Taiwan, long a culinary gem, has been hailed as one of the best food destinations in the world by CNN's global readers. From the vibrant night markets and humble street stalls to the prestigious Michelin-starred dining establishments, Taiwan offers a myriad of dining experiences that are sure to captivate your senses. The island's culinary traditions reflect its diverse history and cultural influences are experienced through a vibrant tapestry of flavors, textures, and aromas. But what makes Taiwanese cuisine so irresistible? And how can the global food industry and related businesses benefit from these culinary delights and innovations?

The first Taipei International Beef Noodle Soup Competition in 2005 created the global appeal of Taiwanese cuisine. This event, which attracted participants and diners from around the world, celebrated the traditional hearty staple of Beef Noodle Soups. Over the years, Beef Noodle Soups have evolved into Taiwan's national dish, sparking a profitable industry. The competition among chef contestants is not just about their secret broth recipes but also about perfecting the types of noodles that best complement their culinary creations. Today, Taiwanese-style Beef Noodle Soup shops are opening in major cities in North America and Europe, catering to consumers who have embraced this culinary tradition.

Another iconic Taiwanese delight is "Xiao Long Bao" (小籠包). These bite-sized Soup Dumplings, available at many traditional breakfast eateries and casual noodle shops in Taiwan, have become a symbol of entrepreneurial success. The most well-established restaurant is a chain of dumpling houses renowned for its dedication to serving handcrafted Xiao Long Bao and other authentic Taiwanese comfort foods. The company's expansion across Southeast Asia, the United States, Australia, and many European countries is a testament to its popularity and success. They inspired many Dim Sum chefs and entrepreneurs to open their own Soup Dumpling businesses, creating both traditional and new flavors such as Kimchi Pork, Szechuan Spicy and Black Truffle Pork Soup Dumplings. Some also add natural vegetable juices to create trendy colorful Xiao Long Bao to attract young and adventurous eaters.

Recently, Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind won the overall championship of RuPaul's Drag Race in season 16. One of her stunning and iconic outfits was inspired by the world-famous Bubble Tea, and this renewed the Global Bubble Tea craze on social media. Her achievement made Taiwan a popular search “keyword” on the internet. According to market research, the global Tapioca Pearl (Boba) market is estimated to reach $5351.2 million in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.60% from 2024 to 2031. Overall, North American Boba consumption is growing steadily and is expected to account for over 40% of overall global Boba revenue making it a primary market.

Taiwan is the birthplace of "Boba Milk Teas." This unique tea drink features a variety of creative beverages made with freshly brewed Asian teas, added milk, and numerous toppings to choose from, including the popular brown sugar Boba Pearls, as well as Tapioca, Taro Balls, and mini Tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls). These innovative and chewable drinks have gained popularity worldwide, with many private labels, establishments, and franchises expanding rapidly in Europe, America, and beyond. Additionally, some vendors have capitalized on this trend by introducing instant bubble tea or bubble tea kits, allowing consumers to enjoy their favorite beverage at home.

As of 2023, there were more than 5,500 Bubble Tea Shops in the United States, this number increased 27.4% from 2022. While competing with coffee shops, vendors embraced local flavors such as Pumpkin Spiced Milk Tea, Horchata (a Mexican inspiration), Thai Milk Tea, and Ube Flavored Bubble Teas, adding new cultural elements to these Taiwanese tea drinks.

A well-known bakery in Taipei is famous for selling over NT$400 million (approximately USD 12.27 million) worth of Pineapple Cakes annually. If the number of Pineapple Cakes sold were stacked, they would be more than five times the height of Taipei 101! Pineapple Cakes are little individually packed shortbread cookies filled with sweet and tart pineapple fillings, and they symbolize good fortune and prosperity, which makes them the best edible souvenirs from Taiwan. With growing popularity and demand, bakeries and manufacturers have introduced Pineapple Cakes featuring different types of Pineapples, as well as new flavors such as Cranberry, Matcha, Chocolate, Bamboo Charcoal, and Rose, offering consumers diverse and fun gifting options. Taiwanese-style Pineapple Cakes are often sold at Asian markets such as K Mart, Ranch 99, and even Costco stores in the United States. Recently, they are also available on many online shopping platforms such as Amazon, Taiwan Go, Etsy, and Weee!.

ANKO is the world's leading food machine company, and it was founded in Taipei, Taiwan. We are experts in manufacturing commercial food machines that produce a wide range of authentic Taiwanese foods and delicacies. We sincerely invite you to visit our booth at the upcoming FOODTECH TAIPEI at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from June 26th to June 29th, 2024. ANKO will be exhibiting the HLT-700U Dumpling Machine, the HSM-900 Shumai Machine, the SR-27 Spring Roll Production Line, and most importantly, our first launch of ANKO’s Xiao Long Bao Production Line at the show. We invite you to visit our headquarters in Sanxia for a tour and to experience on-site machine demonstrations. Please make an appointment with ANKO here, and we look forward to seeing you in June!