerome F Keating
Covering the last 400 years of Taiwan's history, this book shows the struggles the island has faced over the years, and raises questions on the people's identity and independence.


What to watch
Eat Drink Man Woman
This comedic film by Ang Lee follows the bonds between a widowed father, his three daughters, and their relationships.

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