Africa-Asia Confidential, November 2011

                                                

On 26 November, a celebration of Taiwanese culture and world famous products was held at Asia House in London. Organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), 'A Culture Celebration of Taiwanese Food & Flowers' was a special event to showcase the unique culture and world class tea, food and orchids of Taiwan. Taiwanese teas and desserts were on display and tasted by the guests, who also enjoyed a buffet of Taiwanese food and a live demonstration of tea brewing and authentic Taiwanese cooking.

A speech given by Mr. Sherman Lai, the Managing Director of Taipec Ltd, focused on the unique qualities of Taiwanese tea and food. Lai said that he was excited to take part in this cultural celebration because Taiwanese cuisine is amazing and he was keen to introduce its delights to the British people. He also emphasised that Taiwanese food manufacturing is of a very high standard; nutrition and health are also also central concerns in Taiwanese food products, which is called 'y ngsh ng' in Chinese. 

                                                                                                                                        

The demonstration of tea brewing, given by Ms Yvonne Kao, the Chairwoman of Taiwan Tea Exporter Association, was one of the highlights of the event. Kao explained that the secret of brewing the finest tea is to control the temperature of the water: 'To improve the aroma of the tea, 85 degrees Celsius of hot water rather than boiling water is the most suitable temperature.' Furthermore, the preparation of a traditional Taiwanese dish – stir-fried water spinach and tiny anchovy – was demonstrated by Mr. Peng, the Head Chef of Hunan Restaurant located in London's Sloane Square. The tasty flavour gave guests an unforgettable experience.




Next was the dessert tasting – pineapple cake, lychee jelly and Mochi (small balls made from glutinous rice grain), all served by gorgeous cheongsam-dressed attendants. Lai told the assembled guests that 'Taiwan is famous for the manufacture of fruit dessert. The sub-tropical weather is beneficial to the growth of passion fruit such as pineapple and lychee. We are proud of our fruit cakes.' The buffet served later included traditional Taiwanese dishes such as 's nb ij' (3 cups chicken), 'yáns j' (salty crispy chicken) and 'xi olóngb o' (steamed dumpling).

Taiwan is an island with more than 100 mountains above 3000 metres. The variety of its geography and climate contribute to the island's unique agriculture products such as high mountain oolong tea and orchids. The art of tea brewing is well-preserved in Taiwan and the island's cuisine, though affected by Chinese and Western culture, remains more or less traditional in its tastes and recipes.