From a single tea leaf, a cup of bubble tea and a bowl of douhua to the lights of the night market — sail six stops along Taiwan's coast to meet its flavors and people, and see how a Taiwanese food company carries them to the world.
Along Taiwan's coastline — setting off from the tea hills and finally sailing from the harbor to the world.
Brand Philosophy
Tang Sugar Brand Philosophy: Taiwanese Food and Taiwanese Service, Bringing the Flavors of Taiwan to the World
From the Formosa Oolong that sailed to New York in 1869 to bubble tea loved around the globe, Taiwan has long been sending great flavors to the world. Tang Sugar (Caitang International) is a Taiwanese company proud of the food Taiwanese people make and the service they provide. With consistent ingredient quality, clear partnership terms and verifiable supply capability, we…
It introduces Taiwan's tea, bubble tea, night-market food, fruit and sugar, everyday life and Made in Taiwan, and shows how Tang Sugar brings these flavors and Taiwanese service to partners around the world.
How is Taiwan Stories different from the blog?
Taiwan Stories covers culture, origins and Taiwan through foreign eyes; the blog covers drink recipes, ingredient dosage and sourcing. The two link to each other, so you can go from a story to a recipe.
Where Does the Name Formosa Come From? From the “Beautiful Island” Legend and 16th-Century Charts to Formosa Oolong Tea
Key answer
“Formosa” means “beautiful” in Portuguese and Spanish, so Ilha/Isla Formosa is “beautiful island”. The popular story says Portuguese sailors passing Taiwan in 1544 cried “Ilha Formosa!”, but Academia Sinica scholar Ang Kaim and others who searched 16th- and 17th-century records found no direct evidence. A clearer record is “Fermosa” in Spanish logs from the 1580s, and after the Dutch arrived in 1624, Formosa became the common Western name for Taiwan. In 1869, Taiwanese oolong sailed to New York as “Formosa Oolong“. Tang Sugar also sets out from Formosa, bringing Taiwan’s flavors and service to the world.
The legend of the “beautiful island”
Taiwanese textbooks and travel guides often tell this story: in the 16th century a Portuguese ship sailed through the Taiwan Strait, and the sailors, seeing a lush, towering island, shouted “Ilha Formosa!” — beautiful island. From then on, Formosa became Taiwan’s name in the Western world. It’s a moving story, but historians have found the evidence less clear than it seems.
What scholars say: Formosa in the historical record
No direct evidence for 1544: in Decoding Taiwanese History 1550–1720, Ang Kaim and Huang Yan say that after searching 16th- and 17th-century foreign-language records, they found no account of the Portuguese praising a beautiful island; records of the time mostly called Taiwan “Lequeo pequeno” (Little Ryukyu).
The Portuguese Formosa may lie farther north: based on period sailing logs, the Formosa the Portuguese recorded was mostly around 25° north, so some scholars think it may refer to islands north of Taiwan — a point still debated.
Spanish logs are clearer: Spanish logs from the 1580s mention “As Ilhas Fermosas” (the beautiful islands), pointing more clearly to Taiwan.
Popularized in the Dutch era: after the Dutch arrived in 1624, Western maps commonly labeled Taiwan “I. Formosa”.
In other words, the name Formosa did come from Westerners in the Age of Discovery — but who first called it out remains unsettled.
From Formosa Oolong to Formosa today
The name Formosa later traveled the world with Taiwanese goods. In 1869 British merchant John Dodd shipped Taiwanese oolong to New York, launching it as “Formosa Oolong” (further reading: Taiwanese tea culture, the history of Taiwanese tea). Today Formosa still appears in Taiwanese brands, events and art — a name Taiwanese people feel warmly about.
Period
Event
Mid-16th century
Popular story: Portuguese sailors call Taiwan Ilha Formosa (no direct historical record)
1580s
Spanish logs mention As Ilhas Fermosas
1624
The Dutch arrive; Western maps commonly label I. Formosa
1869
Taiwanese oolong is sold in New York as Formosa Oolong
This article belongs to Stop 4, People & Everyday Life, of the Taiwan Stories series. Series opener: Tang Sugar brand philosophy.
FAQ
What does Formosa mean?
Formosa means “beautiful” in Portuguese and Spanish; Ilha/Isla Formosa means “beautiful island”.
Who named Taiwan Formosa?
The popular answer is 16th-century Portuguese sailors, but scholars say there’s no direct evidence; Spanish logs from the 1580s are clearer, and Formosa spread in the West after the Dutch arrived in 1624.
How is 福爾摩沙 written in English?
It’s written Formosa; old Western maps often labeled Taiwan I. Formosa or Isla Formosa.
Did the Portuguese really discover Taiwan in 1544?
It’s a widely told story, but scholars who searched 16th- and 17th-century records found no direct evidence, and it remains debated.
What is Formosa Oolong?
Formosa Oolong is the name British merchant John Dodd used in 1869 when shipping Taiwanese oolong to New York, making Taiwanese tea famous in the West.
