Unique Hallmarks of Taiwan

“I think there are two types of sweetness in Taiwan: one is the sweetness of sharing, and the other is that of divine blessings.” So says Chang Tsun-chen, author of a book on Taiwanese pastries, in an interview with Taiwan Panorama. Sugar was once a major Taiwanese export, and the role played by sweets and pastries in major festivals and holidays has left beautiful memories in the minds of many people. This issue’s Cover Story will satisfy readers’ craving for sweet foods, from traditional snacks to innovative adaptations of traditional snacks, to pastries that combine sweet and ­savory flavors, to the sweets brought to Taiwan by Southeast-­Asian immigrants.

This month we also visit the Xiluo Bridge, the first major road artery to link together the northern and southern parts of Western Taiwan. For the people of Xiluo it is an iconic landmark of their hometown. “It holds great historical and cultural importance, and we hope it can live on,” says Louise Ho of the Louyoung Cultural and Educational Foundation. The bridge has been named a heritage site by both the Yunlin and Changhua county governments, and a combination of cultural events, arts and performance activities, and tourism have extended the history of this venerable span.

Every winter, hundreds of thousands of crow butterflies migrate to the valleys of Southern Taiwan. Some cluster on tree branches, while others form butterfly carpets in the ravines where they seek water. This unique ecological event has attracted the attention of international media. What do the butterflies do while they winter there? How can one tell Taiwan’s four major species of crow butterflies apart? Find out in our article.

Continuing from last month’s reporting from the Philippines, in this issue we examine how the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Philippines and related NGOs are working to improve life there. TTM leader Dominick Lee says: “We’re looking at the crops they currently plant, and trying to identify varieties that are especially resistant to local climate conditions, to give farmers more varieties to choose from.”

We also interview the Marshall Islands’ ambassador to Taiwan, and look at how the Central Region Campus of the Industrial Technology Research Institute has developed a plant-based egg alternative and plant-based lobster, while the food startup Lypid has come out with the world’s first plant-based pork belly. These efforts are part of the global search for substitute sources of protein. Meanwhile, the theme of this month’s Readers’ Photos feature is “Images of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples.” We hope that all of these hallmarks of Taiwan will make a deep impression on our readers.