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Recommended Gifts
Special Gifts
Surrounded by beautiful mountains and waters, Puli is known for “tasty wine, ‘lady’s legs,’ and sweet springs,” that is, Shaoxing liquor, water bamboo shoots, and Ailan spring water which are Puli’s three most famous specialties. In this region, Yuchi Township, where the Sun Moon Lake is, is a classic farming town, producing black tea, mushrooms, orchids, and coffee. The region is even famous for handicrafts, such as the handmade paper of Puli, the wood crafts of Checheng, and the potteries of Shuili Snake Kiln and Seshui Kiln. All these make great gifts.
Black Tea
The weather in Yuchi Township is suitable for planting black tea, whose origin can be traced back to the Japanese Rule. Thus, Yuchi Township is known as the home of black tea. One of its black tea variations, “Hong Yu” (meaning “red jade” in Mandarin) - TTES No. 18, represents the fragrance of Taiwan. With a natural aroma of cinnamon and mint, Hong Yu carries an intense, resounding taste, and its tea liquid is in a crystal-clear red color. Moreover, TTES No.21 - also named “Hong Yun” (meaning “red resonance” in Mandarin), is highly popular in recent years. The mellow, fine tea, flowered with the aroma of sweet pomelo and ripe fruits, is another good choice.
Coffee
A wealth of mists and dews can make coffee trees grow strong and tall. Yuchi Township’s geology and climate make its coffee tastes unique. Yuchi’s coffee tastes clean, smooth, and a little citrusy in the beginning. It then develops a sturdy main taste, before coming to a resounding, sweet end. For this, it is hailed by the godmother of specialty coffee, Erna Knutsen. Be sure to have a cup of Yuchi’s fresh, locally produced coffee if you come to the Sun Moon Lake!
Plantains
Blessed with a good climate and prosperous land, Jiji produces sweet, tasty plantains with an al-dente texture. They used to be presented to the royal court during the Japanese Rule. Creative plantain-based products, such as plantain chocolate, plantain nougats, plantain ice cream, and plantain milk are Jiji’s most special bring-home gifts.
Plum Products
Shuili and Xinyi Townships in Nantou County are home to plums. The fruit’s resounding sweet-bitter taste is loved by the Taiwanese. Fresh plums, plum wine, plum vinegar, Sun Moon Lake black tea-flavored plums, and black-tea crispy plums are the must-buys of the Sun Moon Lake.
Water Bamboo Shoots
Blessed with a mild climate and sweet, unpolluted water, Puli produces water bamboo shoots that are fresh, sweet, and crispy. As Puli’s iconic farm produce, their white stems look so well-stacked and beautiful that they are called “lady’s legs.”
March to November is the season of water bamboo shoots. Travelers not only can pick them fresh on local farms, but also enjoy hearty meals of water bamboo shoots.
Chinese Mushrooms
With a unique landscape and climate, Yuchi Township is ideal for growing Chinese mushrooms. The fresh, juicy mushrooms in Yuchi have a sweet, thick taste - ideal for making Chinese cuisine. They are great for both home uses and as gifts.
Liquor
Puli Shaohsing Brewery uses Puli’s famous “Ailan sweet springs” to make its much appraised Ailan liquor, a variation of Shaohsing liquor. Unlike ordinary sorghum liquor, it has a soft, lasting, and refreshing taste, hailed as the best of distilled liquor. With 40% alcohol, it is suitable for most people. Visitors can also opt for traditional millet liquor, which also has a sweet and elegant taste.
Black-tea Egg Rolls
The crispy hand-made egg rolls made with Assam black tea of the Sun Moon Lake exude the aroma of tea and milk, and they are the best choice for afternoon tea. Bring some home with you as special gifts when you come to Shuishe Pier of the Sun Moon Lake!
Orchids
Orchids are one of the three treasures of Yuchi Township. Large, graceful and everlasting, they bloom the most at the turn of a year. Lots of tourists come to Yuchi to watch and purchase blooming orchids during this time. Orchids are perfect living-room decorations during the Chinese New Year. They often lighten up a space as symbols of nobility and elegance.
Pottery
The traditional pottery industry in Nantou dates back to over 200 years ago. Some traditional kilns have transitioned themselves to be cultural parks in recent years. At Shuili Snake Kiln, Seshui Kiln, and Qinshou Kiln, visitors can enjoy playing clay while purchasing kitchenware such as pottery cups, bowls, and tea sets, as well as decorative products, either for themselves or as gifts.
Handmade Paper
The 1960s was the golden days of the handmade paper industry in Puli. At that time, Puli was named as “the hometown of paper,” and it produced high-quality rice paper and cotton paper. Aside from fine paper-making skills, the pure water of Puli was another prerequisite. After going through some special procedures, the handmade paper could be made into a range of creative products, such as clothes, bags, and shoes.
Wood Crafts
Due to the construction of power plants and the development of the logging industry, Checheng became a prosperous town during the Japanese Rule. Today, many mushroom hubs, owl dolls, shoes, chopsticks, spoons, and plates, as well as sculptures made of wood, are displayed in the showroom of Checheng Wood Museum. Dive in and explore prosperous Checheng as a logging town in the old days.