Straight to the Source
From oysters in oyster omelet, to wood-smoked longan in award-winning bread, Straight to the Source visits the origins of fresh ingredients that define Taiwanese cuisine.
Bee Pollen: How This Superfood is Harvested in Taiwan Ep1
Bee pollen has increasingly gained popularity among superfoods for its rich nutrition and antioxidative properties. In Taiwan, harvesting bee pollen is a delicate and labor-intensi
Milkfish: The King in Taiwanese Fish Farming Industry Ep2
Known for being nutritious and scrumptious, milkfish is one of the most popular sources of protein in Taiwan. Abundant fish oil, tender texture and rich amount of collagen, it has
Wood-Smoked Longan: The Star Ingredient in Award-Winning Taiwanese Bread Ep3
Brewed Longan Bread from Taiwan wowed gourmets from all over the world at international baking contest The Louis Lesaffre Cup. Wood-smoked longan, the star ingredient in the award-
How Oysters are Farmed in the Largest Inland Sea of Taiwan Ep4
Oyster omelet is one of Taiwan’s most iconic street foods. The star ingredient in oyster omelet is, of course, the plump oyster. Chigu Lagoon in Tainan is the largest inland sea of
Taiwanese Tea: How it’s Picked and Processed Ep5
For centuries, Taiwanese tea has been enjoyed by tea lovers all around the globe. To ensure quality, the best Taiwanese tea is always handpicked by skilled workers. The top-tier te
Taiwanese Bottarga: Farmed, Salt-Preserved, Sun-Dried Ep6
Often paired with green garlic, daikon or apple, mullet roe is a delicacy widely enjoyed by Taiwanese people during Lunar New Year and other festive occasions. Due to climate chang
Banana: How This Tropical Fruit is Harvested in Taiwan Ep7
Bananas could be harvested all year round in Taiwan. During the 1960s, Taiwan was a major banana exporter, garnering a massive foreign exchange reserve and earning the moniker “Ban
Taiwan Fishers Camp at Estuaries To Catch Precious Baby Eels Ep8
From November to February, Taiwanese fishers scour for eel fry brought by Kuroshio current, camping alongside estuaries for months to seize every moment of this bonanza. While it’s
How to Catch the Perfect Mackerel-Straight to the Source Ep. 10
Today, we’re off to “the home of mackerel” in Yilan, Taiwan. This northeastern fishing port is blessed with abundant schools of fish carried by the Kuroshio Current offshore. Thank
White Water Snowflake is a Distinctly Taiwanese-Straight to the Source S2 Ep. 9
White water snowflake is an aquatic plant commonly seen in Taiwan’s ponds and wetlands. It was once considered just a wild plant with no economic value. At least until people reali
Pineapple-Straight to the Source S2 Ep. 1
Growing pineapples is big business in Taiwan. Peak season for harvesting pineapples in Chiayi, a key producing area located in southern Taiwan takes place from March to July. Take
Inside Taiwan’s High Mountain Cabbage Harvest-Straight to the Source S2 Ep. 2
Cabbage is the most widely consumed vegetable in Taiwan annually, and affectionately called the "national vegetable". Cabbage season on the plains lasts only through the autumn and
Harvesting Lotus Seeds is a Labor of Love-Straight to the Source S2 Ep. 3
Lotus seeds take quite a journey to the farmer’s market. They need to be manually separated from the pods, deshelled, and de-membraned, followed by removal of the bitter core. The
This Town Produces the Perfect Scallions-Straight to the Source S2 Ep. 4
Scallions are an essential seasoning in Taiwanese cuisine used for several homemade dishes. Sanxing Township in Yilan is synonymous with their own variety of Sanxing scallions, whi
The Origin of Rice Noodles-Straight to the Source S2 Ep. 5
Rice is one of Taiwan’s staples. Other than being cooked for consumption, rice can be made into various products including an iconic bowl of rice noodles with meatballs enjoyed thr
Harvesting Free Range Eggs-Straight to the Source S2 Ep. 6
Hatching chicken eggs on a layer farm depends on the free-range method to meet the innate physiological needs of more than 5,000 hens. Happy chickens lay healthy and nutritious egg