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.
Taiwanese Night Market Culture: Foreigners’ Favorite Taiwanese Street Food, from Michelin Bib Gourmand to Popcorn Chicken and Snow Ice
Key answer
The night market is Taiwan’s liveliest food stage: when the Michelin Guide first selected Taipei’s Bib Gourmand picks in 2018, 10 of the 36 came from night markets. Popcorn chicken, cheese foam tea and snow ice are all flavors that traveled from Taiwan’s streets to the world. Tang Sugar sees Taiwanese night market culture as Taiwan’s best calling card, supplying popcorn chicken seasoning, sweet potato ball and egg waffle mixes and snow ice powder so Taiwanese snack shops and drink shops overseas can recreate the night market.
When night falls, Taiwan’s kitchen opens
Around six in the evening, night markets across Taiwan light up. The smell of fried food, the sizzle of griddles and vendors calling out blend together as people stroll with popcorn chicken in one hand and bubble tea in the other. The night market isn’t just a place to eat — it’s where Taiwanese people unwind after work and on weekends.
Night market food has won international recognition, too. When the Michelin Guide first selected Bib Gourmand picks for Taipei in 2018, 10 of the 36 were night-market stalls; the following year, stalls in Gongguan, Yansan and Huaxi Street night markets were added.
Flavors that traveled from Taiwan’s streets to the world
Popcorn chicken: Chinese Wikipedia says Taiwanese popcorn chicken is often traced to Taipei’s Ximending in the 1970s; it’s fried with basil and is Taiwan’s most common fried-chicken snack (further reading: choosing popcorn chicken seasoning).
Cheese foam: English Wikipedia says cheese tea appeared in Taiwan’s night markets around 2010 before spreading overseas (further reading: what is cheese foam?).
Snow ice and shaved ice: after ice-making technology arrived in the Japanese era, shaved ice took off in Taiwan, later followed by fluffy snow ice (further reading: what is snow ice?).
Sweet potato balls: pressed with a ladle while frying until hollow, crisp outside and chewy inside — a night market favorite (further reading: snacks for bubble tea shops).
Overseas, “bubble tea with popcorn chicken” is now the signature combo of many Taiwanese snack shops, letting people who’ve never been to Taiwan enjoy a Taiwanese night market evening.
Tang Sugar: recreating the Taiwanese night market overseas
Caitang International Co., Ltd. (brand name Tang Sugar) sees night market culture as Taiwan’s best calling card. The hardest part of recreating authentic night market flavor overseas is getting the marinade, coating and seasoning right; Tang Sugar supplies ready-blended mixes for a taste close to Taiwan, batch after batch:
Do Taiwanese night markets have Michelin recommendations?
Yes. When the Michelin Guide first selected Taipei’s Bib Gourmand picks in 2018, 10 of the 36 came from night markets.
Where does Taiwanese popcorn chicken come from?
Chinese Wikipedia says it is often traced to Taipei’s Ximending in the 1970s, though some vendors claim earlier origins; it is known for being fried with basil.
Can shops overseas make authentic Taiwanese popcorn chicken?
Yes. Using Taiwanese pre-blended marinade, sweet potato starch and pepper salt brings the taste close to Taiwan; exports must meet the destination’s food regulations.
Which Taiwanese snacks suit a bubble tea shop?
Popular choices are popcorn chicken, sweet potato balls, egg waffles, waffles and snow ice; consider equipment, space, fumes and staffing when choosing.
How did Taiwanese night markets begin?
Many grew out of temple-front markets: crowds gathered in temple squares, food stalls followed and eventually formed regular night markets — Keelung’s Miaokou Night Market, for example, grew up in front of Dianji Temple.
