🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 99 (from laksa033)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa099.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan","crawl_time":1776257356,"first_indexed_time":1693219172,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,theculturetrip!\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan s443","src_root_hash":"2170118566514620899","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy In Taiwan","meta_descriptions":["Wondering what to buy in Taiwan? Here are some unique items you need to add to your shopping list."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Holiday shopping is often something you leave for the airport, but that’s not the case in\nTaiwan\n, where something shouts “Buy me!” at every turn. With markets, malls and museum gift shops, the country’s a giant opportunity to buy something unique. From ancient crafts and culinary delicacies to precious stones and beautiful materials, here are some souvenirs you can only find in Taiwan.\nPineapple cake\nRomix Image \/ Shutterstock\nOne of the most popular, widely available sweet treats you’ll find in Taiwan is the humble pineapple cake. The capital even launched the annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival in 2005 to showcase the diversity of fillings (not just pineapple, as it happens, but also strawberry, melon and cranberry, to name but a few). Lick your lips in anticipation of the buttery pastry, followed by deliciously sweet jam oozing from its centre as you take a bite. They’re usually sold in airtight packaging, so taking them home on the plane is, well, a piece of cake.\nMini sky lanterns\nPark\nHenry Co \/ Unsplash\nYou may have heard of the\nPingxi Sky Lantern Festival\n, but you probably didn’t realise you can buy these beautiful objects in a diminutive form to take home. They come in a spectrum of colours, each one conveying a message the sender wishes to share with God – yellow for success, say, or blue for hope. These handcrafted pieces adorn mantelpieces to sensational effect. To browse for some of the best in Taipei, visit Ningxia Night Market on Ningxia Road in the Datong district – a truly illuminating experience.\nIndigenous products\nNatural Feature\nMany\nindigenous tribes\nin Taiwan produce a wide variety of products in their local villages and sell them in many souvenir shops across the island. These include items such as bags, pictures and many handcrafted pieces of jewellery. These items will all have a distinct style in keeping with each tribe’s traditional colours and clothing.\nThe world's best jade\nNatural Feature\nShinzan Murray \/ Unsplash\nOf course, you can buy jade all around the world, but Taiwan is well known for having some of the finest quality on the planet. Lose yourself among the thousands of stalls at the Jianguo Jade Market (it lies beneath the Jianguo Elevated Highway). Here, you can splash out on pricey pieces that’ll turn your friends green with envy – or snap up a bunch of standard bangles and pendants for Christmas stocking fillers.\nPlum wine\nNatural Feature\nAlcohol is big business in Taiwan, but you probably won’t be able to squeeze too many of the latest trendy\ncraft beers\ninto your case. However, you can buy small bottles of plum wine or rice wine at liquor stores everywhere. Just make sure you check the alcohol content, as some of them are incredibly strong.\nBecome a Culture Tripper!\nSign up to our newsletter for insider tips and hidden gems.\nTaiwan-style postcards\nNatural Feature\nRegular postcards are OK to send, but they’ll kipper and curl before you know it. Not so with the Taiwanese variety – they’re another story altogether. Made of wood and etched with local landscapes or other appealing pictures, they make great gifts for friends and will last a lifetime stuck on your refrigerator door at home.\nTaiwanese peanut nougat\nNatural Feature\nDon’t expect the typical nougat you find in your local supermarket or newsagent. The Taiwanese take is routinely hard and chewy and packed with peanuts. Expect to find boxes of it everywhere – especially during festivals. Some varieties also have sesame in the mix; others may contain chunks of brown sugar. Whichever type you go for, you can’t go wrong – you’re buying the most traditional treat in Taiwan, after all.\nSun cakes\nNatural Feature\nOriginating in the lively central city of\nTaichung\n,\ntaiyang bing\n(sun cakes) are utterly mouthwatering little moments. Encased in the flaky filo pastry of each one is a core of gooey paste that’s every bit as sweet as honey – actually sweeter. These days you can get many varieties, for instance, dried pork and green tea. But in all honesty, the originals are still the best. Bet you can’t eat just one.\nTaiwanese tea\nArchitectural Landmark\nSweet, floral, smoky, nutty. White, green, black, pu’er. The deliciously refreshing\nteas of Taiwan’s mountain regions\nare among the most sought after in the world. If you have a connoisseur in the family, a box of the best leaves makes a great gift. You can opt to visit one of the great tea-producing areas, for instance,\nSun Moon Lake\n. That way, as with champagne, in\nFrance\n, you can taste it before you purchase. Look out for oolong; it’s the most popular, and with good reason.\nA carved wooden penis\nNatural Feature\nThis item is not necessarily the gift you take home for the partner who has everything. But there’s no doubting that phallic symbols are everywhere in Taiwan – particularly in local indigenous culture – and they’ve found their way into consumer culture. When visiting a tribal village or marketplace, don’t be surprised to see stalls stacked with wooden penises in all shapes and sizes. They’re supposed to bring luck and fortune to the owner – as you might say, things are looking up.\nPork paper\nNatural Feature\nLike a cross between a pork scratching, beef jerky and a bag of crisps, this crunchy, meaty snack is seriously addictive. The thinly spread mixture of minced pork, soy sauce, cooking wine and five-spice powder is baked until glossy and finger-snap crispy. You’ll find different varieties of it – usually at food markets, depending on the vendor’s unique recipe – but the most common also contains small pieces of apple for sweet, fruity chewiness and crunchy almond pieces for extra bite. It’s delicious paired with a cold beer.\nTaiwanese fruit jelly\nNatural Feature\nPeople love their jellies in Taiwan, and the good news for vegans is that they’re usually made without animal products. The most popular is aiyu, made with the aiyu plant, which grows only in Taiwan; you’ll find it at markets, served in giant bowls filled with lemons. Even better, aiyu jelly is said to have a number of health benefits, for example, helping to slow ageing, reducing cholesterol levels and promoting good gut health. You’ll also come across konjac jelly, which is firmer, comes in all sorts of fruity flavours and is usually sold wrapped like candy.\nChun Cui He\nNatural Feature\nThere was a national outcry in\nSingapore\na few years ago when the country’s food and drink regulator had to ban the import of this milk-tea brand temporarily due to unsanctioned additives. When it finally landed back on shelves, it sold out within seconds, with limits placed on the number of chicly designed bottles people could buy. In Taiwan, the cult drink is ubiquitous. Sweet, creamy and flavoured with the aroma of black tea leaves, it understandably has a die-hard following. There are other flavours, such as green-tea latte and mocha, but milk tea is the original.\nKaoliang\nNatural Feature\nGuaranteed to liven up any party and add intrigue to your drinks cabinet, this clear spirit, made with fermented sorghum, packs quite a punch – especially the variety with 58 percent alcohol. Sip it neat, and it’s got a smooth, slightly sweet taste, with a delayed scorching of the back of the throat. Although that’s the (traditional) way they encourage you to drink it, it’s more palatable diluted in a cocktail. You’ll find it mixed into all sorts of concoctions, but the most typically Taiwanese drink it’s laced through is boba, also known as bubble tea.\nGlass art and handicrafts\nNatural Feature\nTaiwan’s glass-making industry didn’t take off until the late 1800s, but today, you’ll find some of the most extraordinary craftsmanship imaginable. Visit the Taiwan Glass Gallery and Glass Mazu Temple in Lukang, Changhua or the Glass Museum of Hsinchu City, and you’ll be blown away by the creativity and skill. In the gallery, you’ll find a glass tunnel made of more than 6,300 mirrors, while the temple is created entirely from glass, with a beautifully etched glass artwork of Taiwan’s tallest mountain behind the altar.\nOil-paper umbrellas\nNatural Feature\nIf you thought these traditional wax-paper umbrellas, for sale in markets around Taiwan, were just for protection from the rain and sun, you’d be wrong. Resembling giant versions of the umbrellas bartenders stick into mai tai cocktails, they have important cultural symbolism in Taiwan. The words “oil paper” and “have sons” are homonyms in Chinese, while the word “umbrella” features the same character for “person” five times. This explains the tradition of offering them as wedding gifts, blessing the couple with many children.\nRi Xing typography character moulds\nArchitectural Landmark\nFor a gift or souvenir with authenticity and meaning, visit this former factory and museum in Taipei, dedicated to the art of traditional block printing. It’s supposedly one of the only places in the world (if not the only) to retain a full collection of traditional Chinese moveable character moulds, the likes of which date back to the 11th century. It also sells character-printing blocks that can be used at home, as ornaments or to stamp messages. Phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “hope” and “luck” are the most popular.\nMochi\nStore\nNegar Mz \/ Unsplash\nAnother local treat that is incredibly popular as a souvenir item,\nmochi\nare small chewy balls of glutinous rice that contain a wide variety of fillings.\nTzen Chi Mochi\nis the most famous local maker and definitely the one to look out for.\nBudaixi glove puppets\nArchitectural Landmark\nIf the mention of glove puppets has you imagining Punch and Judy, think again. In Taiwan, glove-puppet operas are a cultural institution, and the art and skill that goes into bringing them to life – both the decoration and the movement – are extraordinary. From princesses and warriors to bearded old kings and mythical creatures, the variety is endless. If you want to surprise the folks back home with this ancient art form, you can pick up a puppet or two from several shops in Taipei, including Chang Yi Fang Puppet Creations.\nMeat-shaped stone\nMuseum, Park\nThey might look like juicy slabs of meat, but don’t try throwing one into your griddle pan. This variety of banded jasper, formed by layers of eerily flesh-pink and translucent-white crystals, looks uncannily like a hunk of pork belly or richly marbled steak. You can find blocks of it for sale at the\nNational Palace Museum\nin Taipei. However, don’t get too carried away, or you might end up having to fork out extra for overweight luggage on the way home.\nFranz Collection ceramics\nShop\nIf you like your souvenirs on the colourful, kitsch side, stick a few examples of Franz Collection porcelain in your hand luggage. The company’s signature vases, teapots, cups and cutlery are one of a kind, combining super-decorative, art nouveau-inspired detailing with themes of nature, animals and flowers. Think teapots covered in turtles and brightly coloured corals, cups that look to be entwined with vines and flowers, and spoons with dragonflies resting on the handles.\nTrips and Tours in Taiwan\nArchitectural Landmark\nWeniliou \/ Shutterstock\nYou’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs – whether it’s in night markets, museum gift shops or local boutiques – on one of the immersive multi-day tours in our Taiwan collection. Book your spot on a trip curated by travel experts and led by an expert local guide.\nAlex Allen\ncontributed additional reporting to this article.\nAbout the author\nAn Irishman living in Taiwan since 2003. I used to teach but now I write words for a living and by some fluke of nature, people actually read them.","attrs_markdown":"[Explore The 100: Culture Trip's list of destinations to visit in 2026.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/the-100)\n\n[![culture trip logo](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/ct-logo-full-v1.svg?quality=1)](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/)\n\n- [Guides](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/guides)\n- [Trips](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips)\n- [Discover](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [SCOTLAND](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/scotland-no-phones)\n\nUS\\$\n\nCHOOSE CURRENCY\n***\n- US\\$\n- €\n- £\n- AU\\$\n- CA\\$\n- NZ\\$\n\n- [Latest Articles](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [Popular Cities](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [Articles by 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skyline](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/13-dubai.png?quality=1) Dubai, UAE](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/middle-east\/uae\/dubai)\n\n[![Chicago skyline with Lake Michigan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/14-chicago.png?quality=1) Chicago, USA](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/united-states\/illinois)\n\n[![Osaka Castle surrounded by cherry blossoms](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/15-osaka.png?quality=1) Osaka, Japan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan\/osaka)\n\n### [Asia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia)\n- [Japan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan)\n- [India](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/india)\n- [Thailand](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/thailand)\n- [Vietnam](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/vietnam)\n- [China](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/china)\n- [South Korea](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/south-korea)\n- [Jordan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/middle-east\/jordan)\n- 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[Zambia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/zambia)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa)\n***\n### [South America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america)\n- [Peru](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/peru)\n- [Brazil](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/brazil)\n- [Argentina](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/argentina)\n- [Bolivia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/bolivia)\n- [Colombia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/colombia)\n- [Ecuador](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/ecuador)\n- [Paraguay](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/paraguay)\n- [Uruguay](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/uruguay)\n- [Chile](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/chile)\n- [Venezuela](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/venezuela)\n- [Guyana](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/guyana)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america)\n***\n### [North 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[India](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/india\/trips)\n- [South Korea](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/south-korea\/trips)\n- [China](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/china\/trips)\n- [Nepal](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/nepal\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/trips)\n***\n### [Europe](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/trips)\n- [Italy](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/italy\/trips)\n- [France](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/france\/trips)\n- [Spain](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/spain\/trips)\n- [Greece](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/greece\/trips)\n- [Portugal](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/portugal\/trips)\n- [United Kingdom](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom\/trips)\n- [Netherlands](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/netherlands\/trips)\n- [Germany](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/germany\/trips)\n- [Ireland](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/ireland\/trips)\n- [Turkey](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/turkey\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/trips)\n***\n### [North America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/trips)\n- [Mexico](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/mexico\/trips)\n- [United States](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/usa)\n- [Costa Rica](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/costa-rica\/trips)\n- [Cuba](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/cuba\/trips)\n- [Canada](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/canada\/trips)\n- [Jamaica](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/jamaica\/trips)\n- [Belize](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/belize\/trips)\n- [Dominican Republic](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/dominican-republic\/trips)\n- [The Bahamas](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/bahamas\/trips)\n- [Panama](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/panama\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/trips)\n***\n### [South America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/trips)\n- [Brazil](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/brazil\/trips)\n- [Argentina](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/argentina\/trips)\n- [Peru](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/peru\/trips)\n- [Colombia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/colombia\/trips)\n- [Ecuador](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/ecuador\/trips)\n- [Bolivia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/bolivia\/trips)\n- [Paraguay](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/paraguay\/trips)\n- [Venezuela](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/venezuela\/trips)\n- [Brazil](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/brazil\/trips)\n- [Argentina](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/argentina\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/trips)\n***\n### [Africa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/trips)\n- [South Africa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/south-africa\/trips)\n- [Morocco](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/morocco\/trips)\n- [Egypt](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/egypt\/trips)\n- [Tanzania](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/tanzania\/trips)\n- [Kenya](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/kenya\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/trips)\n***\n### [Pacific](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/trips)\n- [Australia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/australia\/trips)\n- [New Zealand](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/new-zealand\/trips)\n- [Fiji](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/fiji\/trips)\n- [French Polynesia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/french-polynesia\/trips)\n- [Samoa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/samoa\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/trips)\n\n- [Mini Trips Short but unforgettable getaways for a quick escape under 5 days.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkdXJhdGlvbiI6Ii01In0=)\n- [Classic Getaways Well-paced 6-9 day trips with a balance of culture, nature, and exploration.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkdXJhdGlvbiI6IjYtOSJ9=)\n- [In-Depth Journeys Well-paced 6-9 day trips with a balance of culture, nature, and exploration.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkdXJhdGlvbiI6IjE2LSJ9)\n- [Affordable Adventures Low-cost trips. Explore unforgettable experiences below \\$2100.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJwcmljZSI6Ii0yMTAwIn0=)\n- [Premium Escapes The finest destinations. The best experiences.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJwcmljZSI6IjQxMDAtIn0=)\n\n![Travel More for Less](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nav-promo-thailand-floating-market-shutterstock-image-1828092353.webp?quality=1)\n\n### Travel More for Less\nSpecial prices on carefully curated trips around the world.\n\n[Explore Offers](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/offers)\n\n- [Winter Travel Discover departures from November to March.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjUtMTF8MjAyNS0xMnwyMDI2LTAxfDIwMjYtMDJ8MjAyNi0wM3wyMDI2LTExfDIwMjYtMTJ8MjAyNy0wMXwyMDI3LTAyfDIwMjctMDMifQ==)\n- [Spring Travel Discover departures from March to June.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjYtMDN8MjAyNi0wNHwyMDI2LTA1fDIwMjYtMDZ8MjAyNy0wM3wyMDI3LTA0fDIwMjctMDV8MjAyNy0wNiJ9)\n- [Summer Travel Discover departures from June to September.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjYtMDZ8MjAyNi0wN3wyMDI2LTA4fDIwMjYtMDl8MjAyNy0wNnwyMDI3LTA3fDIwMjctMDh8MjAyNy0wOSJ9)\n- [Autumn Travel Discover departures from September to November.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjUtMTB8MjAyNS0xMXwyMDI2LTA5fDIwMjYtMTB8MjAyNi0xMXwyMDI3LTA5In0=)\n\n![Travel More for Less](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nav-promo-thailand-floating-market-shutterstock-image-1828092353.webp?quality=1)\n\n### Travel More for Less\n**Special prices** on carefully curated **trips** around the world.\n\n[Explore Offers](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/offers)\n\n- [Discover](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n\n- [The 100 Culture Trip's handpicked travel experiences for 2026.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/the-100)\n- [The Bug - Podcast Travel stories and tips from Culture Trip experts.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/the-bug-podcast)\n- [Creators Network Join our global community of travel writers and photographers.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/freelance-jobs)\n- [Thailand for Beginners Everything you need to know about planning your first Thai adventure.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/thailand-first-visit)\n\n![Screen-Free Scotland](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/visit_scotland_campaign_ct_assets_friends.webp?quality=1)\n\n### Screen-Free Scotland\nWhat happens when you drop a New Yorker and a Torontonian in the Scottish Highlands with no phones and only locals to guide them?\n\nCollaboration with\n\n![Collaboration with](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/visit-scotland-logo-hubs.webp?quality=1)\n\n[Discover the Journey](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/scotland-no-phones\/helia-and-louise)\n\n- [Guides](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/guides)\n- [Trips](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips)\n- [Discover](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [SCOTLAND](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/scotland-no-phones)\n***\n- Log In\n- US\\$\n- - US\\$\n  - €\n  - £\n  - AU\\$\n  - CA\\$\n  - NZ\\$\n\n- Guides\n\n- [Latest Articles](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [Popular Cities](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [Articles by Destination](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n\n[View All Guides](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/guides)\n\n- Trips\n\n- [By Destination](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [By Type](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [By Season](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [Trip Deals](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/offers)\n\n[View All Trips](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips)\n\n- Discover\n\n- [Discover](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n\n- Latest Articles\n\n[![The Best Bars In London For Stylish Nights Out image](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/the-alchemist-_-monument.webp?quality=100) 1 day ago Bars & Cafes The Best Bars In London For Stylish Nights Out Read More](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom\/england\/london\/articles\/the-best-bars-in-london-for-stylish-nights-out)\n\n[![Exploring the World of Football ULTRAS image](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4_ultras_indonesia_psssleman2_photo_fabian_sigurd.webp?quality=100) 1 day ago Culture Exploring the World of Football ULTRAS Read More](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/sweden\/articles\/exploring-the-world-of-football-ultras)\n\n[![Maldives Island Hopping – The Idyllic Trip image](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/w-maldives-away-spa-aerial-2.webp?quality=100) 2 days ago Inspiration Maldives Island Hopping – The Idyllic Trip Read More](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/maldives\/articles\/maldives-island-hopping-the-idyllic-trip)\n\n[![The 40 Best Restaurants in London image](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/zuma2.webp?quality=100) 5 days ago Restaurants The 40 Best Restaurants in London Read More](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom\/england\/london\/articles\/the-best-restaurants-in-london)\n\n[View All Guides](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/guides)\n\n- Popular Cities\n\n[![Eiffel Tower in Paris at sunset](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/1-paris.png?quality=1) Paris, France](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/france\/paris)\n\n[![Canal in Venice](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/2-venice.png?quality=1) Venice, Italy](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/italy\/venice)\n\n[![Tokyo Sushi platter](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/3-tokyo.png?quality=1) Tokyo, Japan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan\/tokyo)\n\n[![Edinburgh Castle on a hill](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/4-edinburgh.png?quality=1) Edinburgh, UK](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom\/edinburgh)\n\n[![Brandenburg Gate in Berlin](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/5-berlin.png?quality=1) Berlin, Germany](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/germany\/berlin)\n\n[![Sagrada Familia in Barcelona](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/6-barcelona.png?quality=1) Barcelona, Spain](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/spain\/barcelona)\n\n[![Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/7-rio_de_janeiro.png?quality=1) Rio de Janeiro](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/brazil\/rio-de-janeiro)\n\n[![Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza in Cairo](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/8-cairo.png?quality=1) Cairo, Egypt](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/egypt\/cairo)\n\n[![Big Ben and the Gherkin in London](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/9-london.png?quality=1) London, UK](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom\/london)\n\n[![Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/10-sydney.png?quality=1) Sydney, Australia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/australia\/sydney)\n\n[![Statue of Liberty with New York City skyline](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/11-new_york.png?quality=1) New York, USA](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/united-states\/new-york-city)\n\n[![Colorful buildings along the Amalfi Coast](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/12-amalfi_coast.png?quality=1) Amalfi Coast](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/italy\/amalfi)\n\n[![Burj Khalifa towering over Dubai skyline](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/13-dubai.png?quality=1) Dubai, UAE](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/middle-east\/uae\/dubai)\n\n[![Chicago skyline with Lake Michigan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/14-chicago.png?quality=1) Chicago, USA](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/united-states\/illinois)\n\n[![Osaka Castle surrounded by cherry blossoms](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/destinations\/15-osaka.png?quality=1) Osaka, Japan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan\/osaka)\n\n[View All Guides](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/guides)\n\n- Articles by Destination\n\n### [Asia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia)\n- [Japan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan)\n- [India](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/india)\n- [Thailand](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/thailand)\n- [Vietnam](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/vietnam)\n- [China](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/china)\n- [South Korea](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/south-korea)\n- [Jordan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/middle-east\/jordan)\n- [Pakistan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/pakistan)\n- [Indonesia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/indonesia)\n- [Singapore](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/singapore)\n- [Philippines](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/philippines)\n- [Malaysia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/malaysia)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia)\n***\n### [Europe](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe)\n- [Italy](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/italy)\n- [Greece](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/greece)\n- [United Kingdom](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom)\n- [Germany](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/germany)\n- [Spain](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/spain)\n- [France](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/france)\n- [Turkey](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/turkey)\n- [Portugal](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/portugal)\n- [Ireland](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/ireland)\n- [Poland](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/poland)\n- [Iceland](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/iceland)\n- [Austria](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/austria)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe)\n***\n### [Africa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa)\n- [Egypt](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/egypt)\n- [Ghana](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/ghana)\n- [Morocco](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/morocco)\n- [Nigeria](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/nigeria)\n- [South Africa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/south-africa)\n- [Tunisia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/tunisia)\n- [Kenya](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/kenya)\n- [Namibia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/namibia)\n- [Senegal](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/senegal)\n- [Algeria](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/algeria)\n- [Cameroon](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/cameroon)\n- [Zambia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/zambia)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa)\n***\n### [South America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america)\n- [Peru](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/peru)\n- [Brazil](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/brazil)\n- [Argentina](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/argentina)\n- [Bolivia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/bolivia)\n- [Colombia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/colombia)\n- [Ecuador](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/ecuador)\n- [Paraguay](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/paraguay)\n- [Uruguay](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/uruguay)\n- [Chile](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/chile)\n- [Venezuela](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/venezuela)\n- [Guyana](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/guyana)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america)\n***\n### [North America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america)\n- [United States](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/usa)\n- [Mexico](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/mexico)\n- [Canada](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/canada)\n- [Cuba](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/cuba)\n- [Costa Rica](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/costa-rica)\n- [Jamaica](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/jamaica)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america)\n***\n### [Pacific](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific)\n- [Australia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/australia)\n- [New Zealand](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/new-zealand)\n- [Fiji](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/fiji)\n- [Samoa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/samoa)\n- [Tonga](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/tonga)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific)\n\n[View All Guides](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/guides)\n\n- By Destination\n\n### [Asia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/trips)\n- [Japan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan\/trips)\n- [Thailand](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/thailand\/trips)\n- [Vietnam](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/vietnam\/trips)\n- [Indonesia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/indonesia\/trips)\n- [Singapore](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/singapore\/trips)\n- [Malaysia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/malaysia\/trips)\n- [Philippines](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/philippines\/trips)\n- [India](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/india\/trips)\n- [South Korea](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/south-korea\/trips)\n- [China](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/china\/trips)\n- [Nepal](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/nepal\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/trips)\n***\n### [Europe](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/trips)\n- [Italy](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/italy\/trips)\n- [France](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/france\/trips)\n- [Spain](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/spain\/trips)\n- [Greece](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/greece\/trips)\n- [Portugal](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/portugal\/trips)\n- [United Kingdom](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom\/trips)\n- [Netherlands](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/netherlands\/trips)\n- [Germany](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/germany\/trips)\n- [Ireland](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/ireland\/trips)\n- [Turkey](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/turkey\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/trips)\n***\n### [North America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/trips)\n- [Mexico](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/mexico\/trips)\n- [United States](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/usa)\n- [Costa Rica](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/costa-rica\/trips)\n- [Cuba](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/cuba\/trips)\n- [Canada](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/canada\/trips)\n- [Jamaica](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/jamaica\/trips)\n- [Belize](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/belize\/trips)\n- [Dominican Republic](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/dominican-republic\/trips)\n- [The Bahamas](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/bahamas\/trips)\n- [Panama](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/panama\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/trips)\n***\n### [South America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/trips)\n- [Brazil](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/brazil\/trips)\n- [Argentina](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/argentina\/trips)\n- [Peru](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/peru\/trips)\n- [Colombia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/colombia\/trips)\n- [Ecuador](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/ecuador\/trips)\n- [Bolivia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/bolivia\/trips)\n- [Paraguay](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/paraguay\/trips)\n- [Venezuela](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/venezuela\/trips)\n- [Brazil](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/brazil\/trips)\n- [Argentina](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/argentina\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america\/trips)\n***\n### [Africa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/trips)\n- [South Africa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/south-africa\/trips)\n- [Morocco](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/morocco\/trips)\n- [Egypt](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/egypt\/trips)\n- [Tanzania](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/tanzania\/trips)\n- [Kenya](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/kenya\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa\/trips)\n***\n### [Pacific](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/trips)\n- [Australia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/australia\/trips)\n- [New Zealand](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/new-zealand\/trips)\n- [Fiji](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/fiji\/trips)\n- [French Polynesia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/french-polynesia\/trips)\n- [Samoa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/samoa\/trips)\n- [View All](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific\/trips)\n\n[View All Trips](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips)\n\n- By Type\n\n- [Mini Trips Short but unforgettable getaways for a quick escape under 5 days.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkdXJhdGlvbiI6Ii01In0=)\n- [Classic Getaways Well-paced 6-9 day trips with a balance of culture, nature, and exploration.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkdXJhdGlvbiI6IjYtOSJ9=)\n- [In-Depth Journeys Well-paced 6-9 day trips with a balance of culture, nature, and exploration.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkdXJhdGlvbiI6IjE2LSJ9)\n- [Affordable Adventures Low-cost trips. Explore unforgettable experiences below \\$2100.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJwcmljZSI6Ii0yMTAwIn0=)\n- [Premium Escapes The finest destinations. The best experiences.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJwcmljZSI6IjQxMDAtIn0=)\n\n![Travel More for Less](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nav-promo-thailand-floating-market-shutterstock-image-1828092353.webp?quality=1)\n\n### Travel More for Less\nSpecial prices on carefully curated trips around the world.\n\n[Explore Offers](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/offers)\n\n[View All Trips](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips)\n\n- By Season\n\n- [Winter Travel Discover departures from November to March.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjUtMTF8MjAyNS0xMnwyMDI2LTAxfDIwMjYtMDJ8MjAyNi0wM3wyMDI2LTExfDIwMjYtMTJ8MjAyNy0wMXwyMDI3LTAyfDIwMjctMDMifQ==)\n- [Spring Travel Discover departures from March to June.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjYtMDN8MjAyNi0wNHwyMDI2LTA1fDIwMjYtMDZ8MjAyNy0wM3wyMDI3LTA0fDIwMjctMDV8MjAyNy0wNiJ9)\n- [Summer Travel Discover departures from June to September.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjYtMDZ8MjAyNi0wN3wyMDI2LTA4fDIwMjYtMDl8MjAyNy0wNnwyMDI3LTA3fDIwMjctMDh8MjAyNy0wOSJ9)\n- [Autumn Travel Discover departures from September to November.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjUtMTB8MjAyNS0xMXwyMDI2LTA5fDIwMjYtMTB8MjAyNi0xMXwyMDI3LTA5In0=)\n\n![Travel More for Less](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nav-promo-thailand-floating-market-shutterstock-image-1828092353.webp?quality=1)\n\n### Travel More for Less\n**Special prices** on carefully curated **trips** around the world.\n\n[Explore Offers](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/offers)\n\n[View All Trips](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/anywhere\/trips)\n\n- Discover\n\n- [The 100 Culture Trip's handpicked travel experiences for 2026.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/the-100)\n- [The Bug - Podcast Travel stories and tips from Culture Trip experts.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/the-bug-podcast)\n- [Creators Network Join our global community of travel writers and photographers.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/freelance-jobs)\n- [Thailand for Beginners Everything you need to know about planning your first Thai adventure.](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/thailand-first-visit)\n\n![Screen-Free Scotland](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/visit_scotland_campaign_ct_assets_friends.webp?quality=1)\n\n### Screen-Free Scotland\nWhat happens when you drop a New Yorker and a Torontonian in the Scottish Highlands with no phones and only locals to guide them?\n\nCollaboration with\n\n![Collaboration with](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/visit-scotland-logo-hubs.webp?quality=1)\n\n[Discover the Journey](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/scotland-no-phones\/helia-and-louise)\n\n1. [Home](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/)\n2. [Asia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia)\n3. [Taiwan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan)\n4. [Unique Souvenirs You Can Only...](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n# 21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan\n![David Huang \/](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/1220x671\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.webp?quality=1)\n\nDavid Huang \/ \\| © Culture Trip\n\n[![Ciaran McEneaney](https:\/\/gravatar.webp.se\/avatar\/a3ad74d9385b33838e5cd1913d3600a1e81f9a8b4cd06d4878febdef3d302b64?s=75&d=mm&r=g)](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/authors\/ciaran-mceneaney)\n\n[**Ciaran McEneaney** 28 October 2025](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/authors\/ciaran-mceneaney)\n\n- [Copy Link](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share.php?u=https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=facebook%26utm_medium=share)\n- [Email](<mailto:?subject=21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan&body=Hey%2C%20check%20out%20this%20awesome%20article%20on%20Culture%20Trip%3A%0Ahttps:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=email%26utm_medium=share>)\n- [Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet\/?text=21%20Unique%20Souvenirs%20You%20Can%20Only%20Buy%20in%20Taiwan%20via%20@culturetrip%20https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=twitter%26utm_medium=share)\n- [Pinterest](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/link\/?url=https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=pinterest%26utm_medium=share&description=21%20Unique%20Souvenirs%20You%20Can%20Only%20Buy%20in%20Taiwan&media=https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/2070x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.jpg)\n\n## Recommended by\n![](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/ct-full.svg)\n\n[![21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** 21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n\n[![The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2416445273.webp?quality=1) **See & Do** The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/20-must-visit-attractions-in-taiwan)\n## Holiday shopping is often something you leave for the airport, but that’s not the case in [Taiwan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan), where something shouts “Buy me!” at every turn. With markets, malls and museum gift shops, the country’s a giant opportunity to buy something unique. From ancient crafts and culinary delicacies to precious stones and beautiful materials, here are some souvenirs you can only find in Taiwan.\n### Pineapple cake\n![Pineapple cake pastry - Taiwanese famous sweet delicious dessert food with tea, close up, copy space design.](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/shutterstock_1742298644.webp?quality=1)\n\nRomix Image \/ Shutterstock\n\n[Taiwan Food Tours](https:\/\/www.viator.com\/Taiwan-tours\/Food-Tours\/d778-g6-c80?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan)\n\nOne of the most popular, widely available sweet treats you’ll find in Taiwan is the humble pineapple cake. The capital even launched the annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival in 2005 to showcase the diversity of fillings (not just pineapple, as it happens, but also strawberry, melon and cranberry, to name but a few). Lick your lips in anticipation of the buttery pastry, followed by deliciously sweet jam oozing from its centre as you take a bite. They’re usually sold in airtight packaging, so taking them home on the plane is, well, a piece of cake.\n\n### Mini sky lanterns\nPark\n\n![Lanterns, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/henry-co-bpguvi7iahi-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\nHenry Co \/ Unsplash\n\n[Ningxia Night Market Tours](https:\/\/www.viator.com\/Taipei-attractions\/Ningxia-Night-Market\/d5262-a13535?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan)\n\nYou may have heard of the [Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/10-festivals-you-can-only-experience-in-taiwan), but you probably didn’t realise you can buy these beautiful objects in a diminutive form to take home. They come in a spectrum of colours, each one conveying a message the sender wishes to share with God – yellow for success, say, or blue for hope. These handcrafted pieces adorn mantelpieces to sensational effect. To browse for some of the best in Taipei, visit Ningxia Night Market on Ningxia Road in the Datong district – a truly illuminating experience.\n\n### Indigenous products\nNatural Feature\n\n[Taiwan Tours](https:\/\/www.viator.com\/Taiwan\/d778-ttd?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan)\n\nMany [indigenous tribes](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/the-folk-tale-explaining-the-birth-of-the-atayal-indigenous-in-taiwan) in Taiwan produce a wide variety of products in their local villages and sell them in many souvenir shops across the island. These include items such as bags, pictures and many handcrafted pieces of jewellery. These items will all have a distinct style in keeping with each tribe’s traditional colours and clothing.\n\n### The world's best jade\nNatural Feature\n\n![National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/shinzan-murray-e1evxmiptz4-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\nShinzan Murray \/ Unsplash\n\nOf course, you can buy jade all around the world, but Taiwan is well known for having some of the finest quality on the planet. Lose yourself among the thousands of stalls at the Jianguo Jade Market (it lies beneath the Jianguo Elevated Highway). Here, you can splash out on pricey pieces that’ll turn your friends green with envy – or snap up a bunch of standard bangles and pendants for Christmas stocking fillers.\n\n### Plum wine\nNatural Feature\n\nAlcohol is big business in Taiwan, but you probably won’t be able to squeeze too many of the latest trendy [craft beers](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/12-brands-of-craft-beer-you-must-try-in-taiwan) into your case. However, you can buy small bottles of plum wine or rice wine at liquor stores everywhere. Just make sure you check the alcohol content, as some of them are incredibly strong.\n\n## Become a Culture Tripper\\!\nSign up to our newsletter for insider tips and hidden gems.\n\nSee our [privacy policy](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/privacy-policy).  \nThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https:\/\/policies.google.com\/terms) apply.\n\n![girl with a dog with phone](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/vectors\/girl-dog-phone-like.svg)\n\n### Taiwan-style postcards\nNatural Feature\n\nRegular postcards are OK to send, but they’ll kipper and curl before you know it. Not so with the Taiwanese variety – they’re another story altogether. Made of wood and etched with local landscapes or other appealing pictures, they make great gifts for friends and will last a lifetime stuck on your refrigerator door at home.\n\n### Taiwanese peanut nougat\nNatural Feature\n\nDon’t expect the typical nougat you find in your local supermarket or newsagent. The Taiwanese take is routinely hard and chewy and packed with peanuts. Expect to find boxes of it everywhere – especially during festivals. Some varieties also have sesame in the mix; others may contain chunks of brown sugar. Whichever type you go for, you can’t go wrong – you’re buying the most traditional treat in Taiwan, after all.\n\n### Sun cakes\nNatural Feature\n\nOriginating in the lively central city of [Taichung](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/the-10-best-things-to-see-and-do-in-taichung-taiwan), *taiyang bing* (sun cakes) are utterly mouthwatering little moments. Encased in the flaky filo pastry of each one is a core of gooey paste that’s every bit as sweet as honey – actually sweeter. These days you can get many varieties, for instance, dried pork and green tea. But in all honesty, the originals are still the best. Bet you can’t eat just one.\n\n### Taiwanese tea\nArchitectural Landmark\n\n![Tea, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruslan-bardash-i49lrkvtja0-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\n[Taiwan Tea Tours](https:\/\/www.viator.com\/Taiwan-tours\/Coffee-and-Tea-Tours\/d778-g6-c5325?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan)\n\nSweet, floral, smoky, nutty. White, green, black, pu’er. The deliciously refreshing [teas of Taiwan’s mountain regions](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/does-taiwan-make-the-best-tea-in-the-world) are among the most sought after in the world. If you have a connoisseur in the family, a box of the best leaves makes a great gift. You can opt to visit one of the great tea-producing areas, for instance, [Sun Moon Lake](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/the-legends-of-sun-moon-lake-in-taiwan). That way, as with champagne, in [France](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/france), you can taste it before you purchase. Look out for oolong; it’s the most popular, and with good reason.\n\n### A carved wooden penis\nNatural Feature\n\nThis item is not necessarily the gift you take home for the partner who has everything. But there’s no doubting that phallic symbols are everywhere in Taiwan – particularly in local indigenous culture – and they’ve found their way into consumer culture. When visiting a tribal village or marketplace, don’t be surprised to see stalls stacked with wooden penises in all shapes and sizes. They’re supposed to bring luck and fortune to the owner – as you might say, things are looking up.\n\n### Pork paper\nNatural Feature\n\nLike a cross between a pork scratching, beef jerky and a bag of crisps, this crunchy, meaty snack is seriously addictive. The thinly spread mixture of minced pork, soy sauce, cooking wine and five-spice powder is baked until glossy and finger-snap crispy. You’ll find different varieties of it – usually at food markets, depending on the vendor’s unique recipe – but the most common also contains small pieces of apple for sweet, fruity chewiness and crunchy almond pieces for extra bite. It’s delicious paired with a cold beer.\n\n### Taiwanese fruit jelly\nNatural Feature\n\nPeople love their jellies in Taiwan, and the good news for vegans is that they’re usually made without animal products. The most popular is aiyu, made with the aiyu plant, which grows only in Taiwan; you’ll find it at markets, served in giant bowls filled with lemons. Even better, aiyu jelly is said to have a number of health benefits, for example, helping to slow ageing, reducing cholesterol levels and promoting good gut health. You’ll also come across konjac jelly, which is firmer, comes in all sorts of fruity flavours and is usually sold wrapped like candy.\n\n### Chun Cui He\nNatural Feature\n\nThere was a national outcry in [Singapore](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/singapore) a few years ago when the country’s food and drink regulator had to ban the import of this milk-tea brand temporarily due to unsanctioned additives. When it finally landed back on shelves, it sold out within seconds, with limits placed on the number of chicly designed bottles people could buy. In Taiwan, the cult drink is ubiquitous. Sweet, creamy and flavoured with the aroma of black tea leaves, it understandably has a die-hard following. There are other flavours, such as green-tea latte and mocha, but milk tea is the original.\n\n### Kaoliang\nNatural Feature\n\nGuaranteed to liven up any party and add intrigue to your drinks cabinet, this clear spirit, made with fermented sorghum, packs quite a punch – especially the variety with 58 percent alcohol. Sip it neat, and it’s got a smooth, slightly sweet taste, with a delayed scorching of the back of the throat. Although that’s the (traditional) way they encourage you to drink it, it’s more palatable diluted in a cocktail. You’ll find it mixed into all sorts of concoctions, but the most typically Taiwanese drink it’s laced through is boba, also known as bubble tea.\n\n### Glass art and handicrafts\nNatural Feature\n\nTaiwan’s glass-making industry didn’t take off until the late 1800s, but today, you’ll find some of the most extraordinary craftsmanship imaginable. Visit the Taiwan Glass Gallery and Glass Mazu Temple in Lukang, Changhua or the Glass Museum of Hsinchu City, and you’ll be blown away by the creativity and skill. In the gallery, you’ll find a glass tunnel made of more than 6,300 mirrors, while the temple is created entirely from glass, with a beautifully etched glass artwork of Taiwan’s tallest mountain behind the altar.\n\n### Oil-paper umbrellas\nNatural Feature\n\nIf you thought these traditional wax-paper umbrellas, for sale in markets around Taiwan, were just for protection from the rain and sun, you’d be wrong. Resembling giant versions of the umbrellas bartenders stick into mai tai cocktails, they have important cultural symbolism in Taiwan. The words “oil paper” and “have sons” are homonyms in Chinese, while the word “umbrella” features the same character for “person” five times. This explains the tradition of offering them as wedding gifts, blessing the couple with many children.\n\n### Ri Xing typography character moulds\nArchitectural Landmark\n\nFor a gift or souvenir with authenticity and meaning, visit this former factory and museum in Taipei, dedicated to the art of traditional block printing. It’s supposedly one of the only places in the world (if not the only) to retain a full collection of traditional Chinese moveable character moulds, the likes of which date back to the 11th century. It also sells character-printing blocks that can be used at home, as ornaments or to stamp messages. Phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “hope” and “luck” are the most popular.\n\n### Mochi\nStore\n\n![Mochi, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/negar-mz-6mnhcd4fr_g-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\nNegar Mz \/ Unsplash\n\nAnother local treat that is incredibly popular as a souvenir item, [mochi](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan\/articles\/japan-a-tale-of-love-and-mochi) are small chewy balls of glutinous rice that contain a wide variety of fillings. [Tzen Chi Mochi](https:\/\/www.tzen1314.com\/en\/) is the most famous local maker and definitely the one to look out for.\n\n### Budaixi glove puppets\nArchitectural Landmark\n\nIf the mention of glove puppets has you imagining Punch and Judy, think again. In Taiwan, glove-puppet operas are a cultural institution, and the art and skill that goes into bringing them to life – both the decoration and the movement – are extraordinary. From princesses and warriors to bearded old kings and mythical creatures, the variety is endless. If you want to surprise the folks back home with this ancient art form, you can pick up a puppet or two from several shops in Taipei, including Chang Yi Fang Puppet Creations.\n\n### Meat-shaped stone\nMuseum, Park\n\n[National Palace Museum Tours](https:\/\/www.viator.com\/en-GB\/Taipei-attractions\/Taipei-National-Palace-Museum\/d5262-a2682?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan)\n\nThey might look like juicy slabs of meat, but don’t try throwing one into your griddle pan. This variety of banded jasper, formed by layers of eerily flesh-pink and translucent-white crystals, looks uncannily like a hunk of pork belly or richly marbled steak. You can find blocks of it for sale at the [National Palace Museum](https:\/\/www.npm.gov.tw\/) in Taipei. However, don’t get too carried away, or you might end up having to fork out extra for overweight luggage on the way home.\n\n### Franz Collection ceramics\nShop\n\nIf you like your souvenirs on the colourful, kitsch side, stick a few examples of Franz Collection porcelain in your hand luggage. The company’s signature vases, teapots, cups and cutlery are one of a kind, combining super-decorative, art nouveau-inspired detailing with themes of nature, animals and flowers. Think teapots covered in turtles and brightly coloured corals, cups that look to be entwined with vines and flowers, and spoons with dragonflies resting on the handles.\n\n### Trips and Tours in Taiwan\nArchitectural Landmark\n\n![Trains Traveling at Pingxi Line (Its The Most Beautiful Branch Line in Taiwan Railway System, New Taipei City, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1055643125.webp?quality=1)\n\nWeniliou \/ Shutterstock\n\n[Taiwan Trips and Tours](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/trips)\n\nYou’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs – whether it’s in night markets, museum gift shops or local boutiques – on one of the immersive multi-day tours in our Taiwan collection. Book your spot on a trip curated by travel experts and led by an expert local guide.\n\n*[Alex Allen](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/authors\/alex-allen) contributed additional reporting to this article.*\n\n### About the author\n[![Ciaran McEneaney](https:\/\/gravatar.webp.se\/avatar\/a3ad74d9385b33838e5cd1913d3600a1e81f9a8b4cd06d4878febdef3d302b64?s=64&d=mm&r=g)](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/authors\/ciaran-mceneaney)\n\n[Ciaran McEneaney](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/authors\/ciaran-mceneaney)\n\nAn Irishman living in Taiwan since 2003. I used to teach but now I write words for a living and by some fluke of nature, people actually read them.\n\nIf you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue. All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip.\n\n### Read Next\n[![21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** 21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan)\n\n[![The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_2416445273.webp?quality=1) **See & Do** The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/20-must-visit-attractions-in-taiwan)\n\n[![The 15 Best Destinations in Southeast Asia](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/shutterstock_2206958995-e1756312361109.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** The 15 Best Destinations in Southeast Asia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/the-15-best-destinations-in-southeast-asia)\n\n[![11 Heroic Tips for Using Southeast Asias Bum Guns](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/alexandra-tran-ernrqyhopta-unsplash-e1727867934147.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** 11 Heroic Tips for Using Southeast Asia's 'Bum Guns'](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/11-heroic-tips-for-using-southeast-asias-bum-guns)\n\n[![10 of the Oldest Cities in the World](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/shutterstock_2485447851-e1728644786501.webp?quality=1) **See & Do** 10 of the Oldest Cities in the World](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/the-10-oldest-cities-in-the-world)\n\n[![13 Hilarious Arabic Swear Words and Phrases](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/barry-talley-s8x0cexaooe-unsplash-1.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** 13 Hilarious Arabic Swear Words and Phrases](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/13-hilarious-arabic-swear-words-and-phrases)\n\n[![The 21 Most Beautiful Places in Southeast Asia](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_654612958.webp?quality=1) **See & Do** The 21 Most Beautiful Places in Southeast Asia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/21-incredible-places-southeast-asia-never-knew-existed)\n\n[![The Best Places to Honeymoon this Fall](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/shutterstock_2477739181-e1752060901634.webp?quality=1) **See & Do** The Best Places to Honeymoon this Fall](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/the-best-places-to-honeymoon-in-autumn)\n\n[![The 11 Most Stunning Indian Ocean Islands](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/shutterstock_2500762785-e1733931201783.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** The 11 Most Stunning Indian Ocean Islands](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/11-stunning-indian-ocean-islands)\n\n[![The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/shutterstock_2502888447-e1738615111767.webp?quality=1) **See & Do** The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/the-best-places-for-an-asian-spring-break)\n\n[![A Guide to Shrimping in Taipei](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/shutterstock_2440456295-e1732015753979.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** A Guide to Shrimping in Taipei](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/a-guide-to-shrimping-in-taipei)\n\n[![A Hikers Guide to Taiwans Taroko Gorge](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/shutterstock_288342350-e1761489007892.webp?quality=1) **Guides & Tips** A Hiker's Guide to Taiwan's Taroko Gorge](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/articles\/a-hikers-guide-to-taiwans-taroko-gorge)\n\n#### TRAVEL GUIDES\n- [Africa](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/africa)\n- [Antarctica](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/antarctica)\n- [Asia](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia)\n- [Caribbean](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america\/caribbean)\n- [Central America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/central-america)\n- [Europe](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe)\n- [Middle East](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/middle-east)\n- [North America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/north-america)\n- [Pacific](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/pacific)\n- [South America](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/south-america)\n\n#### VIDEOS\n- [Video Library](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/videos)\n\n#### THE COMPANY\n- [The Content Team](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/united-kingdom\/england\/london\/articles\/culture-trip-content-team)\n- [Sitemap](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/sitemap)\n\n#### FOLLOW US\n- 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[Freelance Jobs](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/freelance-jobs)\n\n![pt trustees ltd logo](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/footer\/pt-logo.webp) Culture Trip uses an independent third party trust account held by PT Trustees Limited in accordance with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations.\n\nCA SOT \\#2160064-50; FL SOT \\#45027; WA SOT \\#605480531   \n Culture Trip is **not a participant** in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund.\n\n[![Download our iOS app on the App Store](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/stores\/app-store-badge.svg)](https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/culture-trip-travel-explore\/id1146832951)   [![Download our Android app on Google Play](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/stores\/google-play-badge.svg)](https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=culturetrip.com&hl=en&pli=1)\n\n© Copyright 2026 International Travel Connect, LLC. All Rights Reserved.","attrs_readable_markdown":"Holiday shopping is often something you leave for the airport, but that’s not the case in [Taiwan](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan), where something shouts “Buy me!” at every turn. With markets, malls and museum gift shops, the country’s a giant opportunity to buy something unique. From ancient crafts and culinary delicacies to precious stones and beautiful materials, here are some souvenirs you can only find in Taiwan.\n\n### Pineapple cake\n![Pineapple cake pastry - Taiwanese famous sweet delicious dessert food with tea, close up, copy space design.](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/shutterstock_1742298644.webp?quality=1)\n\nRomix Image \/ Shutterstock\n\nOne of the most popular, widely available sweet treats you’ll find in Taiwan is the humble pineapple cake. The capital even launched the annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival in 2005 to showcase the diversity of fillings (not just pineapple, as it happens, but also strawberry, melon and cranberry, to name but a few). Lick your lips in anticipation of the buttery pastry, followed by deliciously sweet jam oozing from its centre as you take a bite. They’re usually sold in airtight packaging, so taking them home on the plane is, well, a piece of cake.\n\n### Mini sky lanterns\nPark\n\n![Lanterns, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/henry-co-bpguvi7iahi-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\nHenry Co \/ Unsplash\n\nYou may have heard of the [Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/10-festivals-you-can-only-experience-in-taiwan), but you probably didn’t realise you can buy these beautiful objects in a diminutive form to take home. They come in a spectrum of colours, each one conveying a message the sender wishes to share with God – yellow for success, say, or blue for hope. These handcrafted pieces adorn mantelpieces to sensational effect. To browse for some of the best in Taipei, visit Ningxia Night Market on Ningxia Road in the Datong district – a truly illuminating experience.\n\n### Indigenous products\nNatural Feature\n\nMany [indigenous tribes](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/the-folk-tale-explaining-the-birth-of-the-atayal-indigenous-in-taiwan) in Taiwan produce a wide variety of products in their local villages and sell them in many souvenir shops across the island. These include items such as bags, pictures and many handcrafted pieces of jewellery. These items will all have a distinct style in keeping with each tribe’s traditional colours and clothing.\n\n### The world's best jade\nNatural Feature\n\n![National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/shinzan-murray-e1evxmiptz4-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\nShinzan Murray \/ Unsplash\n\nOf course, you can buy jade all around the world, but Taiwan is well known for having some of the finest quality on the planet. Lose yourself among the thousands of stalls at the Jianguo Jade Market (it lies beneath the Jianguo Elevated Highway). Here, you can splash out on pricey pieces that’ll turn your friends green with envy – or snap up a bunch of standard bangles and pendants for Christmas stocking fillers.\n\n### Plum wine\nNatural Feature\n\nAlcohol is big business in Taiwan, but you probably won’t be able to squeeze too many of the latest trendy [craft beers](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/12-brands-of-craft-beer-you-must-try-in-taiwan) into your case. However, you can buy small bottles of plum wine or rice wine at liquor stores everywhere. Just make sure you check the alcohol content, as some of them are incredibly strong.\n\n## Become a Culture Tripper\\!\nSign up to our newsletter for insider tips and hidden gems.\n\n![girl with a dog with phone](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/img\/vectors\/girl-dog-phone-like.svg)\n\n### Taiwan-style postcards\nNatural Feature\n\nRegular postcards are OK to send, but they’ll kipper and curl before you know it. Not so with the Taiwanese variety – they’re another story altogether. Made of wood and etched with local landscapes or other appealing pictures, they make great gifts for friends and will last a lifetime stuck on your refrigerator door at home.\n\n### Taiwanese peanut nougat\nNatural Feature\n\nDon’t expect the typical nougat you find in your local supermarket or newsagent. The Taiwanese take is routinely hard and chewy and packed with peanuts. Expect to find boxes of it everywhere – especially during festivals. Some varieties also have sesame in the mix; others may contain chunks of brown sugar. Whichever type you go for, you can’t go wrong – you’re buying the most traditional treat in Taiwan, after all.\n\n### Sun cakes\nNatural Feature\n\nOriginating in the lively central city of [Taichung](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/the-10-best-things-to-see-and-do-in-taichung-taiwan), *taiyang bing* (sun cakes) are utterly mouthwatering little moments. Encased in the flaky filo pastry of each one is a core of gooey paste that’s every bit as sweet as honey – actually sweeter. These days you can get many varieties, for instance, dried pork and green tea. But in all honesty, the originals are still the best. Bet you can’t eat just one.\n\n### Taiwanese tea\nArchitectural Landmark\n\n![Tea, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ruslan-bardash-i49lrkvtja0-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\nSweet, floral, smoky, nutty. White, green, black, pu’er. The deliciously refreshing [teas of Taiwan’s mountain regions](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/does-taiwan-make-the-best-tea-in-the-world) are among the most sought after in the world. If you have a connoisseur in the family, a box of the best leaves makes a great gift. You can opt to visit one of the great tea-producing areas, for instance, [Sun Moon Lake](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/taiwan\/articles\/the-legends-of-sun-moon-lake-in-taiwan). That way, as with champagne, in [France](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/europe\/france), you can taste it before you purchase. Look out for oolong; it’s the most popular, and with good reason.\n\n### A carved wooden penis\nNatural Feature\n\nThis item is not necessarily the gift you take home for the partner who has everything. But there’s no doubting that phallic symbols are everywhere in Taiwan – particularly in local indigenous culture – and they’ve found their way into consumer culture. When visiting a tribal village or marketplace, don’t be surprised to see stalls stacked with wooden penises in all shapes and sizes. They’re supposed to bring luck and fortune to the owner – as you might say, things are looking up.\n\n### Pork paper\nNatural Feature\n\nLike a cross between a pork scratching, beef jerky and a bag of crisps, this crunchy, meaty snack is seriously addictive. The thinly spread mixture of minced pork, soy sauce, cooking wine and five-spice powder is baked until glossy and finger-snap crispy. You’ll find different varieties of it – usually at food markets, depending on the vendor’s unique recipe – but the most common also contains small pieces of apple for sweet, fruity chewiness and crunchy almond pieces for extra bite. It’s delicious paired with a cold beer.\n\n### Taiwanese fruit jelly\nNatural Feature\n\nPeople love their jellies in Taiwan, and the good news for vegans is that they’re usually made without animal products. The most popular is aiyu, made with the aiyu plant, which grows only in Taiwan; you’ll find it at markets, served in giant bowls filled with lemons. Even better, aiyu jelly is said to have a number of health benefits, for example, helping to slow ageing, reducing cholesterol levels and promoting good gut health. You’ll also come across konjac jelly, which is firmer, comes in all sorts of fruity flavours and is usually sold wrapped like candy.\n\n### Chun Cui He\nNatural Feature\n\nThere was a national outcry in [Singapore](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/singapore) a few years ago when the country’s food and drink regulator had to ban the import of this milk-tea brand temporarily due to unsanctioned additives. When it finally landed back on shelves, it sold out within seconds, with limits placed on the number of chicly designed bottles people could buy. In Taiwan, the cult drink is ubiquitous. Sweet, creamy and flavoured with the aroma of black tea leaves, it understandably has a die-hard following. There are other flavours, such as green-tea latte and mocha, but milk tea is the original.\n\n### Kaoliang\nNatural Feature\n\nGuaranteed to liven up any party and add intrigue to your drinks cabinet, this clear spirit, made with fermented sorghum, packs quite a punch – especially the variety with 58 percent alcohol. Sip it neat, and it’s got a smooth, slightly sweet taste, with a delayed scorching of the back of the throat. Although that’s the (traditional) way they encourage you to drink it, it’s more palatable diluted in a cocktail. You’ll find it mixed into all sorts of concoctions, but the most typically Taiwanese drink it’s laced through is boba, also known as bubble tea.\n\n### Glass art and handicrafts\nNatural Feature\n\nTaiwan’s glass-making industry didn’t take off until the late 1800s, but today, you’ll find some of the most extraordinary craftsmanship imaginable. Visit the Taiwan Glass Gallery and Glass Mazu Temple in Lukang, Changhua or the Glass Museum of Hsinchu City, and you’ll be blown away by the creativity and skill. In the gallery, you’ll find a glass tunnel made of more than 6,300 mirrors, while the temple is created entirely from glass, with a beautifully etched glass artwork of Taiwan’s tallest mountain behind the altar.\n\n### Oil-paper umbrellas\nNatural Feature\n\nIf you thought these traditional wax-paper umbrellas, for sale in markets around Taiwan, were just for protection from the rain and sun, you’d be wrong. Resembling giant versions of the umbrellas bartenders stick into mai tai cocktails, they have important cultural symbolism in Taiwan. The words “oil paper” and “have sons” are homonyms in Chinese, while the word “umbrella” features the same character for “person” five times. This explains the tradition of offering them as wedding gifts, blessing the couple with many children.\n\n### Ri Xing typography character moulds\nArchitectural Landmark\n\nFor a gift or souvenir with authenticity and meaning, visit this former factory and museum in Taipei, dedicated to the art of traditional block printing. It’s supposedly one of the only places in the world (if not the only) to retain a full collection of traditional Chinese moveable character moulds, the likes of which date back to the 11th century. It also sells character-printing blocks that can be used at home, as ornaments or to stamp messages. Phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “hope” and “luck” are the most popular.\n\n### Mochi\nStore\n\n![Mochi, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/negar-mz-6mnhcd4fr_g-unsplash.webp?quality=1)\n\nNegar Mz \/ Unsplash\n\nAnother local treat that is incredibly popular as a souvenir item, [mochi](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/asia\/japan\/articles\/japan-a-tale-of-love-and-mochi) are small chewy balls of glutinous rice that contain a wide variety of fillings. [Tzen Chi Mochi](https:\/\/www.tzen1314.com\/en\/) is the most famous local maker and definitely the one to look out for.\n\n### Budaixi glove puppets\nArchitectural Landmark\n\nIf the mention of glove puppets has you imagining Punch and Judy, think again. In Taiwan, glove-puppet operas are a cultural institution, and the art and skill that goes into bringing them to life – both the decoration and the movement – are extraordinary. From princesses and warriors to bearded old kings and mythical creatures, the variety is endless. If you want to surprise the folks back home with this ancient art form, you can pick up a puppet or two from several shops in Taipei, including Chang Yi Fang Puppet Creations.\n\n### Meat-shaped stone\nMuseum, Park\n\nThey might look like juicy slabs of meat, but don’t try throwing one into your griddle pan. This variety of banded jasper, formed by layers of eerily flesh-pink and translucent-white crystals, looks uncannily like a hunk of pork belly or richly marbled steak. You can find blocks of it for sale at the [National Palace Museum](https:\/\/www.npm.gov.tw\/) in Taipei. However, don’t get too carried away, or you might end up having to fork out extra for overweight luggage on the way home.\n\n### Franz Collection ceramics\nShop\n\nIf you like your souvenirs on the colourful, kitsch side, stick a few examples of Franz Collection porcelain in your hand luggage. The company’s signature vases, teapots, cups and cutlery are one of a kind, combining super-decorative, art nouveau-inspired detailing with themes of nature, animals and flowers. Think teapots covered in turtles and brightly coloured corals, cups that look to be entwined with vines and flowers, and spoons with dragonflies resting on the handles.\n\n### Trips and Tours in Taiwan\nArchitectural Landmark\n\n![Trains Traveling at Pingxi Line (Its The Most Beautiful Branch Line in Taiwan Railway System, New Taipei City, Taiwan](https:\/\/cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com\/10x\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_1055643125.webp?quality=1)\n\nWeniliou \/ Shutterstock\n\nYou’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs – whether it’s in night markets, museum gift shops or local boutiques – on one of the immersive multi-day tours in our Taiwan collection. Book your spot on a trip curated by travel experts and led by an expert local guide.\n\n*[Alex Allen](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/authors\/alex-allen) contributed additional reporting to this article.*\n\n### About the author\n[![Ciaran McEneaney](https:\/\/gravatar.webp.se\/avatar\/a3ad74d9385b33838e5cd1913d3600a1e81f9a8b4cd06d4878febdef3d302b64?s=64&d=mm&r=g)](https:\/\/theculturetrip.com\/authors\/ciaran-mceneaney)\n\nAn Irishman living in Taiwan since 2003. I used to teach but now I write words for a living and by some fluke of nature, people actually read them.","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	Holiday shopping is often something you leave for the airport, but that’s not the case in Taiwan , where something shouts “Buy me!” at every turn. With markets, malls and museum gift shops, the country’s a giant opportunity to buy something unique. From ancient crafts and culinary delicacies to precious stones and beautiful materials, here are some souvenirs you can only find in Taiwan. Pineapple cake Romix Image / Shutterstock One of the most popular, widely available sweet treats you’ll find in Taiwan is the humble pineapple cake. The capital even launched the annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival in 2005 to showcase the diversity of fillings (not just pineapple, as it happens, but also strawberry, melon and cranberry, to name but a few). Lick your lips in anticipation of the buttery pastry, followed by deliciously sweet jam oozing from its centre as you take a bite. They’re usually sold in airtight packaging, so taking them home on the plane is, well, a piece of cake. Mini sky lanterns Park Henry Co / Unsplash You may have heard of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival , but you probably didn’t realise you can buy these beautiful objects in a diminutive form to take home. They come in a spectrum of colours, each one conveying a message the sender wishes to share with God – yellow for success, say, or blue for hope. These handcrafted pieces adorn mantelpieces to sensational effect. To browse for some of the best in Taipei, visit Ningxia Night Market on Ningxia Road in the Datong district – a truly illuminating experience. Indigenous products Natural Feature Many indigenous tribes in Taiwan produce a wide variety of products in their local villages and sell them in many souvenir shops across the island. These include items such as bags, pictures and many handcrafted pieces of jewellery. These items will all have a distinct style in keeping with each tribe’s traditional colours and clothing. The world's best jade Natural Feature Shinzan Murray / Unsplash Of course, you can buy jade all around the world, but Taiwan is well known for having some of the finest quality on the planet. Lose yourself among the thousands of stalls at the Jianguo Jade Market (it lies beneath the Jianguo Elevated Highway). Here, you can splash out on pricey pieces that’ll turn your friends green with envy – or snap up a bunch of standard bangles and pendants for Christmas stocking fillers. Plum wine Natural Feature Alcohol is big business in Taiwan, but you probably won’t be able to squeeze too many of the latest trendy craft beers into your case. However, you can buy small bottles of plum wine or rice wine at liquor stores everywhere. Just make sure you check the alcohol content, as some of them are incredibly strong. Become a Culture Tripper! Sign up to our newsletter for insider tips and hidden gems. Taiwan-style postcards Natural Feature Regular postcards are OK to send, but they’ll kipper and curl before you know it. Not so with the Taiwanese variety – they’re another story altogether. Made of wood and etched with local landscapes or other appealing pictures, they make great gifts for friends and will last a lifetime stuck on your refrigerator door at home. Taiwanese peanut nougat Natural Feature Don’t expect the typical nougat you find in your local supermarket or newsagent. The Taiwanese take is routinely hard and chewy and packed with peanuts. Expect to find boxes of it everywhere – especially during festivals. Some varieties also have sesame in the mix; others may contain chunks of brown sugar. Whichever type you go for, you can’t go wrong – you’re buying the most traditional treat in Taiwan, after all. Sun cakes Natural Feature Originating in the lively central city of Taichung , taiyang bing (sun cakes) are utterly mouthwatering little moments. Encased in the flaky filo pastry of each one is a core of gooey paste that’s every bit as sweet as honey – actually sweeter. These days you can get many varieties, for instance, dried pork and green tea. But in all honesty, the originals are still the best. Bet you can’t eat just one. Taiwanese tea Architectural Landmark Sweet, floral, smoky, nutty. White, green, black, pu’er. The deliciously refreshing teas of Taiwan’s mountain regions are among the most sought after in the world. If you have a connoisseur in the family, a box of the best leaves makes a great gift. You can opt to visit one of the great tea-producing areas, for instance, Sun Moon Lake . That way, as with champagne, in France , you can taste it before you purchase. Look out for oolong; it’s the most popular, and with good reason. A carved wooden penis Natural Feature This item is not necessarily the gift you take home for the partner who has everything. But there’s no doubting that phallic symbols are everywhere in Taiwan – particularly in local indigenous culture – and they’ve found their way into consumer culture. When visiting a tribal village or marketplace, don’t be surprised to see stalls stacked with wooden penises in all shapes and sizes. They’re supposed to bring luck and fortune to the owner – as you might say, things are looking up. Pork paper Natural Feature Like a cross between a pork scratching, beef jerky and a bag of crisps, this crunchy, meaty snack is seriously addictive. The thinly spread mixture of minced pork, soy sauce, cooking wine and five-spice powder is baked until glossy and finger-snap crispy. You’ll find different varieties of it – usually at food markets, depending on the vendor’s unique recipe – but the most common also contains small pieces of apple for sweet, fruity chewiness and crunchy almond pieces for extra bite. It’s delicious paired with a cold beer. Taiwanese fruit jelly Natural Feature People love their jellies in Taiwan, and the good news for vegans is that they’re usually made without animal products. The most popular is aiyu, made with the aiyu plant, which grows only in Taiwan; you’ll find it at markets, served in giant bowls filled with lemons. Even better, aiyu jelly is said to have a number of health benefits, for example, helping to slow ageing, reducing cholesterol levels and promoting good gut health. You’ll also come across konjac jelly, which is firmer, comes in all sorts of fruity flavours and is usually sold wrapped like candy. Chun Cui He Natural Feature There was a national outcry in Singapore a few years ago when the country’s food and drink regulator had to ban the import of this milk-tea brand temporarily due to unsanctioned additives. When it finally landed back on shelves, it sold out within seconds, with limits placed on the number of chicly designed bottles people could buy. In Taiwan, the cult drink is ubiquitous. Sweet, creamy and flavoured with the aroma of black tea leaves, it understandably has a die-hard following. There are other flavours, such as green-tea latte and mocha, but milk tea is the original. Kaoliang Natural Feature Guaranteed to liven up any party and add intrigue to your drinks cabinet, this clear spirit, made with fermented sorghum, packs quite a punch – especially the variety with 58 percent alcohol. Sip it neat, and it’s got a smooth, slightly sweet taste, with a delayed scorching of the back of the throat. Although that’s the (traditional) way they encourage you to drink it, it’s more palatable diluted in a cocktail. You’ll find it mixed into all sorts of concoctions, but the most typically Taiwanese drink it’s laced through is boba, also known as bubble tea. Glass art and handicrafts Natural Feature Taiwan’s glass-making industry didn’t take off until the late 1800s, but today, you’ll find some of the most extraordinary craftsmanship imaginable. Visit the Taiwan Glass Gallery and Glass Mazu Temple in Lukang, Changhua or the Glass Museum of Hsinchu City, and you’ll be blown away by the creativity and skill. In the gallery, you’ll find a glass tunnel made of more than 6,300 mirrors, while the temple is created entirely from glass, with a beautifully etched glass artwork of Taiwan’s tallest mountain behind the altar. Oil-paper umbrellas Natural Feature If you thought these traditional wax-paper umbrellas, for sale in markets around Taiwan, were just for protection from the rain and sun, you’d be wrong. Resembling giant versions of the umbrellas bartenders stick into mai tai cocktails, they have important cultural symbolism in Taiwan. The words “oil paper” and “have sons” are homonyms in Chinese, while the word “umbrella” features the same character for “person” five times. This explains the tradition of offering them as wedding gifts, blessing the couple with many children. Ri Xing typography character moulds Architectural Landmark For a gift or souvenir with authenticity and meaning, visit this former factory and museum in Taipei, dedicated to the art of traditional block printing. It’s supposedly one of the only places in the world (if not the only) to retain a full collection of traditional Chinese moveable character moulds, the likes of which date back to the 11th century. It also sells character-printing blocks that can be used at home, as ornaments or to stamp messages. Phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “hope” and “luck” are the most popular. Mochi Store Negar Mz / Unsplash Another local treat that is incredibly popular as a souvenir item, mochi are small chewy balls of glutinous rice that contain a wide variety of fillings. Tzen Chi Mochi is the most famous local maker and definitely the one to look out for. Budaixi glove puppets Architectural Landmark If the mention of glove puppets has you imagining Punch and Judy, think again. In Taiwan, glove-puppet operas are a cultural institution, and the art and skill that goes into bringing them to life – both the decoration and the movement – are extraordinary. From princesses and warriors to bearded old kings and mythical creatures, the variety is endless. If you want to surprise the folks back home with this ancient art form, you can pick up a puppet or two from several shops in Taipei, including Chang Yi Fang Puppet Creations. Meat-shaped stone Museum, Park They might look like juicy slabs of meat, but don’t try throwing one into your griddle pan. This variety of banded jasper, formed by layers of eerily flesh-pink and translucent-white crystals, looks uncannily like a hunk of pork belly or richly marbled steak. You can find blocks of it for sale at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. However, don’t get too carried away, or you might end up having to fork out extra for overweight luggage on the way home. Franz Collection ceramics Shop If you like your souvenirs on the colourful, kitsch side, stick a few examples of Franz Collection porcelain in your hand luggage. The company’s signature vases, teapots, cups and cutlery are one of a kind, combining super-decorative, art nouveau-inspired detailing with themes of nature, animals and flowers. Think teapots covered in turtles and brightly coloured corals, cups that look to be entwined with vines and flowers, and spoons with dragonflies resting on the handles. Trips and Tours in Taiwan Architectural Landmark Weniliou / Shutterstock You’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs – whether it’s in night markets, museum gift shops or local boutiques – on one of the immersive multi-day tours in our Taiwan collection. Book your spot on a trip curated by travel experts and led by an expert local guide. Alex Allen contributed additional reporting to this article. About the author An Irishman living in Taiwan since 2003. I used to teach but now I write words for a living and by some fluke of nature, people actually read them.
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[Explore Offers](https://theculturetrip.com/offers) [View All Trips](https://theculturetrip.com/anywhere/trips) - By Season - [Winter Travel Discover departures from November to March.](https://theculturetrip.com/anywhere/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjUtMTF8MjAyNS0xMnwyMDI2LTAxfDIwMjYtMDJ8MjAyNi0wM3wyMDI2LTExfDIwMjYtMTJ8MjAyNy0wMXwyMDI3LTAyfDIwMjctMDMifQ==) - [Spring Travel Discover departures from March to June.](https://theculturetrip.com/anywhere/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjYtMDN8MjAyNi0wNHwyMDI2LTA1fDIwMjYtMDZ8MjAyNy0wM3wyMDI3LTA0fDIwMjctMDV8MjAyNy0wNiJ9) - [Summer Travel Discover departures from June to September.](https://theculturetrip.com/anywhere/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjYtMDZ8MjAyNi0wN3wyMDI2LTA4fDIwMjYtMDl8MjAyNy0wNnwyMDI3LTA3fDIwMjctMDh8MjAyNy0wOSJ9) - [Autumn Travel Discover departures from September to November.](https://theculturetrip.com/anywhere/trips?filters=eyJkYXRlcyI6IjIwMjUtMTB8MjAyNS0xMXwyMDI2LTA5fDIwMjYtMTB8MjAyNi0xMXwyMDI3LTA5In0=) ![Travel More for Less](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nav-promo-thailand-floating-market-shutterstock-image-1828092353.webp?quality=1) ### Travel More for Less Special prices on carefully curated trips around the world. [Explore Offers](https://theculturetrip.com/offers) [View All Trips](https://theculturetrip.com/anywhere/trips) - Discover - [The 100 Culture Trip's handpicked travel experiences for 2026.](https://theculturetrip.com/the-100) - [The Bug - Podcast Travel stories and tips from Culture Trip experts.](https://theculturetrip.com/the-bug-podcast) - [Creators Network Join our global community of travel writers and photographers.](https://theculturetrip.com/freelance-jobs) - [Thailand for Beginners Everything you need to know about planning your first Thai adventure.](https://theculturetrip.com/thailand-first-visit) ![Screen-Free Scotland](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/visit_scotland_campaign_ct_assets_friends.webp?quality=1) ### Screen-Free Scotland What happens when you drop a New Yorker and a Torontonian in the Scottish Highlands with no phones and only locals to guide them? 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[Unique Souvenirs You Can Only...](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan) # 21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan ![David Huang /](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/1220x671/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.webp?quality=1) David Huang / \\| © Culture Trip [![Ciaran McEneaney](https://gravatar.webp.se/avatar/a3ad74d9385b33838e5cd1913d3600a1e81f9a8b4cd06d4878febdef3d302b64?s=75&d=mm&r=g)](https://theculturetrip.com/authors/ciaran-mceneaney) [Ciaran McEneaney 28 October 2025](https://theculturetrip.com/authors/ciaran-mceneaney) - [Copy Link](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=facebook%26utm_medium=share) - [Email](<mailto:?subject=21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan&body=Hey%2C%20check%20out%20this%20awesome%20article%20on%20Culture%20Trip%3A%0Ahttps://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=email%26utm_medium=share>) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?text=21%20Unique%20Souvenirs%20You%20Can%20Only%20Buy%20in%20Taiwan%20via%20@culturetrip%20https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=twitter%26utm_medium=share) - [Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan?utm_source=pinterest%26utm_medium=share&description=21%20Unique%20Souvenirs%20You%20Can%20Only%20Buy%20in%20Taiwan&media=https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/2070x/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.jpg) ## Recommended by ![](https://theculturetrip.com/img/ct-full.svg) [![21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips 21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan) [![The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2416445273.webp?quality=1) See & Do The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/20-must-visit-attractions-in-taiwan) ## Holiday shopping is often something you leave for the airport, but that’s not the case in [Taiwan](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan), where something shouts “Buy me!” at every turn. With markets, malls and museum gift shops, the country’s a giant opportunity to buy something unique. From ancient crafts and culinary delicacies to precious stones and beautiful materials, here are some souvenirs you can only find in Taiwan. ### Pineapple cake ![Pineapple cake pastry - Taiwanese famous sweet delicious dessert food with tea, close up, copy space design.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1742298644.webp?quality=1) Romix Image / Shutterstock [Taiwan Food Tours](https://www.viator.com/Taiwan-tours/Food-Tours/d778-g6-c80?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan) One of the most popular, widely available sweet treats you’ll find in Taiwan is the humble pineapple cake. The capital even launched the annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival in 2005 to showcase the diversity of fillings (not just pineapple, as it happens, but also strawberry, melon and cranberry, to name but a few). Lick your lips in anticipation of the buttery pastry, followed by deliciously sweet jam oozing from its centre as you take a bite. They’re usually sold in airtight packaging, so taking them home on the plane is, well, a piece of cake. ### Mini sky lanterns Park ![Lanterns, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/henry-co-bpguvi7iahi-unsplash.webp?quality=1) Henry Co / Unsplash [Ningxia Night Market Tours](https://www.viator.com/Taipei-attractions/Ningxia-Night-Market/d5262-a13535?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan) You may have heard of the [Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/10-festivals-you-can-only-experience-in-taiwan), but you probably didn’t realise you can buy these beautiful objects in a diminutive form to take home. They come in a spectrum of colours, each one conveying a message the sender wishes to share with God – yellow for success, say, or blue for hope. These handcrafted pieces adorn mantelpieces to sensational effect. To browse for some of the best in Taipei, visit Ningxia Night Market on Ningxia Road in the Datong district – a truly illuminating experience. ### Indigenous products Natural Feature [Taiwan Tours](https://www.viator.com/Taiwan/d778-ttd?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan) Many [indigenous tribes](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/the-folk-tale-explaining-the-birth-of-the-atayal-indigenous-in-taiwan) in Taiwan produce a wide variety of products in their local villages and sell them in many souvenir shops across the island. These include items such as bags, pictures and many handcrafted pieces of jewellery. These items will all have a distinct style in keeping with each tribe’s traditional colours and clothing. ### The world's best jade Natural Feature ![National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shinzan-murray-e1evxmiptz4-unsplash.webp?quality=1) Shinzan Murray / Unsplash Of course, you can buy jade all around the world, but Taiwan is well known for having some of the finest quality on the planet. Lose yourself among the thousands of stalls at the Jianguo Jade Market (it lies beneath the Jianguo Elevated Highway). Here, you can splash out on pricey pieces that’ll turn your friends green with envy – or snap up a bunch of standard bangles and pendants for Christmas stocking fillers. ### Plum wine Natural Feature Alcohol is big business in Taiwan, but you probably won’t be able to squeeze too many of the latest trendy [craft beers](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/12-brands-of-craft-beer-you-must-try-in-taiwan) into your case. However, you can buy small bottles of plum wine or rice wine at liquor stores everywhere. Just make sure you check the alcohol content, as some of them are incredibly strong. ## Become a Culture Tripper\! Sign up to our newsletter for insider tips and hidden gems. See our [privacy policy](https://theculturetrip.com/privacy-policy). This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. ![girl with a dog with phone](https://theculturetrip.com/img/vectors/girl-dog-phone-like.svg) ### Taiwan-style postcards Natural Feature Regular postcards are OK to send, but they’ll kipper and curl before you know it. Not so with the Taiwanese variety – they’re another story altogether. Made of wood and etched with local landscapes or other appealing pictures, they make great gifts for friends and will last a lifetime stuck on your refrigerator door at home. ### Taiwanese peanut nougat Natural Feature Don’t expect the typical nougat you find in your local supermarket or newsagent. The Taiwanese take is routinely hard and chewy and packed with peanuts. Expect to find boxes of it everywhere – especially during festivals. Some varieties also have sesame in the mix; others may contain chunks of brown sugar. Whichever type you go for, you can’t go wrong – you’re buying the most traditional treat in Taiwan, after all. ### Sun cakes Natural Feature Originating in the lively central city of [Taichung](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/the-10-best-things-to-see-and-do-in-taichung-taiwan), taiyang bing (sun cakes) are utterly mouthwatering little moments. Encased in the flaky filo pastry of each one is a core of gooey paste that’s every bit as sweet as honey – actually sweeter. These days you can get many varieties, for instance, dried pork and green tea. But in all honesty, the originals are still the best. Bet you can’t eat just one. ### Taiwanese tea Architectural Landmark ![Tea, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ruslan-bardash-i49lrkvtja0-unsplash.webp?quality=1) [Taiwan Tea Tours](https://www.viator.com/Taiwan-tours/Coffee-and-Tea-Tours/d778-g6-c5325?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan) Sweet, floral, smoky, nutty. White, green, black, pu’er. The deliciously refreshing [teas of Taiwan’s mountain regions](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/does-taiwan-make-the-best-tea-in-the-world) are among the most sought after in the world. If you have a connoisseur in the family, a box of the best leaves makes a great gift. You can opt to visit one of the great tea-producing areas, for instance, [Sun Moon Lake](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/the-legends-of-sun-moon-lake-in-taiwan). That way, as with champagne, in [France](https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france), you can taste it before you purchase. Look out for oolong; it’s the most popular, and with good reason. ### A carved wooden penis Natural Feature This item is not necessarily the gift you take home for the partner who has everything. But there’s no doubting that phallic symbols are everywhere in Taiwan – particularly in local indigenous culture – and they’ve found their way into consumer culture. When visiting a tribal village or marketplace, don’t be surprised to see stalls stacked with wooden penises in all shapes and sizes. They’re supposed to bring luck and fortune to the owner – as you might say, things are looking up. ### Pork paper Natural Feature Like a cross between a pork scratching, beef jerky and a bag of crisps, this crunchy, meaty snack is seriously addictive. The thinly spread mixture of minced pork, soy sauce, cooking wine and five-spice powder is baked until glossy and finger-snap crispy. You’ll find different varieties of it – usually at food markets, depending on the vendor’s unique recipe – but the most common also contains small pieces of apple for sweet, fruity chewiness and crunchy almond pieces for extra bite. It’s delicious paired with a cold beer. ### Taiwanese fruit jelly Natural Feature People love their jellies in Taiwan, and the good news for vegans is that they’re usually made without animal products. The most popular is aiyu, made with the aiyu plant, which grows only in Taiwan; you’ll find it at markets, served in giant bowls filled with lemons. Even better, aiyu jelly is said to have a number of health benefits, for example, helping to slow ageing, reducing cholesterol levels and promoting good gut health. You’ll also come across konjac jelly, which is firmer, comes in all sorts of fruity flavours and is usually sold wrapped like candy. ### Chun Cui He Natural Feature There was a national outcry in [Singapore](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/singapore) a few years ago when the country’s food and drink regulator had to ban the import of this milk-tea brand temporarily due to unsanctioned additives. When it finally landed back on shelves, it sold out within seconds, with limits placed on the number of chicly designed bottles people could buy. In Taiwan, the cult drink is ubiquitous. Sweet, creamy and flavoured with the aroma of black tea leaves, it understandably has a die-hard following. There are other flavours, such as green-tea latte and mocha, but milk tea is the original. ### Kaoliang Natural Feature Guaranteed to liven up any party and add intrigue to your drinks cabinet, this clear spirit, made with fermented sorghum, packs quite a punch – especially the variety with 58 percent alcohol. Sip it neat, and it’s got a smooth, slightly sweet taste, with a delayed scorching of the back of the throat. Although that’s the (traditional) way they encourage you to drink it, it’s more palatable diluted in a cocktail. You’ll find it mixed into all sorts of concoctions, but the most typically Taiwanese drink it’s laced through is boba, also known as bubble tea. ### Glass art and handicrafts Natural Feature Taiwan’s glass-making industry didn’t take off until the late 1800s, but today, you’ll find some of the most extraordinary craftsmanship imaginable. Visit the Taiwan Glass Gallery and Glass Mazu Temple in Lukang, Changhua or the Glass Museum of Hsinchu City, and you’ll be blown away by the creativity and skill. In the gallery, you’ll find a glass tunnel made of more than 6,300 mirrors, while the temple is created entirely from glass, with a beautifully etched glass artwork of Taiwan’s tallest mountain behind the altar. ### Oil-paper umbrellas Natural Feature If you thought these traditional wax-paper umbrellas, for sale in markets around Taiwan, were just for protection from the rain and sun, you’d be wrong. Resembling giant versions of the umbrellas bartenders stick into mai tai cocktails, they have important cultural symbolism in Taiwan. The words “oil paper” and “have sons” are homonyms in Chinese, while the word “umbrella” features the same character for “person” five times. This explains the tradition of offering them as wedding gifts, blessing the couple with many children. ### Ri Xing typography character moulds Architectural Landmark For a gift or souvenir with authenticity and meaning, visit this former factory and museum in Taipei, dedicated to the art of traditional block printing. It’s supposedly one of the only places in the world (if not the only) to retain a full collection of traditional Chinese moveable character moulds, the likes of which date back to the 11th century. It also sells character-printing blocks that can be used at home, as ornaments or to stamp messages. Phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “hope” and “luck” are the most popular. ### Mochi Store ![Mochi, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/negar-mz-6mnhcd4fr_g-unsplash.webp?quality=1) Negar Mz / Unsplash Another local treat that is incredibly popular as a souvenir item, [mochi](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/japan-a-tale-of-love-and-mochi) are small chewy balls of glutinous rice that contain a wide variety of fillings. [Tzen Chi Mochi](https://www.tzen1314.com/en/) is the most famous local maker and definitely the one to look out for. ### Budaixi glove puppets Architectural Landmark If the mention of glove puppets has you imagining Punch and Judy, think again. In Taiwan, glove-puppet operas are a cultural institution, and the art and skill that goes into bringing them to life – both the decoration and the movement – are extraordinary. From princesses and warriors to bearded old kings and mythical creatures, the variety is endless. If you want to surprise the folks back home with this ancient art form, you can pick up a puppet or two from several shops in Taipei, including Chang Yi Fang Puppet Creations. ### Meat-shaped stone Museum, Park [National Palace Museum Tours](https://www.viator.com/en-GB/Taipei-attractions/Taipei-National-Palace-Museum/d5262-a2682?pid=P00163275&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=unique-gifts-taiwan) They might look like juicy slabs of meat, but don’t try throwing one into your griddle pan. This variety of banded jasper, formed by layers of eerily flesh-pink and translucent-white crystals, looks uncannily like a hunk of pork belly or richly marbled steak. You can find blocks of it for sale at the [National Palace Museum](https://www.npm.gov.tw/) in Taipei. However, don’t get too carried away, or you might end up having to fork out extra for overweight luggage on the way home. ### Franz Collection ceramics Shop If you like your souvenirs on the colourful, kitsch side, stick a few examples of Franz Collection porcelain in your hand luggage. The company’s signature vases, teapots, cups and cutlery are one of a kind, combining super-decorative, art nouveau-inspired detailing with themes of nature, animals and flowers. Think teapots covered in turtles and brightly coloured corals, cups that look to be entwined with vines and flowers, and spoons with dragonflies resting on the handles. ### Trips and Tours in Taiwan Architectural Landmark ![Trains Traveling at Pingxi Line (Its The Most Beautiful Branch Line in Taiwan Railway System, New Taipei City, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/shutterstock_1055643125.webp?quality=1) Weniliou / Shutterstock [Taiwan Trips and Tours](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/trips) You’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs – whether it’s in night markets, museum gift shops or local boutiques – on one of the immersive multi-day tours in our Taiwan collection. Book your spot on a trip curated by travel experts and led by an expert local guide. [Alex Allen](https://theculturetrip.com/authors/alex-allen) contributed additional reporting to this article. ### About the author [![Ciaran McEneaney](https://gravatar.webp.se/avatar/a3ad74d9385b33838e5cd1913d3600a1e81f9a8b4cd06d4878febdef3d302b64?s=64&d=mm&r=g)](https://theculturetrip.com/authors/ciaran-mceneaney) [Ciaran McEneaney](https://theculturetrip.com/authors/ciaran-mceneaney) An Irishman living in Taiwan since 2003. I used to teach but now I write words for a living and by some fluke of nature, people actually read them. If you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue. All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip. ### Read Next [![21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/davidhuang-souvenirs-taiwan-final.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips 21 Unique Souvenirs You Can Only Buy in Taiwan](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/unique-souvenirs-you-can-only-buy-in-taiwan) [![The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2416445273.webp?quality=1) See & Do The 36 Best Things To See and Do in Taiwan](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/20-must-visit-attractions-in-taiwan) [![The 15 Best Destinations in Southeast Asia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/shutterstock_2206958995-e1756312361109.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips The 15 Best Destinations in Southeast Asia](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/the-15-best-destinations-in-southeast-asia) [![11 Heroic Tips for Using Southeast Asias Bum Guns](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/alexandra-tran-ernrqyhopta-unsplash-e1727867934147.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips 11 Heroic Tips for Using Southeast Asia's 'Bum Guns'](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/11-heroic-tips-for-using-southeast-asias-bum-guns) [![10 of the Oldest Cities in the World](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/shutterstock_2485447851-e1728644786501.webp?quality=1) See & Do 10 of the Oldest Cities in the World](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/the-10-oldest-cities-in-the-world) [![13 Hilarious Arabic Swear Words and Phrases](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/barry-talley-s8x0cexaooe-unsplash-1.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips 13 Hilarious Arabic Swear Words and Phrases](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/13-hilarious-arabic-swear-words-and-phrases) [![The 21 Most Beautiful Places in Southeast Asia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/shutterstock_654612958.webp?quality=1) See & Do The 21 Most Beautiful Places in Southeast Asia](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/21-incredible-places-southeast-asia-never-knew-existed) [![The Best Places to Honeymoon this Fall](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/shutterstock_2477739181-e1752060901634.webp?quality=1) See & Do The Best Places to Honeymoon this Fall](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/the-best-places-to-honeymoon-in-autumn) [![The 11 Most Stunning Indian Ocean Islands](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shutterstock_2500762785-e1733931201783.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips The 11 Most Stunning Indian Ocean Islands](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/11-stunning-indian-ocean-islands) [![The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/shutterstock_2502888447-e1738615111767.webp?quality=1) See & Do The Best Places for an Asian Spring Break](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/the-best-places-for-an-asian-spring-break) [![A Guide to Shrimping in Taipei](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/shutterstock_2440456295-e1732015753979.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips A Guide to Shrimping in Taipei](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/a-guide-to-shrimping-in-taipei) [![A Hikers Guide to Taiwans Taroko Gorge](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_288342350-e1761489007892.webp?quality=1) Guides & Tips A Hiker's Guide to Taiwan's Taroko Gorge](https://theculturetrip.com/articles/a-hikers-guide-to-taiwans-taroko-gorge) #### TRAVEL GUIDES - 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Readable Markdown	Holiday shopping is often something you leave for the airport, but that’s not the case in [Taiwan](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan), where something shouts “Buy me!” at every turn. With markets, malls and museum gift shops, the country’s a giant opportunity to buy something unique. From ancient crafts and culinary delicacies to precious stones and beautiful materials, here are some souvenirs you can only find in Taiwan. ### Pineapple cake ![Pineapple cake pastry - Taiwanese famous sweet delicious dessert food with tea, close up, copy space design.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_1742298644.webp?quality=1) Romix Image / Shutterstock One of the most popular, widely available sweet treats you’ll find in Taiwan is the humble pineapple cake. The capital even launched the annual Taipei Pineapple Cake Cultural Festival in 2005 to showcase the diversity of fillings (not just pineapple, as it happens, but also strawberry, melon and cranberry, to name but a few). Lick your lips in anticipation of the buttery pastry, followed by deliciously sweet jam oozing from its centre as you take a bite. They’re usually sold in airtight packaging, so taking them home on the plane is, well, a piece of cake. ### Mini sky lanterns Park ![Lanterns, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/henry-co-bpguvi7iahi-unsplash.webp?quality=1) Henry Co / Unsplash You may have heard of the [Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/10-festivals-you-can-only-experience-in-taiwan), but you probably didn’t realise you can buy these beautiful objects in a diminutive form to take home. They come in a spectrum of colours, each one conveying a message the sender wishes to share with God – yellow for success, say, or blue for hope. These handcrafted pieces adorn mantelpieces to sensational effect. To browse for some of the best in Taipei, visit Ningxia Night Market on Ningxia Road in the Datong district – a truly illuminating experience. ### Indigenous products Natural Feature Many [indigenous tribes](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/the-folk-tale-explaining-the-birth-of-the-atayal-indigenous-in-taiwan) in Taiwan produce a wide variety of products in their local villages and sell them in many souvenir shops across the island. These include items such as bags, pictures and many handcrafted pieces of jewellery. These items will all have a distinct style in keeping with each tribe’s traditional colours and clothing. ### The world's best jade Natural Feature ![National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shinzan-murray-e1evxmiptz4-unsplash.webp?quality=1) Shinzan Murray / Unsplash Of course, you can buy jade all around the world, but Taiwan is well known for having some of the finest quality on the planet. Lose yourself among the thousands of stalls at the Jianguo Jade Market (it lies beneath the Jianguo Elevated Highway). Here, you can splash out on pricey pieces that’ll turn your friends green with envy – or snap up a bunch of standard bangles and pendants for Christmas stocking fillers. ### Plum wine Natural Feature Alcohol is big business in Taiwan, but you probably won’t be able to squeeze too many of the latest trendy [craft beers](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/12-brands-of-craft-beer-you-must-try-in-taiwan) into your case. However, you can buy small bottles of plum wine or rice wine at liquor stores everywhere. Just make sure you check the alcohol content, as some of them are incredibly strong. ## Become a Culture Tripper\! Sign up to our newsletter for insider tips and hidden gems. ![girl with a dog with phone](https://theculturetrip.com/img/vectors/girl-dog-phone-like.svg) ### Taiwan-style postcards Natural Feature Regular postcards are OK to send, but they’ll kipper and curl before you know it. Not so with the Taiwanese variety – they’re another story altogether. Made of wood and etched with local landscapes or other appealing pictures, they make great gifts for friends and will last a lifetime stuck on your refrigerator door at home. ### Taiwanese peanut nougat Natural Feature Don’t expect the typical nougat you find in your local supermarket or newsagent. The Taiwanese take is routinely hard and chewy and packed with peanuts. Expect to find boxes of it everywhere – especially during festivals. Some varieties also have sesame in the mix; others may contain chunks of brown sugar. Whichever type you go for, you can’t go wrong – you’re buying the most traditional treat in Taiwan, after all. ### Sun cakes Natural Feature Originating in the lively central city of [Taichung](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/the-10-best-things-to-see-and-do-in-taichung-taiwan), taiyang bing (sun cakes) are utterly mouthwatering little moments. Encased in the flaky filo pastry of each one is a core of gooey paste that’s every bit as sweet as honey – actually sweeter. These days you can get many varieties, for instance, dried pork and green tea. But in all honesty, the originals are still the best. Bet you can’t eat just one. ### Taiwanese tea Architectural Landmark ![Tea, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ruslan-bardash-i49lrkvtja0-unsplash.webp?quality=1) Sweet, floral, smoky, nutty. White, green, black, pu’er. The deliciously refreshing [teas of Taiwan’s mountain regions](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/does-taiwan-make-the-best-tea-in-the-world) are among the most sought after in the world. If you have a connoisseur in the family, a box of the best leaves makes a great gift. You can opt to visit one of the great tea-producing areas, for instance, [Sun Moon Lake](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/the-legends-of-sun-moon-lake-in-taiwan). That way, as with champagne, in [France](https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france), you can taste it before you purchase. Look out for oolong; it’s the most popular, and with good reason. ### A carved wooden penis Natural Feature This item is not necessarily the gift you take home for the partner who has everything. But there’s no doubting that phallic symbols are everywhere in Taiwan – particularly in local indigenous culture – and they’ve found their way into consumer culture. When visiting a tribal village or marketplace, don’t be surprised to see stalls stacked with wooden penises in all shapes and sizes. They’re supposed to bring luck and fortune to the owner – as you might say, things are looking up. ### Pork paper Natural Feature Like a cross between a pork scratching, beef jerky and a bag of crisps, this crunchy, meaty snack is seriously addictive. The thinly spread mixture of minced pork, soy sauce, cooking wine and five-spice powder is baked until glossy and finger-snap crispy. You’ll find different varieties of it – usually at food markets, depending on the vendor’s unique recipe – but the most common also contains small pieces of apple for sweet, fruity chewiness and crunchy almond pieces for extra bite. It’s delicious paired with a cold beer. ### Taiwanese fruit jelly Natural Feature People love their jellies in Taiwan, and the good news for vegans is that they’re usually made without animal products. The most popular is aiyu, made with the aiyu plant, which grows only in Taiwan; you’ll find it at markets, served in giant bowls filled with lemons. Even better, aiyu jelly is said to have a number of health benefits, for example, helping to slow ageing, reducing cholesterol levels and promoting good gut health. You’ll also come across konjac jelly, which is firmer, comes in all sorts of fruity flavours and is usually sold wrapped like candy. ### Chun Cui He Natural Feature There was a national outcry in [Singapore](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/singapore) a few years ago when the country’s food and drink regulator had to ban the import of this milk-tea brand temporarily due to unsanctioned additives. When it finally landed back on shelves, it sold out within seconds, with limits placed on the number of chicly designed bottles people could buy. In Taiwan, the cult drink is ubiquitous. Sweet, creamy and flavoured with the aroma of black tea leaves, it understandably has a die-hard following. There are other flavours, such as green-tea latte and mocha, but milk tea is the original. ### Kaoliang Natural Feature Guaranteed to liven up any party and add intrigue to your drinks cabinet, this clear spirit, made with fermented sorghum, packs quite a punch – especially the variety with 58 percent alcohol. Sip it neat, and it’s got a smooth, slightly sweet taste, with a delayed scorching of the back of the throat. Although that’s the (traditional) way they encourage you to drink it, it’s more palatable diluted in a cocktail. You’ll find it mixed into all sorts of concoctions, but the most typically Taiwanese drink it’s laced through is boba, also known as bubble tea. ### Glass art and handicrafts Natural Feature Taiwan’s glass-making industry didn’t take off until the late 1800s, but today, you’ll find some of the most extraordinary craftsmanship imaginable. Visit the Taiwan Glass Gallery and Glass Mazu Temple in Lukang, Changhua or the Glass Museum of Hsinchu City, and you’ll be blown away by the creativity and skill. In the gallery, you’ll find a glass tunnel made of more than 6,300 mirrors, while the temple is created entirely from glass, with a beautifully etched glass artwork of Taiwan’s tallest mountain behind the altar. ### Oil-paper umbrellas Natural Feature If you thought these traditional wax-paper umbrellas, for sale in markets around Taiwan, were just for protection from the rain and sun, you’d be wrong. Resembling giant versions of the umbrellas bartenders stick into mai tai cocktails, they have important cultural symbolism in Taiwan. The words “oil paper” and “have sons” are homonyms in Chinese, while the word “umbrella” features the same character for “person” five times. This explains the tradition of offering them as wedding gifts, blessing the couple with many children. ### Ri Xing typography character moulds Architectural Landmark For a gift or souvenir with authenticity and meaning, visit this former factory and museum in Taipei, dedicated to the art of traditional block printing. It’s supposedly one of the only places in the world (if not the only) to retain a full collection of traditional Chinese moveable character moulds, the likes of which date back to the 11th century. It also sells character-printing blocks that can be used at home, as ornaments or to stamp messages. Phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “hope” and “luck” are the most popular. ### Mochi Store ![Mochi, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/negar-mz-6mnhcd4fr_g-unsplash.webp?quality=1) Negar Mz / Unsplash Another local treat that is incredibly popular as a souvenir item, [mochi](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/japan-a-tale-of-love-and-mochi) are small chewy balls of glutinous rice that contain a wide variety of fillings. [Tzen Chi Mochi](https://www.tzen1314.com/en/) is the most famous local maker and definitely the one to look out for. ### Budaixi glove puppets Architectural Landmark If the mention of glove puppets has you imagining Punch and Judy, think again. In Taiwan, glove-puppet operas are a cultural institution, and the art and skill that goes into bringing them to life – both the decoration and the movement – are extraordinary. From princesses and warriors to bearded old kings and mythical creatures, the variety is endless. If you want to surprise the folks back home with this ancient art form, you can pick up a puppet or two from several shops in Taipei, including Chang Yi Fang Puppet Creations. ### Meat-shaped stone Museum, Park They might look like juicy slabs of meat, but don’t try throwing one into your griddle pan. This variety of banded jasper, formed by layers of eerily flesh-pink and translucent-white crystals, looks uncannily like a hunk of pork belly or richly marbled steak. You can find blocks of it for sale at the [National Palace Museum](https://www.npm.gov.tw/) in Taipei. However, don’t get too carried away, or you might end up having to fork out extra for overweight luggage on the way home. ### Franz Collection ceramics Shop If you like your souvenirs on the colourful, kitsch side, stick a few examples of Franz Collection porcelain in your hand luggage. The company’s signature vases, teapots, cups and cutlery are one of a kind, combining super-decorative, art nouveau-inspired detailing with themes of nature, animals and flowers. Think teapots covered in turtles and brightly coloured corals, cups that look to be entwined with vines and flowers, and spoons with dragonflies resting on the handles. ### Trips and Tours in Taiwan Architectural Landmark ![Trains Traveling at Pingxi Line (Its The Most Beautiful Branch Line in Taiwan Railway System, New Taipei City, Taiwan](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/shutterstock_1055643125.webp?quality=1) Weniliou / Shutterstock You’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs – whether it’s in night markets, museum gift shops or local boutiques – on one of the immersive multi-day tours in our Taiwan collection. Book your spot on a trip curated by travel experts and led by an expert local guide. [Alex Allen](https://theculturetrip.com/authors/alex-allen) contributed additional reporting to this article. ### About the author [![Ciaran McEneaney](https://gravatar.webp.se/avatar/a3ad74d9385b33838e5cd1913d3600a1e81f9a8b4cd06d4878febdef3d302b64?s=64&d=mm&r=g)](https://theculturetrip.com/authors/ciaran-mceneaney) An Irishman living in Taiwan since 2003. I used to teach but now I write words for a living and by some fluke of nature, people actually read them.
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