Join historical fiction novelist Yang Shuang-Zi on an in-depth exploration of Taichung Old Town – birthplace of the global bubble tea phenomenon. This work leads readers on a journey that tempts the palate while unlocking the stories and history behind some of Taichung’s most-beloved multigenerational snack food vendors.
In the early 1900s, the growing colonial city of Taichung (then known as Taichū) centered on the bustling commercial district surrounding the city’s new train station, where a plethora of food vendors and restaurants could be found. Taichung’s modern food culture has been shaped and reshaped by the flow of economic migrants to and through this city. Yang Shuang-Zi weaves into this engaging work an intimate familiarity with modern Taichung’s “old town” and her discerning palate, spotlighting twenty vendors that capture the unique snack food culture of her city. Readers not only receive a grand tour of the many made-to-order treats on offer but also learn the stories of these vendors and their place in the fabric of Taichung history.
The featured vendors were selected for the emotive quality of both their stories and flavors. These are the local foodie “experiences” that visitors to the city are sure to remember long after they return home. Delve into Taichung-exclusives like savory-sour Taichung thick noodles as well as Taiwan street-food standards such as braised pork rice, crisp-fried chicken, castella cake, and shaved ice. Learn the stories of how each vendor won over the hearts and taste buds of their customers.
Yang Shuang-Zi also explores in this work questions that pique her historical novelist curiosities. What would a hungry high school girl in colonial-era Taichung have eaten on her way home from school? When did the now-iconic street-food standard papaya milk first appear on the streets of Taichung? What fueled the almost overnight success of bubble tea shops in the city? The answers to these and other questions are deftly woven into the narrative, leaving the reader with a much better taste for Taichung’s snack foods and culinary proclivities.