Taiwan Culture

UK Mixologists Compete To Capture Taiwan in a Cocktail

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By Joseph Wu/Amelia Loi

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From oolong tea and winter melon syrup to pineapple cake and kaoliang, a cocktail competition in London challenged bartenders to create drinks inspired by Taiwan's flavors and culture. The Golden Pearl Awards, founded by bubble tea entrepreneur Vicky Liu from Taiwan, drew 100 entries from across the UK before narrowing the field to five finalists. Winner Rolland Varga impressed judges with a cocktail featuring Taiwanese ingredients and a mahjong-themed presentation. Liu says the event aims to showcase Taiwan's culinary culture beyond bubble tea and build international connections.