Bamboo, ivory, ceramic... take some souvenir chopsticks!
And what is typical here? The eternal question. And millions of responses. Whether it's some cupcakes for your parents, some puppets for your nephews, a tea set for your aunt or a small (and cheap) smartphone for you, this guide contains them all. the best gifts and self-gifts to bring from your trip to Taiwan. Take good note!
PINEAPPLE CAKES
This is not a souvenir, it is a must buy. And if you don't believe us, try one. You can find them in pastry shops, supermarkets and, for those who leave everything until the last minute, they are also available at the airport.
Where: Chia Te Bakery (88 Nanjing East Road Sec. 5, Songshan Dist., Taipei) , Sunny Hills (1F., No.1, Alley. 4, Lane. 36, Sec. 5, Minsheng East Road., Songshan Dist., Taipei)
Price: between 20 and 40 TWD (0.60 and 1.10€) per unit.
Pineapple cake, one of the most typical and delicious souvenirs to bring back from your trip to Taiwan
**HIGH MOUNTAIN OOLONG TEA (ALISHAN) **
The tea grown in the mount Ali, in the Chiayi region, it is probably the best in the whole country and one of the most sought after. It is a specialty of Oolong tea fresh and flowery but with body. Without a doubt, the perfect gift for lovers of this ancient drink.
Other very famous Oolong varieties are the Dongding, Ruan Zhi, Jin Xuan, Lishan, and Black Oolong.
Where: in the area of Da Dao Cheng. A good option is **Wang Tea,** a business founded no less than 1890).
Price: about €45 for 150 grams.
Oolong: for tea fans
THE JADEITE CABBAGE
The Jadeite Cabbage is the most important work in the **National Taipei Palace Museum. ** Consists of a piece of jadeite carved in the shape of a Chinese cabbage with two camouflaged insects among its leaves. The sculpture symbolizes fertility and abundance.
Where: In the museum shop you will find replicas of cabbage, as well as key chains, magnets, pens and other objects that are also distributed throughout the capital's stores.
Price: depends on the object.
CHINESE KNOTS
Chinese knots are very popular decorative pieces in Taiwan. They have different meanings depending on their shape, size and color (health, love, longevity, fortune...).
Where: National Center for Cultural and Creative Gifts, (No. 1 Xuzhou Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei) .
Price: between €1 and €20, depending on the size.
The jadeite cabbage, at the National Palace Museum in Taipei
SUN CAKES
Sun cakes, also known as Tai Yang Bing, They come from Taichung and are made with layers of puff pastry and a filling of dule, usually honey or molasses, although there is a wide variety of flavors.
Where: Chia Te Bakery (88 Nanjing East Road Sec. 5, Songshan Dist.,Taipei) , Li Yi Cake Store (No.18, Qiche Rd., Ruifang Dist., Taipei) .
Price: €0.85 per unit.
TATUNG RICE COOKER
Tatung is one of the most famous home appliance brands in Taiwan and the rice cooker is one of its best sellers. There is no Taiwanese house that does not have one in its kitchen.
In addition to the original model, you can find it at different sizes and colors (orange is the original) . A memory of those that are later useful for something and that will make you remember the beautiful island every time you cook rice or some vegetables.
Where: Tatung (No. 22, Sec. 3, ChungShan N.Rd., Taipei City 104, Taiwan)
Price: from €80.
The mythical Tatung rice cooker
PORCELAIN
Are you looking for a very special gift and you don't have a budget limit? Go to ** Franz Collection, ** a Taiwanese firm that specializes in porcelain and has been awarded several national and international prizes.
Its pieces are inspired by nature and Asian culture and are made with advanced 3D printing technology.
Where: Franz Collection (13F, No.167, Sec.5, Minsheng E Rd, Songshan Dist, Taipei)
Price: vases from €90 and tea sets from €140
LANTERNS
Every year, coinciding with the arrival of the Chinese New Year, the Taiwanese city of pingxi celebrate the Lantern Festival, in which thousands of people they write their wishes on lanterns which then rise into the sky starry.
A nice souvenir to bring back from Taiwan is this flashlight, whose colors have different meanings, so keep them in mind when choosing it.
Where: National Center for Cultural and Creative Gifts, (No. 1 Xuzhou Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei) .
Price: from TWD 50, around €1.40.
The perfect gift for decolovers
JADE
This appreciated mineral can be found in bracelets, pendants, rings, earrings and decorative figures standing out for its unmistakable color in many jewelry stores.
Popular belief is that jade gives good luck to its bearer. Beware of bargains, most are often fakes.
Where: The best place to buy jade is **Jianguo Holiday Jade Market** (Jianguo South Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei).
Price: It depends on the piece, from €10 bracelets and rings to ostentatious pieces that reach three and four figures.
SILK
Do you buy fabrics wherever you go? The Taiwan silk markets They will be your downfall. An explosion of colors where you can get lost among thousands of designs of the highest quality: cushion and pillow covers, ties, pajamas, dressing gowns...
Where: in the wufenpu Market, made up of a multitude of narrow streets where you can find clothes and accessories for all tastes (Zhongpo N. Rd., Songshan District, Taipei) .
Prices: for all pockets. Search well, there are real bargains.
Do not leave Taiwan without a detail made with jade
INDIGO BLUE DYED PIECES
in the county of Miaoli is found the Indigo Dyeing House , dedicated to the artisan dyeing of fabrics from natural products. There you can sign up for workshops where you can make your own pieces and unleash your creativity.
Where: If you're not very handy, you can buy pre-dyed products at the National Cultural and Creative Gift Center in Taipei.
Price: fabric bracelets from €10 and scarves from €25.
**TAIWANESE PUPPETS (BUDAXI) **
The art of puppetry came to Taiwan in the early 17th century and can still be seen today street performances, although it is increasingly rare to find them in large cities.
An interesting place to see these relics is the ** Taiyuan Puppet Theater Museum **, which also offers performances.
It is also very famous Taipei Puppet Art Center , which has several rooms (glove puppets, string puppets, shadow puppets, international puppets) and teaches Do-it yourself classes and workshops.
Where: Taipei Puppet Art Center (2F, No.99, Sec. 5, Civic Blvd., Songshan Dist., Taipei City).
Price: Entry to the Puppet Art Center, TWD 50 (€1.40). The price of the puppets varies according to the size.
The revered art of puppetry
AIYU JELLY
Made with the seeds of a type of fig (climbing ficus) that grows in Taiwan and other regions of Asia Pacific, Aiyu jelly is often eaten with lemon and lime slices.
For Sale in seeds or in individual packets ready to savor.
Where: In supermarkets and grocery stores.
Price: from €6 for a pack of three.
CHOPSTICKS
A classic if ever there was. the mythical chopsticks are everywhere: in souvenir shops, night markets, supermarkets, kitchenware stores and craft shops if you are looking for something more special.
there are of wood, ceramic, ivory and even silver. And with all kinds of ornamental motifs. In addition, you can buy them in their case or fabric cover and accompanied by a small support.
Price: set of five pairs of chopsticks, from €6.
You may have to incorporate them into your cutlery...
ELECTRONICS
If between the box of pineapple cakes and the box of Oolong tea, you still have room in your suitcase –and if you don't do it anyway–, take advantage of your stay in Taiwan to visit the paradise of electronics: Guang Hua Digital Plaza.
What was once a book market has become a six-story building located at the intersection of Zhongzheng and Daan districts.
Here you will find computers, smartphones, cameras, browsers, headphones, tablets, video games and countless devices at more than reasonable prices.
Where: No. 8, Section 3, Civic Blvd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei.
Guang Hua Digital Plaza
The mall Nova Electronics, smaller than the previous one, it also has a more than assorted range of electronics and is located a few steps from Taipei Central Station.
And as icing on the cake: lovers of Photography , you cannot leave Taipei without visiting Camera Street, or the street of the cameras. Think of the rarest and hardest-to-find photography brand you know of: it's here.
As its name suggests, Camera Street is home to camera stores, lenses, objectives, adapters, supports and all kinds of accessories at whose price you will not be able to resist.
Where: Section 1, Hankou Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
The famous Camera Street