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.
The MIT Smile Mark and Made in Taiwan: Launched by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2010, Plus How Food Origin Is Labeled
Key answer
MIT stands for Made in Taiwan. Since 2010 the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Industrial Development Bureau has run the MIT Smile Mark. Products must meet several requirements, including Taiwanese manufacturing and quality management, to earn it — being produced in Taiwan alone isn’t enough. Reports say 2,242 companies and more than 110,000 products have been certified. For food, the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation requires packaged food to state its origin, and exporters can apply for a certificate of origin. Tang Sugar supports overseas buyers with Taiwan-made ingredients and complete documentation.
The weight of “Made in Taiwan”
From bicycles and machine tools to semiconductors, “Made in Taiwan” stands for reliable quality around the world. In Taiwan, shoppers buying textiles, shoes or towels often ask for MIT by name. That trust has been built up by Taiwanese companies over decades (further reading: Taiwan’s manufacturing strength in food OEM).
What is the MIT Smile Mark?
Item
Details
Launched
2010
Authority
Ministry of Economic Affairs (Industrial Development Bureau, now the Administration of Industrial Development)
Requirements
Meets several requirements, including Taiwanese manufacturing and quality management
Scale
Reported at 2,242 companies and 112,605 products (date of the count not stated)
Purpose
Help consumers identify Taiwan-made products and support domestic industry
Other uses
Some government procurement gives extra points to products with the MIT Smile Mark
How to tell food is “Made in Taiwan”
Origin labeling: The Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation requires packaged food to state its country of origin, along with the product name, ingredients and expiry date (further reading: Taiwan’s food safety system).
Certificates of origin: Exporters can apply to the authorities to certify that goods were substantially transformed in Taiwan or meet value-added thresholds (further reading: how to apply for a certificate of origin).
Food safety certifications: HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, Halal and others are what overseas buyers use to judge a factory’s quality (further reading: Halal certification).
Tang Sugar: “Made in Taiwan,” backed by documents
Caitang International Co., Ltd. (brand name Tang Sugar) is proud of Taiwanese manufacturing, and we know overseas buyers want more than the words “Made in Taiwan” — they want documents they can verify:
Our partner factories hold ISO 22000 (certified by SGS), FSSC 22000, HACCP and Halal certifications.
This article belongs to Stop 6, Made in Taiwan & Trade, of the Taiwan Stories series. Series opener: Tang Sugar brand philosophy.
FAQ
What does MIT mean?
MIT stands for Made in Taiwan.
How is “Made in Taiwan” written on food labels?
It’s Made in Taiwan, and the origin on food packaging is often written as Product of Taiwan or Origin: Taiwan.
When did the MIT Smile Mark start?
The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Industrial Development Bureau launched the MIT Smile Mark in 2010; products must meet Taiwanese manufacturing and quality management requirements to earn it.
Can any product made in Taiwan use the MIT Smile Mark?
No. Besides being made in Taiwan, products must pass a review of several requirements, including quality management, to earn the mark.
How do you prove exported food is made in Taiwan?
The packaging states the origin as required by law, and exporters can apply for a certificate of origin and attach the factory’s food safety certifications.
