🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 177 (from laksa095)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa177.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://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan","crawl_time":1776131967,"first_indexed_time":1601119002,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,kaveyeats!www,\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan s443","src_root_hash":"4923765550249623177","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Kavey Eats » The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Pete and I loved our all-too-brief visit to\nTaiwan\na couple of years back. We enjoyed\nsightseeing in Taipei\n,\nvisiting Maokong via cable car\nand exploring the beautiful\nTaroko Gorge National Park\n. We bought home tea and pineapple cakes, but wish we’d known to look out for the rest of these great souvenir suggestions from fellow travel bloggers.\nThe Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan\nCandy \/ Confectionery\n|\nCat Socks\n|\nHigh Mountain Oolong & Other Teas\n|\nKaoliang Liquor\n|\nPenis Cakes\n|\nPineapple Cakes\n|\nPink Heart Filter Cigarettes\n|\nTraditional Tea Sets\nCandy \/ Confectionery\nI have a thing about grocery stores when I’m traveling. There’s nothing better to me than wandering through endless aisles of interest foodie items that I’ve never seen before. So when I landed in Asia for the first time, in Taiwan, I couldn’t wait to see what treasures I could find.\nLike many countries, Taiwanese people love their sweets! Alongside some local music instruments and clothing, I hauled a huge bag of unusual treats back home for gifts and souvenirs. There are lots of sweets to try on the streets that are best eaten right away, like tofu pudding called Douhua.\nBut the packable ones include moon cakes filled with bean paste and stamped with Chinese characters. These baked goods are found fresh during the mid-fall moon festival, but you can get them in stories year-round. I also brought back pineapple jam cakes, stretched sugar lollipops and bags of oolong tea.\nEileen\n blogs at\nPure Wander\n. Find her on\nInstagram\n.\nCat Socks\nYou just never know where you’ll find the perfect souvenir. In this case, it got away from me at the Shilin Night Market in Taipei. I was with a group, and everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the darling \ncat\n motif \nsocks\n. I adored them but kept finding reasons not to get them. I think the bargained price was three pair for US$10.  What was I thinking?  Why didn’t I buy? They were so easy to carry – they took up no space at all! I could have given a pair to each of two granddaughters and kept a pair for myself. And they were even all cotton.\nFortunately, I got a great photo of them, but it only makes me want to kick myself harder. Interestingly, they were made in Korea but if I’d bought them in Taiwan, they would have remained in my mind as a souvenir of that country. What was I thinking? I blame jet lag.\nCarole blogs at\nTravels with Carole\n. Find her on\nInstagram\n. \nHigh Mountain Oolong & Other Teas\n \nOolong has long been my favourite type of tea. After trying a particularly magical high mountain oolong from Taiwan, I have sought out and prized Taiwanese oolong above all.\nWhen we finally made it to Taiwan last year, I made sure to seek out Taiwanese teas during our visit. We took the\nglass-bottomed Gondola cable car from Taipei to nearby Maokong\n, a tea-producing village in the lush green mountains to the east of the city. There, we ate dishes laced with local tea at a tea cafe, and browsed in the shops for souvenir teas.\nWe also made a trip down to\nTaroko Gorge National Park\n. After telling our guide of my love for Taiwanese tea, he took us to a small shop specialising in mountain oolongs. As we sipped samples of some of their teas, the shopkeeper showed us photos of the tea being grown, harvested and processed, before we made our choices of teas to bring home.\nQuality and flavour of oolongs is variable, so I recommend finding a shop where you can sample different varieties before you buy.\nMe, Kavey, here at Kavey Eats. Find me on\nInstagram\n. \nKaoliang Sorghum Wine \/ Liquor\nMost people think of tea or pineapple cakes as traditional food souvenirs from Taiwan, but to be a true local you must buy Kaoliang liquor for that special someone back home. This fiery alcohol made from sorghum can be found at every corner 7-11 and in bulk at the supermarket. This is the adult drink of choice in Taiwan for festivals, barbeques and game playing. \nThe most popular kind of Kaoliang is a bottle of “58” or 58 proof fermented sorghum wine. The first time I tried it I thought I might spontaneously combust! The flavour from this crystal clear distilled liquor is much stronger than a rice wine like sake or the Korean soju but with a similar smooth aftertaste. To drink Kaoliang, a small shot is often poured at room temperature. Another way to try Taiwan’s most popular alcohol is chilled because the alcohol content content prevents freezing and makes for a smoother drink, especially in Taiwan’s hot summer months. \nMy favorite way to drink Kaoliang liquor, however, is as a mixer similar to vodka. For a real treat and taste of Taiwan, try making a cocktail with fresh pineapple juice and garnish with a slice of lime and a cherry. If you really want to bring someone a unique food souvenir from Taiwan, look no further than your local convenience store for a bottle of Kaoliang.\nCerise blogs at \nEnchanted Vagabond\n. Find her on\nInstagram\n. \nPenis Cakes\nIf you are looking for a souvenir that is a little racier than the standard Taiwanese pineapple cakes, look no further than a box of giant, anatomically correct, penis shaped cakes.\nThe cakes originated at an infamous (and controversial) food stall in Shilin Night Market, the largest and most popular night market in Taipei. Aptly called “A Piece of Gayke” (大雕燒), the stall serves a variety of penis-shaped foods, including penis popsicles and hot dogs.\nThe boxed cakes are plastic wrapped and suitable for taking back home as a souvenir. Each box comes with two tasty, 18-centimeter phalluses, with flavors such as sesame and peanut, raspberry, blueberry, pomelo, and honeymelon.\nShilin Night Market is a maze, but you can find the cakes more easily in\nXimending Night Market\n, a pedestrian shopping district that is open in the daytime as well, near Ximen MRT exit 6.\nNick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on\nInstagram\n. \nPineapple Cakes\nHave you tried\npineapple cakes\n? They’re one of the best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan. This popular and delicious pastry has a buttery and crumbly shell (like a shortbread cookie) and is stuffed with pineapple filling. You can choose a sweet or sour type of pineapple cake. We like the sour one as it isn’t too sweet and has a more natural pineapple flavor. Some pineapple cakes’ fillings are mixed with wintermelon but it’s seen as lower quality. There are other unique flavors such as cranberry and egg yolk.\nPineapple cakes are easy to find in supermarkets, shopping centres, and speciality stores and they are available in Taiwan’s airports as last minute gifts before departure. The more well known brands cost about $10-$15 USD for a box of 10. Don’t forget to eat them quickly as they are perishable.\nOur favorite brand is SunnyHills due to the crispy shell and sour pineapple filling. You can find them at their store in Nantou City along Road 139 or at the Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 2, 2nd floor before crossing the security check.\nJackie blogs at\nLife of Doing\n. Find her on\nInstagram\n. \nTry our\nauthentic recipe to make your own Taiwanese pineapple cakes\n.\nPink Heart Filter Cigarettes\nOK, so we don’t want to condone smoking here, but even non-smokers can appreciate how cute these La Rose Taiwanese cigarettes are. As a rare social smoker who prefers extremely light, girly menthols, these are my go-to cigarettes in Taiwan.\nI usually bring a few packs of these back to Canada when I visit home (I’ve been living in Taiwan for 10 years), and they are always a huge hit among my friends there. Not only are menthol cigarettes no longer sold in Canada, but most Canadians have never even seen “popper” cigarettes that are the big trend in Taiwan and other Asian countries these days, with a little ball in the filter that you squeeze and pop for an added blast of menthol.\nThese dainty, ultra slim, ultra light cigarettes come in a pretty pink package, and as if that weren’t impressive enough, each cigarette has a pink heart-shaped hole cut into the filter.\nAt only NT110 ($3.50) they make a cute, light, and very cheap souvenir that is sure to make jaws drop. The cigarettes are available at all 7-11s and Family Marts, and if they are too girly for you, you can also go for other flavored cigarettes, such as orange or mojito, which come in handsomer packages.\nNick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on\nInstagram\n. \nTraditional Tea Sets\nFor a Taiwan souvenir that can range from purely functional to fine art, consider a traditional Chinese tea set. Used for preparing\ngong fu cha\n(Chinese tea ceremony), a typical set may include a teapot (used for brewing the tea), tiny tea cups, a\ngaiwan\n(a cup that usually comes on a saucer and has a lid but no handle, used for brewing, serving, or drinking tea), and a tea tray to place all the items on.\nThe best place in Taiwan to buy tea sets is on the\nYingge Pottery Street\nin New Taipei City. Here you can find an unbelievable variety of teaware, including dirt-cheap functional ceramics, portable tea infuser bottles, Yixing teapots (the classical, unglazed variety), and ceramics so gorgeous they belong in a museum. In fact, there really is a whole museum devoted to ceramics in town. When my sister got married, my wedding gift was a gorgeous tea set purchased in Yingge!\nNick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on\nInstagram\n. \nSave for later:\nFind more of my posts on \nthe best souvenirs\n to buy around the world.\nWith many thanks to all my contributors for helping me to compile this guide to the best souvenirs to buy in Taiwan. All images are by the authors of the relevant entry, unless credited otherwise. \nPlease check the customs restrictions of your home country before your trip, so that you know which food and drink souvenirs you are permitted to import.","attrs_markdown":"- [Home](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/)\n- [About](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/about)\n- [Work With Me](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/work-with-me)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/contact)\n- [Search](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/find)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/privacy-policy)\n\n[![logo](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/themes\/f2-kaveyeats\/library\/images\/K_LEFT_crop.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/)\n\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/travel)\n  - [Destination](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/travel\/destination)\n  - [Travel Planning](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/travel\/travel-planning)\n  - [Hotel](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/travel\/hotel)\n  - [Travel Quote](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/travel\/travel-quote)\n- [Eat In](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-in)\n  - [Recipe](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-in\/recipe)\n  - [Cookbook Recipe](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-in\/cookbook-recipe)\n  - [Cookery Book](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-in\/cookery-book)\n  - [Cookery Class](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-in\/cookery-class)\n  - [Kitchen Equipment](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-in\/kitchen-equipment)\n- [Eat Out](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-out)\n  - [Restaurant](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/eat-out\/restaurant)\n- [Drink](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/drink)\n- [Read](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/read)\n  - [Attended](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/attend)\n  - [Misc](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/misc)\n- [Grow](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/grow)\n- [Craft](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/craft)\n\n[Kavey Eats’ Guide to the Best Food & Drink Books of 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/best-food-drink-books-of-2018) [72 Amazing Gift Ideas for Travel Lovers](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/amazing-gift-ideas-for-travel-lovers)\n\n# [The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan \"The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan\")\nDecember 2, 2018\n\n[29 comments](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comments)\n\nPete and I loved our all-too-brief visit to [Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/place\/taiwan) a couple of years back. We enjoyed [sightseeing in Taipei](https:\/\/www.belaroundtheworld.com\/5-day-taiwan-itinerary-is-everything-you-need\/), [visiting Maokong via cable car](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/09\/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html) and exploring the beautiful [Taroko Gorge National Park](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/07\/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). We bought home tea and pineapple cakes, but wish we’d known to look out for the rest of these great souvenir suggestions from fellow travel bloggers.\n\n## The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan\n[Candy \/ Confectionery](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#candy) \\| [Cat Socks](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#catsocks) \\| [High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#oolong) \\| [Kaoliang Liquor](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#kaoliang) \\| [Penis Cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pencakes) \\| [Pineapple Cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinecakes) \\| [Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinkheart) \\| [Traditional Tea Sets](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#teasets)\n\n## Candy \/ Confectionery\n[![Taiwanese Sugar Lollipops Candy - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright-500x357.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright.jpg)\n\nI have a thing about grocery stores when I’m traveling. There’s nothing better to me than wandering through endless aisles of interest foodie items that I’ve never seen before. So when I landed in Asia for the first time, in Taiwan, I couldn’t wait to see what treasures I could find.\n\nLike many countries, Taiwanese people love their sweets! Alongside some local music instruments and clothing, I hauled a huge bag of unusual treats back home for gifts and souvenirs. There are lots of sweets to try on the streets that are best eaten right away, like tofu pudding called Douhua.\n\nBut the packable ones include moon cakes filled with bean paste and stamped with Chinese characters. These baked goods are found fresh during the mid-fall moon festival, but you can get them in stories year-round. I also brought back pineapple jam cakes, stretched sugar lollipops and bags of oolong tea.\n\n*Eileen blogs at [Pure Wander](https:\/\/www.purewander.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/instagram.com\/Pure_Wander).*\n\n## Cat Socks\n[![Cat Socks - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark-500x334.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark.jpg)\n\nYou just never know where you’ll find the perfect souvenir. In this case, it got away from me at the Shilin Night Market in Taipei. I was with a group, and everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the darling cat motif socks. I adored them but kept finding reasons not to get them. I think the bargained price was three pair for US\\$10. What was I thinking? Why didn’t I buy? They were so easy to carry – they took up no space at all! I could have given a pair to each of two granddaughters and kept a pair for myself. And they were even all cotton.\n\nFortunately, I got a great photo of them, but it only makes me want to kick myself harder. Interestingly, they were made in Korea but if I’d bought them in Taiwan, they would have remained in my mind as a souvenir of that country. What was I thinking? I blame jet lag.\n\n*Carole blogs at [Travels with Carole](https:\/\/www.travelswithcarole.blogspot.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/caroletmeyers).*\n\n## High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas\n[![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-143340-350x589.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-143340.jpg) [![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-135758-500x484.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-135758.jpg)\n\nOolong has long been my favourite type of tea. After trying a particularly magical high mountain oolong from Taiwan, I have sought out and prized Taiwanese oolong above all.\n\nWhen we finally made it to Taiwan last year, I made sure to seek out Taiwanese teas during our visit. We took the [glass-bottomed Gondola cable car from Taipei to nearby Maokong](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/09\/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html), a tea-producing village in the lush green mountains to the east of the city. There, we ate dishes laced with local tea at a tea cafe, and browsed in the shops for souvenir teas.\n\nWe also made a trip down to [Taroko Gorge National Park](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/07\/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). After telling our guide of my love for Taiwanese tea, he took us to a small shop specialising in mountain oolongs. As we sipped samples of some of their teas, the shopkeeper showed us photos of the tea being grown, harvested and processed, before we made our choices of teas to bring home.\n\nQuality and flavour of oolongs is variable, so I recommend finding a shop where you can sample different varieties before you buy.\n\n*Me, Kavey, here at Kavey Eats. Find me on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kaveyf\/).*\n\n## Kaoliang Sorghum Wine \/ Liquor\n[![Kaoliang Sorghum Wine \/ Liquor - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kaohliang-EV-500x363.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kaohliang-EV.jpg)\n\nMost people think of tea or pineapple cakes as traditional food souvenirs from Taiwan, but to be a true local you must buy Kaoliang liquor for that special someone back home. This fiery alcohol made from sorghum can be found at every corner 7-11 and in bulk at the supermarket. This is the adult drink of choice in Taiwan for festivals, barbeques and game playing.\n\nThe most popular kind of Kaoliang is a bottle of “58” or 58 proof fermented sorghum wine. The first time I tried it I thought I might spontaneously combust! The flavour from this crystal clear distilled liquor is much stronger than a rice wine like sake or the Korean soju but with a similar smooth aftertaste. To drink Kaoliang, a small shot is often poured at room temperature. Another way to try Taiwan’s most popular alcohol is chilled because the alcohol content content prevents freezing and makes for a smoother drink, especially in Taiwan’s hot summer months.\n\nMy favorite way to drink Kaoliang liquor, however, is as a mixer similar to vodka. For a real treat and taste of Taiwan, try making a cocktail with fresh pineapple juice and garnish with a slice of lime and a cherry. If you really want to bring someone a unique food souvenir from Taiwan, look no further than your local convenience store for a bottle of Kaoliang.\n\n*Cerise blogs at [Enchanted Vagabond](https:\/\/www.enchantedvagabond.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/enchanted_vagabond\/).*\n\n## Penis Cakes\n[![Penis Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/penis-cakes-500x375.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/penis-cakes.jpg)\n\nIf you are looking for a souvenir that is a little racier than the standard Taiwanese pineapple cakes, look no further than a box of giant, anatomically correct, penis shaped cakes.\n\nThe cakes originated at an infamous (and controversial) food stall in Shilin Night Market, the largest and most popular night market in Taipei. Aptly called “A Piece of Gayke” (大雕燒), the stall serves a variety of penis-shaped foods, including penis popsicles and hot dogs.\n\nThe boxed cakes are plastic wrapped and suitable for taking back home as a souvenir. Each box comes with two tasty, 18-centimeter phalluses, with flavors such as sesame and peanut, raspberry, blueberry, pomelo, and honeymelon.\n\nShilin Night Market is a maze, but you can find the cakes more easily in [Ximending Night Market](https:\/\/www.nickkembel.com\/taipei-ximending-night-market\/), a pedestrian shopping district that is open in the daytime as well, near Ximen MRT exit 6.\n\n*Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spiritualtravels\/).*\n\n## Pineapple Cakes\n[![Pineapple Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2-500x405.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2.jpg)\n\nHave you tried [pineapple cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe)? They’re one of the best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan. This popular and delicious pastry has a buttery and crumbly shell (like a shortbread cookie) and is stuffed with pineapple filling. You can choose a sweet or sour type of pineapple cake. We like the sour one as it isn’t too sweet and has a more natural pineapple flavor. Some pineapple cakes’ fillings are mixed with wintermelon but it’s seen as lower quality. There are other unique flavors such as cranberry and egg yolk.\n\nPineapple cakes are easy to find in supermarkets, shopping centres, and speciality stores and they are available in Taiwan’s airports as last minute gifts before departure. The more well known brands cost about \\$10-\\$15 USD for a box of 10. Don’t forget to eat them quickly as they are perishable.\n\nOur favorite brand is SunnyHills due to the crispy shell and sour pineapple filling. You can find them at their store in Nantou City along Road 139 or at the Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 2, 2nd floor before crossing the security check.\n\n*Jackie blogs at [Life of Doing](https:\/\/lifeofdoing.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lifeofdoing\/).*\n\n- Try our [authentic recipe to make your own Taiwanese pineapple cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe).\n## Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes\n[![Pink Heart Cigarettes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/pink-cigarettes-500x375.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/pink-cigarettes.jpg)\n\nOK, so we don’t want to condone smoking here, but even non-smokers can appreciate how cute these La Rose Taiwanese cigarettes are. As a rare social smoker who prefers extremely light, girly menthols, these are my go-to cigarettes in Taiwan.\n\nI usually bring a few packs of these back to Canada when I visit home (I’ve been living in Taiwan for 10 years), and they are always a huge hit among my friends there. Not only are menthol cigarettes no longer sold in Canada, but most Canadians have never even seen “popper” cigarettes that are the big trend in Taiwan and other Asian countries these days, with a little ball in the filter that you squeeze and pop for an added blast of menthol.\n\nThese dainty, ultra slim, ultra light cigarettes come in a pretty pink package, and as if that weren’t impressive enough, each cigarette has a pink heart-shaped hole cut into the filter.\n\nAt only NT110 (\\$3.50) they make a cute, light, and very cheap souvenir that is sure to make jaws drop. The cigarettes are available at all 7-11s and Family Marts, and if they are too girly for you, you can also go for other flavored cigarettes, such as orange or mojito, which come in handsomer packages.\n\n*Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spiritualtravels\/).*\n\n## Traditional Tea Sets\n[![Traditional Taiwanese Tea Set - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tea-set-500x334.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tea-set.jpg)\n\nFor a Taiwan souvenir that can range from purely functional to fine art, consider a traditional Chinese tea set. Used for preparing *gong fu cha* (Chinese tea ceremony), a typical set may include a teapot (used for brewing the tea), tiny tea cups, a *gaiwan* (a cup that usually comes on a saucer and has a lid but no handle, used for brewing, serving, or drinking tea), and a tea tray to place all the items on.\n\nThe best place in Taiwan to buy tea sets is on the [Yingge Pottery Street](https:\/\/www.nickkembel.com\/ceramics-and-pottery-shopping-in-yingge\/) in New Taipei City. Here you can find an unbelievable variety of teaware, including dirt-cheap functional ceramics, portable tea infuser bottles, Yixing teapots (the classical, unglazed variety), and ceramics so gorgeous they belong in a museum. In fact, there really is a whole museum devoted to ceramics in town. When my sister got married, my wedding gift was a gorgeous tea set purchased in Yingge\\!\n\n*Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spiritualtravels\/).*\n\n**Save for later:**\n\n[![The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN-500x750.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN.jpg)\n\nFind more of my posts on **[the best souvenirs](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/tag\/souvenirs)** to buy around the world.\n\n*With many thanks to all my contributors for helping me to compile this guide to the best souvenirs to buy in Taiwan. All images are by the authors of the relevant entry, unless credited otherwise.*\n\n*Please check the customs restrictions of your home country before your trip, so that you know which food and drink souvenirs you are permitted to import.*\n\n[Kavey Eats](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/)\n\nPosted by\n\n[Kavita Favelle](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/) on\n\nJanuary 6, 2023\n\nCategory: [Travel](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/travel) ([Destination](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/category\/travel\/destination))Place: [Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/place\/taiwan)Tag: [gift guide](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/tag\/gift-guide), [souvenirs](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/tag\/souvenirs)\n\n### [Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you\\!](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#respond)29 Comments to \"The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan\"\n1. [Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche](https:\/\/www.amuse-your-bouche.com\/)\n   \n   [December 3rd, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647832)\n   \n   Some really cool stuff here! Those cat socks are adorable. The writer definitely should have bought some at that price\\!\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647832#respond)\n2. [amanda](http:\/\/theamandatoryadventure.com\/)\n   \n   [December 3rd, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647935)\n   \n   YES! I love that people are transitioning to functional souvenirs for friends and family from their travels! I think I would totally opt for the cat socks and penis cakes. I once brought back penis pasta from Italy and it was so worth it! haha\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647935#respond)\n3. Sarah Wilson\n   \n   [December 3rd, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647945)\n   \n   This is so funny. When I went to Taiwan, I came home with cat socks, a traditional tea set and lots of oolong tea. Wasn’t so keen on the pineapple cake though! And of course I brought my friends a penis cake 🙂\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647945#respond)\n4. Courtney Hopkins\n   \n   [December 3rd, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647950)\n   \n   MMMmm pineapple cakes. Those sound absolutely AMAZING! The cat socks are super adorable. As a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady I would love to have a pair of those.\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647950#respond)\n5. [Heidi Roberts](http:\/\/www.kitchentalkandtravels.com\/)\n   \n   [December 4th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647983)\n   \n   If I ever get to Taiwan I will know which souvenirs I want. I love the tea sets\\!\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647983#respond)\n6. [Rebecca Pattee](https:\/\/www.awayfromtheoffice.com\/)\n   \n   [December 4th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647988)\n   \n   Aww, the cat socks are adorable. And the penis cakes are unique. I’d love to visit Taiwan.\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647988#respond)\n7. Elena\n   \n   [December 4th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648053)\n   \n   What an interesting list of Taiwan souvenirs! If I ever get to Taiwan, I would definitely want to get my hands on the tea sets. Tho cat socks are adorable too 🙂\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648053#respond)\n8. [Laura Pedlar](http:\/\/www.cruiselifestyle.co.uk\/)\n   \n   [December 4th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648059)\n   \n   If I ever visit I would buy sugar lollipops and cat socks – also a Christmas bauble if I could find one as I try and collect one from every place I visit. This was a really interesting read, and a refreshing new type of blog post. Not sure I would buy the penis cakes though\\!\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648059#respond)\n9. [Soumya Gayatri](https:\/\/www.storiesbysoumya.com\/)\n   \n   [December 5th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648270)\n   \n   I love those cat socks. A few of my friends are quite fond of socks and love collecting them. I think this would be like the best gift for them. And for the foodie in me, the pineapple cakes would just be perfect. A crumbly shell with pineapple filling – can almost taste it in my mouth right now.\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648270#respond)\n10. [Jackie](http:\/\/enjoytravellife.com\/)\n    \n    [December 5th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648319)\n    \n    What an unusual array of souvenirs from Taiwan! I have had moon cakes before from an Asian grocer in Providence RI, but never made fresh. I’d also love to try the pineapple cake. They sound delish. And who wouldn’t love kitty socks…I’ll take half a dozen, please! Fun gifts. Penis cakes? 😂\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648319#respond)\n11. [Medha Verma](http:\/\/www.hoppingfeet.com\/)\n    \n    [December 5th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648353)\n    \n    Those cat socks are super cute! I bought some really cool and colorful socks from Japan last year and I absolutely would love to get these cat socks too, I think I have a thing for quirky and cool socks haha. And the penis cakes are also so quirky, got to try one for sure and bring some for the family 😉 LOL\\!\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648353#respond)\n12. [Camilla Hawkins](https:\/\/www.fabfood4all.co.uk\/)\n    \n    [December 5th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648461)\n    \n    Loving the tea set but think I’d pass on the phallus cakes LOL, might be a bit of a mouthful for the recipient:-)\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648461#respond)\n    kaveyeats\n    \n    [December 5th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648465)\n    \n    Oh my god, Camilla, you made me spit out my tea! 😝😝😝😝😝\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648465#respond)\n13. [MEENAKSHI J](https:\/\/polkajunction.com\/)\n    \n    [December 6th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648577)\n    \n    What an interesting list of souvenirs! Never heard of tofu pudding called Douhua nor the popper cigarettes. The tea-set looks adorable and phallus cakes sound….well very kinky :p But you made the pineapple cakes sound so delicious that I want to taste it like..now! That cat sock looks so very cute and I am sure you are gonna again visit Taiwan and buy a dozen for your grand-daughters 😀\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648577#respond)\n14. [Kayla Marie](https:\/\/lifeoutsidethemargin.com\/)\n    \n    [December 8th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649208)\n    \n    I can’t believe you passed up the cat socks! Those are adorable. I’m also not a smoker but those mojito cigarettes sound interesting to try.\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649208#respond)\n15. [Emmalene](https:\/\/abrummiehomeandabroad.com\/)\n    \n    [December 9th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649404)\n    \n    I love those cat socks! I have been know to bring socks back as a souvenir (I have moose socks from Canada!) – and also the local liquor on more than one occasion 🙂 Never bought penis cakes back though…\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649404#respond)\n16. [Wendy Pappas](http:\/\/mywonderfulwalk.com\/)\n    \n    [December 9th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649440)\n    \n    I would have bought the tea and the sugar candy, my daughter would love the cat socks…\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649440#respond)\n17. [Maggie](https:\/\/pinkcaddytravelogue.com\/)\n    \n    [December 10th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649625)\n    \n    I’m with you, I LOVE exploring grocery stores whenever I’m visiting a new place! It’s amazing the unusual things you can find in a different country. I admittedly don’t know that much about Taiwan, such as the fact that they’re famous for pineapple cake.?!? But that sounds delicious and I would happily take one home as a souvenir\\!\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649625#respond)\n18. [Jane Frith](https:\/\/www.abfabtravels.com\/)\n    \n    [December 11th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649886)\n    \n    I love finding souvenirs when travelling, things which you simply cannot find back home. My favourite here would be the tea set (and the tea of course!), but I think it would be hard to go past those penis cakes! These are so quirky and friends would love them.\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649886#respond)\n19. [Candy](https:\/\/www.thetravelpockets.com\/)\n    \n    [December 12th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649928)\n    \n    I am a huge fan of oolong tea and would definitely buy that! I also think those cat socks are so adorable. I don’t like wearing socks, but I would wear those 🙂\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649928#respond)\n20. Heather\n    \n    [December 12th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649933)\n    \n    Interesting options Taiwan has. I’m not a smoker, but I must say I have never heard of pink heart cigarettes before (or anything other shape\/design). Pink is my favorite color. I would have to go with the sweet pineapple cakes I think and I totally get where you are coming from on the socks. I have talked myself out of several items I really wanted and regret now. I’d almost say I’m a master at it. I even tell myself “you’re doing it again…just get it” and still don’t. Facepalm.\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649933#respond)\n21. [Sab](http:\/\/www.justonewayticket.com\/)\n    \n    [December 13th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650248)\n    \n    I heard so many great things about Taiwan, especially about the food, it suppose to be amazing 🙂 The penis cakes are hilarious, what a funny guft to bring to a party, haha….\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650248#respond)\n22. [Michael Hodgson](https:\/\/hitraveltales.com\/)\n    \n    [December 13th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650298)\n    \n    Grocery stores are the all-time BEST place to find authentic and local gifts and souveniers anywhere in the world. Our dog would not allow me to wear cat socks…just sayin. 😉\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650298#respond)\n23. [Erica](https:\/\/getupgetoutgetlost.com\/2017\/11\/29\/tis-the-season-celebrating-christmas-in-spain\/)\n    \n    [December 13th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650350)\n    \n    Laughing out loud thinking of cat socks… you’ll have to google the “kitten mittens” episode of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a good chuckle. For me though, I’d definitely lean toward the oolong tea, and I always like to bring back a bottle of the local liquor to share with friends at home. Love the tips.\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650350#respond)\n    Mary Twiss Connolly\n    \n    [December 21st, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652268)\n    \n    I think Kitten Mittens is my favorite episode of IASIP\\!\n    \n    <https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=22O6Nmjt-mw>\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652268#respond)\n    \n    kaveyeats\n    \n    [December 21st, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652289)\n    \n    That’s hilarious! I think the misspelling of mittens all the way through is a nice touch! 🤣🤣🤣\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652289#respond)\n24. [Zac](https:\/\/new-faces-new-places.com\/)\n    \n    [December 13th, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650366)\n    \n    Tea sets are always a winner when buying souvenirs in Asian countries, but personally I’m in love with those pineapple cakes. Never heard of them, and they sound kind of strange, but just from looking at them I’m so intrigued to try one\\!\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650366#respond)\n25. Mary Twiss Connolly\n    \n    [December 21st, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652266)\n    \n    This article is great, Kavey, since I really only like to shop for souvenirs when I’m in another country (in general, I’m just not a shopper); I’m totally down for the CAT SOCKS! I’m bookmarking this article in case I get a chance to visit Taiwan.\n    \n    Now I want to try Taiwanese high mountain oolong tea. Do you have a particular favorite brand?\n    \n    I’m an occasional smoker and while I don’t smoke menthols I think I would pick up a few packs as novelty gifts for others\\!\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652266#respond)\n    kaveyeats\n    \n    [December 21st, 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652287)\n    \n    I’m the same, I’m not big into shopping but I do love buying souvenirs! With the mountain oolong in not sure I was ever aware of brands per se, as we mostly bought from shops representing a single farm’s output. In the city stores, they will no doubt have a lot of different producers represented. We always tasted and went by our taste buds\\!\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652287#respond)\n### Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you! [Cancel reply](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#respond)\n\n[Kavey Eats’ Guide to the Best Food & Drink Books of 2018](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/best-food-drink-books-of-2018) [72 Amazing Gift Ideas for Travel Lovers](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/amazing-gift-ideas-for-travel-lovers)\n\n#### Search\n[Find posts](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/find) by category, tag cloud or date.\n\n#### Follow Me\nSubscribe to [Kavey Eats' RSS feed](http:\/\/kaveyeats.com\/feed).  \n Follow [Kavey on Instagram](https:\/\/instagram.com\/kaveyf\/).  \n Follow [Kavey on BSky](https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/kavey.bsky.social).  \n Like  [Kavey Eats' FaceBook page](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KaveyEats).  \n Visit [Kavey Eats' Pinterest boards](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/KaveyEats\/).\n\n#### Affiliate Links\nSome of our content includes Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This will not cost you any extra in your purchases.  \n • [Amazon UK](https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&linkCode=ur2&tag=kaveat-21)\n\n© 2006 - 2026 [Kavita Favelle](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Pete and I loved our all-too-brief visit to [Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/place\/taiwan) a couple of years back. We enjoyed [sightseeing in Taipei](https:\/\/www.belaroundtheworld.com\/5-day-taiwan-itinerary-is-everything-you-need\/), [visiting Maokong via cable car](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/09\/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html) and exploring the beautiful [Taroko Gorge National Park](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/07\/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). We bought home tea and pineapple cakes, but wish we’d known to look out for the rest of these great souvenir suggestions from fellow travel bloggers.\n\n## The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan\n[Candy \/ Confectionery](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#candy) \\| [Cat Socks](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#catsocks) \\| [High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#oolong) \\| [Kaoliang Liquor](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#kaoliang) \\| [Penis Cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pencakes) \\| [Pineapple Cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinecakes) \\| [Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinkheart) \\| [Traditional Tea Sets](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#teasets)\n\n## Candy \/ Confectionery\n[![Taiwanese Sugar Lollipops Candy - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright-500x357.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright.jpg)\n\nI have a thing about grocery stores when I’m traveling. There’s nothing better to me than wandering through endless aisles of interest foodie items that I’ve never seen before. So when I landed in Asia for the first time, in Taiwan, I couldn’t wait to see what treasures I could find.\n\nLike many countries, Taiwanese people love their sweets! Alongside some local music instruments and clothing, I hauled a huge bag of unusual treats back home for gifts and souvenirs. There are lots of sweets to try on the streets that are best eaten right away, like tofu pudding called Douhua.\n\nBut the packable ones include moon cakes filled with bean paste and stamped with Chinese characters. These baked goods are found fresh during the mid-fall moon festival, but you can get them in stories year-round. I also brought back pineapple jam cakes, stretched sugar lollipops and bags of oolong tea.\n\n*Eileen blogs at [Pure Wander](https:\/\/www.purewander.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/instagram.com\/Pure_Wander).*\n\n## Cat Socks\n[![Cat Socks - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark-500x334.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark.jpg)\n\nYou just never know where you’ll find the perfect souvenir. In this case, it got away from me at the Shilin Night Market in Taipei. I was with a group, and everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the darling cat motif socks. I adored them but kept finding reasons not to get them. I think the bargained price was three pair for US\\$10. What was I thinking? Why didn’t I buy? They were so easy to carry – they took up no space at all! I could have given a pair to each of two granddaughters and kept a pair for myself. And they were even all cotton.\n\nFortunately, I got a great photo of them, but it only makes me want to kick myself harder. Interestingly, they were made in Korea but if I’d bought them in Taiwan, they would have remained in my mind as a souvenir of that country. What was I thinking? I blame jet lag.\n\n*Carole blogs at [Travels with Carole](https:\/\/www.travelswithcarole.blogspot.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/caroletmeyers).*\n\n## High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas\n[![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-143340-350x589.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-143340.jpg) [![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-135758-500x484.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Taiwan-Tea-135758.jpg)\n\nOolong has long been my favourite type of tea. After trying a particularly magical high mountain oolong from Taiwan, I have sought out and prized Taiwanese oolong above all.\n\nWhen we finally made it to Taiwan last year, I made sure to seek out Taiwanese teas during our visit. We took the [glass-bottomed Gondola cable car from Taipei to nearby Maokong](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/09\/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html), a tea-producing village in the lush green mountains to the east of the city. There, we ate dishes laced with local tea at a tea cafe, and browsed in the shops for souvenir teas.\n\nWe also made a trip down to [Taroko Gorge National Park](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/2017\/07\/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). After telling our guide of my love for Taiwanese tea, he took us to a small shop specialising in mountain oolongs. As we sipped samples of some of their teas, the shopkeeper showed us photos of the tea being grown, harvested and processed, before we made our choices of teas to bring home.\n\nQuality and flavour of oolongs is variable, so I recommend finding a shop where you can sample different varieties before you buy.\n\n*Me, Kavey, here at Kavey Eats. Find me on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kaveyf\/).*\n\n## Kaoliang Sorghum Wine \/ Liquor\n[![Kaoliang Sorghum Wine \/ Liquor - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kaohliang-EV-500x363.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/kaohliang-EV.jpg)\n\nMost people think of tea or pineapple cakes as traditional food souvenirs from Taiwan, but to be a true local you must buy Kaoliang liquor for that special someone back home. This fiery alcohol made from sorghum can be found at every corner 7-11 and in bulk at the supermarket. This is the adult drink of choice in Taiwan for festivals, barbeques and game playing.\n\nThe most popular kind of Kaoliang is a bottle of “58” or 58 proof fermented sorghum wine. The first time I tried it I thought I might spontaneously combust! The flavour from this crystal clear distilled liquor is much stronger than a rice wine like sake or the Korean soju but with a similar smooth aftertaste. To drink Kaoliang, a small shot is often poured at room temperature. Another way to try Taiwan’s most popular alcohol is chilled because the alcohol content content prevents freezing and makes for a smoother drink, especially in Taiwan’s hot summer months.\n\nMy favorite way to drink Kaoliang liquor, however, is as a mixer similar to vodka. For a real treat and taste of Taiwan, try making a cocktail with fresh pineapple juice and garnish with a slice of lime and a cherry. If you really want to bring someone a unique food souvenir from Taiwan, look no further than your local convenience store for a bottle of Kaoliang.\n\n*Cerise blogs at [Enchanted Vagabond](https:\/\/www.enchantedvagabond.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/enchanted_vagabond\/).*\n\n## Penis Cakes\n[![Penis Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/penis-cakes-500x375.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/penis-cakes.jpg)\n\nIf you are looking for a souvenir that is a little racier than the standard Taiwanese pineapple cakes, look no further than a box of giant, anatomically correct, penis shaped cakes.\n\nThe cakes originated at an infamous (and controversial) food stall in Shilin Night Market, the largest and most popular night market in Taipei. Aptly called “A Piece of Gayke” (大雕燒), the stall serves a variety of penis-shaped foods, including penis popsicles and hot dogs.\n\nThe boxed cakes are plastic wrapped and suitable for taking back home as a souvenir. Each box comes with two tasty, 18-centimeter phalluses, with flavors such as sesame and peanut, raspberry, blueberry, pomelo, and honeymelon.\n\nShilin Night Market is a maze, but you can find the cakes more easily in [Ximending Night Market](https:\/\/www.nickkembel.com\/taipei-ximending-night-market\/), a pedestrian shopping district that is open in the daytime as well, near Ximen MRT exit 6.\n\n*Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spiritualtravels\/).*\n\n## Pineapple Cakes\n[![Pineapple Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2-500x405.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2.jpg)\n\nHave you tried [pineapple cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe)? They’re one of the best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan. This popular and delicious pastry has a buttery and crumbly shell (like a shortbread cookie) and is stuffed with pineapple filling. You can choose a sweet or sour type of pineapple cake. We like the sour one as it isn’t too sweet and has a more natural pineapple flavor. Some pineapple cakes’ fillings are mixed with wintermelon but it’s seen as lower quality. There are other unique flavors such as cranberry and egg yolk.\n\nPineapple cakes are easy to find in supermarkets, shopping centres, and speciality stores and they are available in Taiwan’s airports as last minute gifts before departure. The more well known brands cost about \\$10-\\$15 USD for a box of 10. Don’t forget to eat them quickly as they are perishable.\n\nOur favorite brand is SunnyHills due to the crispy shell and sour pineapple filling. You can find them at their store in Nantou City along Road 139 or at the Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 2, 2nd floor before crossing the security check.\n\n*Jackie blogs at [Life of Doing](https:\/\/lifeofdoing.com\/). Find her on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lifeofdoing\/).*\n\n- Try our [authentic recipe to make your own Taiwanese pineapple cakes](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe).\n## Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes\n[![Pink Heart Cigarettes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/pink-cigarettes-500x375.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/pink-cigarettes.jpg)\n\nOK, so we don’t want to condone smoking here, but even non-smokers can appreciate how cute these La Rose Taiwanese cigarettes are. As a rare social smoker who prefers extremely light, girly menthols, these are my go-to cigarettes in Taiwan.\n\nI usually bring a few packs of these back to Canada when I visit home (I’ve been living in Taiwan for 10 years), and they are always a huge hit among my friends there. Not only are menthol cigarettes no longer sold in Canada, but most Canadians have never even seen “popper” cigarettes that are the big trend in Taiwan and other Asian countries these days, with a little ball in the filter that you squeeze and pop for an added blast of menthol.\n\nThese dainty, ultra slim, ultra light cigarettes come in a pretty pink package, and as if that weren’t impressive enough, each cigarette has a pink heart-shaped hole cut into the filter.\n\nAt only NT110 (\\$3.50) they make a cute, light, and very cheap souvenir that is sure to make jaws drop. The cigarettes are available at all 7-11s and Family Marts, and if they are too girly for you, you can also go for other flavored cigarettes, such as orange or mojito, which come in handsomer packages.\n\n*Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spiritualtravels\/).*\n\n## Traditional Tea Sets\n[![Traditional Taiwanese Tea Set - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tea-set-500x334.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tea-set.jpg)\n\nFor a Taiwan souvenir that can range from purely functional to fine art, consider a traditional Chinese tea set. Used for preparing *gong fu cha* (Chinese tea ceremony), a typical set may include a teapot (used for brewing the tea), tiny tea cups, a *gaiwan* (a cup that usually comes on a saucer and has a lid but no handle, used for brewing, serving, or drinking tea), and a tea tray to place all the items on.\n\nThe best place in Taiwan to buy tea sets is on the [Yingge Pottery Street](https:\/\/www.nickkembel.com\/ceramics-and-pottery-shopping-in-yingge\/) in New Taipei City. Here you can find an unbelievable variety of teaware, including dirt-cheap functional ceramics, portable tea infuser bottles, Yixing teapots (the classical, unglazed variety), and ceramics so gorgeous they belong in a museum. In fact, there really is a whole museum devoted to ceramics in town. When my sister got married, my wedding gift was a gorgeous tea set purchased in Yingge\\!\n\n*Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/spiritualtravels\/).*\n\n**Save for later:**\n\n[![The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN-500x750.jpg)](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN.jpg)\n\nFind more of my posts on **[the best souvenirs](https:\/\/www.kaveyeats.com\/tag\/souvenirs)** to buy around the world.\n\n*With many thanks to all my contributors for helping me to compile this guide to the best souvenirs to buy in Taiwan. All images are by the authors of the relevant entry, unless credited otherwise.*\n\n*Please check the customs restrictions of your home country before your trip, so that you know which food and drink souvenirs you are permitted to import.*","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	Pete and I loved our all-too-brief visit to Taiwan a couple of years back. We enjoyed sightseeing in Taipei , visiting Maokong via cable car and exploring the beautiful Taroko Gorge National Park . We bought home tea and pineapple cakes, but wish we’d known to look out for the rest of these great souvenir suggestions from fellow travel bloggers. The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan Candy / Confectionery \| Cat Socks \| High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas \| Kaoliang Liquor \| Penis Cakes \| Pineapple Cakes \| Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes \| Traditional Tea Sets Candy / Confectionery I have a thing about grocery stores when I’m traveling. There’s nothing better to me than wandering through endless aisles of interest foodie items that I’ve never seen before. So when I landed in Asia for the first time, in Taiwan, I couldn’t wait to see what treasures I could find. Like many countries, Taiwanese people love their sweets! Alongside some local music instruments and clothing, I hauled a huge bag of unusual treats back home for gifts and souvenirs. There are lots of sweets to try on the streets that are best eaten right away, like tofu pudding called Douhua. But the packable ones include moon cakes filled with bean paste and stamped with Chinese characters. These baked goods are found fresh during the mid-fall moon festival, but you can get them in stories year-round. I also brought back pineapple jam cakes, stretched sugar lollipops and bags of oolong tea. Eileen blogs at Pure Wander . Find her on Instagram . Cat Socks You just never know where you’ll find the perfect souvenir. In this case, it got away from me at the Shilin Night Market in Taipei. I was with a group, and everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the darling cat motif socks . I adored them but kept finding reasons not to get them. I think the bargained price was three pair for US$10. What was I thinking? Why didn’t I buy? They were so easy to carry – they took up no space at all! I could have given a pair to each of two granddaughters and kept a pair for myself. And they were even all cotton. Fortunately, I got a great photo of them, but it only makes me want to kick myself harder. Interestingly, they were made in Korea but if I’d bought them in Taiwan, they would have remained in my mind as a souvenir of that country. What was I thinking? I blame jet lag. Carole blogs at Travels with Carole . Find her on Instagram . High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas Oolong has long been my favourite type of tea. After trying a particularly magical high mountain oolong from Taiwan, I have sought out and prized Taiwanese oolong above all. When we finally made it to Taiwan last year, I made sure to seek out Taiwanese teas during our visit. We took the glass-bottomed Gondola cable car from Taipei to nearby Maokong , a tea-producing village in the lush green mountains to the east of the city. There, we ate dishes laced with local tea at a tea cafe, and browsed in the shops for souvenir teas. We also made a trip down to Taroko Gorge National Park . After telling our guide of my love for Taiwanese tea, he took us to a small shop specialising in mountain oolongs. As we sipped samples of some of their teas, the shopkeeper showed us photos of the tea being grown, harvested and processed, before we made our choices of teas to bring home. Quality and flavour of oolongs is variable, so I recommend finding a shop where you can sample different varieties before you buy. Me, Kavey, here at Kavey Eats. Find me on Instagram . Kaoliang Sorghum Wine / Liquor Most people think of tea or pineapple cakes as traditional food souvenirs from Taiwan, but to be a true local you must buy Kaoliang liquor for that special someone back home. This fiery alcohol made from sorghum can be found at every corner 7-11 and in bulk at the supermarket. This is the adult drink of choice in Taiwan for festivals, barbeques and game playing. The most popular kind of Kaoliang is a bottle of “58” or 58 proof fermented sorghum wine. The first time I tried it I thought I might spontaneously combust! The flavour from this crystal clear distilled liquor is much stronger than a rice wine like sake or the Korean soju but with a similar smooth aftertaste. To drink Kaoliang, a small shot is often poured at room temperature. Another way to try Taiwan’s most popular alcohol is chilled because the alcohol content content prevents freezing and makes for a smoother drink, especially in Taiwan’s hot summer months. My favorite way to drink Kaoliang liquor, however, is as a mixer similar to vodka. For a real treat and taste of Taiwan, try making a cocktail with fresh pineapple juice and garnish with a slice of lime and a cherry. If you really want to bring someone a unique food souvenir from Taiwan, look no further than your local convenience store for a bottle of Kaoliang. Cerise blogs at Enchanted Vagabond . Find her on Instagram . Penis Cakes If you are looking for a souvenir that is a little racier than the standard Taiwanese pineapple cakes, look no further than a box of giant, anatomically correct, penis shaped cakes. The cakes originated at an infamous (and controversial) food stall in Shilin Night Market, the largest and most popular night market in Taipei. Aptly called “A Piece of Gayke” (大雕燒), the stall serves a variety of penis-shaped foods, including penis popsicles and hot dogs. The boxed cakes are plastic wrapped and suitable for taking back home as a souvenir. Each box comes with two tasty, 18-centimeter phalluses, with flavors such as sesame and peanut, raspberry, blueberry, pomelo, and honeymelon. Shilin Night Market is a maze, but you can find the cakes more easily in Ximending Night Market , a pedestrian shopping district that is open in the daytime as well, near Ximen MRT exit 6. Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on Instagram . Pineapple Cakes Have you tried pineapple cakes ? They’re one of the best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan. This popular and delicious pastry has a buttery and crumbly shell (like a shortbread cookie) and is stuffed with pineapple filling. You can choose a sweet or sour type of pineapple cake. We like the sour one as it isn’t too sweet and has a more natural pineapple flavor. Some pineapple cakes’ fillings are mixed with wintermelon but it’s seen as lower quality. There are other unique flavors such as cranberry and egg yolk. Pineapple cakes are easy to find in supermarkets, shopping centres, and speciality stores and they are available in Taiwan’s airports as last minute gifts before departure. The more well known brands cost about $10-$15 USD for a box of 10. Don’t forget to eat them quickly as they are perishable. Our favorite brand is SunnyHills due to the crispy shell and sour pineapple filling. You can find them at their store in Nantou City along Road 139 or at the Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 2, 2nd floor before crossing the security check. Jackie blogs at Life of Doing . Find her on Instagram . Try our authentic recipe to make your own Taiwanese pineapple cakes . Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes OK, so we don’t want to condone smoking here, but even non-smokers can appreciate how cute these La Rose Taiwanese cigarettes are. As a rare social smoker who prefers extremely light, girly menthols, these are my go-to cigarettes in Taiwan. I usually bring a few packs of these back to Canada when I visit home (I’ve been living in Taiwan for 10 years), and they are always a huge hit among my friends there. Not only are menthol cigarettes no longer sold in Canada, but most Canadians have never even seen “popper” cigarettes that are the big trend in Taiwan and other Asian countries these days, with a little ball in the filter that you squeeze and pop for an added blast of menthol. These dainty, ultra slim, ultra light cigarettes come in a pretty pink package, and as if that weren’t impressive enough, each cigarette has a pink heart-shaped hole cut into the filter. At only NT110 ($3.50) they make a cute, light, and very cheap souvenir that is sure to make jaws drop. The cigarettes are available at all 7-11s and Family Marts, and if they are too girly for you, you can also go for other flavored cigarettes, such as orange or mojito, which come in handsomer packages. Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on Instagram . Traditional Tea Sets For a Taiwan souvenir that can range from purely functional to fine art, consider a traditional Chinese tea set. Used for preparing gong fu cha (Chinese tea ceremony), a typical set may include a teapot (used for brewing the tea), tiny tea cups, a gaiwan (a cup that usually comes on a saucer and has a lid but no handle, used for brewing, serving, or drinking tea), and a tea tray to place all the items on. The best place in Taiwan to buy tea sets is on the Yingge Pottery Street in New Taipei City. Here you can find an unbelievable variety of teaware, including dirt-cheap functional ceramics, portable tea infuser bottles, Yixing teapots (the classical, unglazed variety), and ceramics so gorgeous they belong in a museum. In fact, there really is a whole museum devoted to ceramics in town. When my sister got married, my wedding gift was a gorgeous tea set purchased in Yingge! Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on Instagram . Save for later: Find more of my posts on the best souvenirs to buy around the world. With many thanks to all my contributors for helping me to compile this guide to the best souvenirs to buy in Taiwan. All images are by the authors of the relevant entry, unless credited otherwise. Please check the customs restrictions of your home country before your trip, so that you know which food and drink souvenirs you are permitted to import.
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We enjoyed [sightseeing in Taipei](https://www.belaroundtheworld.com/5-day-taiwan-itinerary-is-everything-you-need/), [visiting Maokong via cable car](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/09/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html) and exploring the beautiful [Taroko Gorge National Park](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/07/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). We bought home tea and pineapple cakes, but wish we’d known to look out for the rest of these great souvenir suggestions from fellow travel bloggers. ## The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan [Candy / Confectionery](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#candy) \\| [Cat Socks](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#catsocks) \\| [High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#oolong) \\| [Kaoliang Liquor](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#kaoliang) \\| [Penis Cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pencakes) \\| [Pineapple Cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinecakes) \\| [Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinkheart) \\| [Traditional Tea Sets](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#teasets) ## Candy / Confectionery [![Taiwanese Sugar Lollipops Candy - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright-500x357.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright.jpg) I have a thing about grocery stores when I’m traveling. There’s nothing better to me than wandering through endless aisles of interest foodie items that I’ve never seen before. So when I landed in Asia for the first time, in Taiwan, I couldn’t wait to see what treasures I could find. Like many countries, Taiwanese people love their sweets! Alongside some local music instruments and clothing, I hauled a huge bag of unusual treats back home for gifts and souvenirs. There are lots of sweets to try on the streets that are best eaten right away, like tofu pudding called Douhua. But the packable ones include moon cakes filled with bean paste and stamped with Chinese characters. These baked goods are found fresh during the mid-fall moon festival, but you can get them in stories year-round. I also brought back pineapple jam cakes, stretched sugar lollipops and bags of oolong tea. Eileen blogs at [Pure Wander](https://www.purewander.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/Pure_Wander). ## Cat Socks [![Cat Socks - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark-500x334.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark.jpg) You just never know where you’ll find the perfect souvenir. In this case, it got away from me at the Shilin Night Market in Taipei. I was with a group, and everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the darling cat motif socks. I adored them but kept finding reasons not to get them. I think the bargained price was three pair for US\$10. What was I thinking? Why didn’t I buy? They were so easy to carry – they took up no space at all! I could have given a pair to each of two granddaughters and kept a pair for myself. And they were even all cotton. Fortunately, I got a great photo of them, but it only makes me want to kick myself harder. Interestingly, they were made in Korea but if I’d bought them in Taiwan, they would have remained in my mind as a souvenir of that country. What was I thinking? I blame jet lag. Carole blogs at [Travels with Carole](https://www.travelswithcarole.blogspot.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/caroletmeyers). ## High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas [![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-143340-350x589.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-143340.jpg) [![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-135758-500x484.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-135758.jpg) Oolong has long been my favourite type of tea. After trying a particularly magical high mountain oolong from Taiwan, I have sought out and prized Taiwanese oolong above all. When we finally made it to Taiwan last year, I made sure to seek out Taiwanese teas during our visit. We took the [glass-bottomed Gondola cable car from Taipei to nearby Maokong](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/09/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html), a tea-producing village in the lush green mountains to the east of the city. There, we ate dishes laced with local tea at a tea cafe, and browsed in the shops for souvenir teas. We also made a trip down to [Taroko Gorge National Park](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/07/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). After telling our guide of my love for Taiwanese tea, he took us to a small shop specialising in mountain oolongs. As we sipped samples of some of their teas, the shopkeeper showed us photos of the tea being grown, harvested and processed, before we made our choices of teas to bring home. Quality and flavour of oolongs is variable, so I recommend finding a shop where you can sample different varieties before you buy. Me, Kavey, here at Kavey Eats. Find me on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kaveyf/). ## Kaoliang Sorghum Wine / Liquor [![Kaoliang Sorghum Wine / Liquor - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/kaohliang-EV-500x363.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/kaohliang-EV.jpg) Most people think of tea or pineapple cakes as traditional food souvenirs from Taiwan, but to be a true local you must buy Kaoliang liquor for that special someone back home. This fiery alcohol made from sorghum can be found at every corner 7-11 and in bulk at the supermarket. This is the adult drink of choice in Taiwan for festivals, barbeques and game playing. The most popular kind of Kaoliang is a bottle of “58” or 58 proof fermented sorghum wine. The first time I tried it I thought I might spontaneously combust! The flavour from this crystal clear distilled liquor is much stronger than a rice wine like sake or the Korean soju but with a similar smooth aftertaste. To drink Kaoliang, a small shot is often poured at room temperature. Another way to try Taiwan’s most popular alcohol is chilled because the alcohol content content prevents freezing and makes for a smoother drink, especially in Taiwan’s hot summer months. My favorite way to drink Kaoliang liquor, however, is as a mixer similar to vodka. For a real treat and taste of Taiwan, try making a cocktail with fresh pineapple juice and garnish with a slice of lime and a cherry. If you really want to bring someone a unique food souvenir from Taiwan, look no further than your local convenience store for a bottle of Kaoliang. Cerise blogs at [Enchanted Vagabond](https://www.enchantedvagabond.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/enchanted_vagabond/). ## Penis Cakes [![Penis Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/penis-cakes-500x375.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/penis-cakes.jpg) If you are looking for a souvenir that is a little racier than the standard Taiwanese pineapple cakes, look no further than a box of giant, anatomically correct, penis shaped cakes. The cakes originated at an infamous (and controversial) food stall in Shilin Night Market, the largest and most popular night market in Taipei. Aptly called “A Piece of Gayke” (大雕燒), the stall serves a variety of penis-shaped foods, including penis popsicles and hot dogs. The boxed cakes are plastic wrapped and suitable for taking back home as a souvenir. Each box comes with two tasty, 18-centimeter phalluses, with flavors such as sesame and peanut, raspberry, blueberry, pomelo, and honeymelon. Shilin Night Market is a maze, but you can find the cakes more easily in [Ximending Night Market](https://www.nickkembel.com/taipei-ximending-night-market/), a pedestrian shopping district that is open in the daytime as well, near Ximen MRT exit 6. Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/spiritualtravels/). ## Pineapple Cakes [![Pineapple Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2-500x405.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2.jpg) Have you tried [pineapple cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe)? They’re one of the best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan. This popular and delicious pastry has a buttery and crumbly shell (like a shortbread cookie) and is stuffed with pineapple filling. You can choose a sweet or sour type of pineapple cake. We like the sour one as it isn’t too sweet and has a more natural pineapple flavor. Some pineapple cakes’ fillings are mixed with wintermelon but it’s seen as lower quality. There are other unique flavors such as cranberry and egg yolk. Pineapple cakes are easy to find in supermarkets, shopping centres, and speciality stores and they are available in Taiwan’s airports as last minute gifts before departure. The more well known brands cost about \$10-\$15 USD for a box of 10. Don’t forget to eat them quickly as they are perishable. Our favorite brand is SunnyHills due to the crispy shell and sour pineapple filling. You can find them at their store in Nantou City along Road 139 or at the Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 2, 2nd floor before crossing the security check. Jackie blogs at [Life of Doing](https://lifeofdoing.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lifeofdoing/). - Try our [authentic recipe to make your own Taiwanese pineapple cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe). ## Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes [![Pink Heart Cigarettes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pink-cigarettes-500x375.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pink-cigarettes.jpg) OK, so we don’t want to condone smoking here, but even non-smokers can appreciate how cute these La Rose Taiwanese cigarettes are. As a rare social smoker who prefers extremely light, girly menthols, these are my go-to cigarettes in Taiwan. I usually bring a few packs of these back to Canada when I visit home (I’ve been living in Taiwan for 10 years), and they are always a huge hit among my friends there. Not only are menthol cigarettes no longer sold in Canada, but most Canadians have never even seen “popper” cigarettes that are the big trend in Taiwan and other Asian countries these days, with a little ball in the filter that you squeeze and pop for an added blast of menthol. These dainty, ultra slim, ultra light cigarettes come in a pretty pink package, and as if that weren’t impressive enough, each cigarette has a pink heart-shaped hole cut into the filter. At only NT110 (\$3.50) they make a cute, light, and very cheap souvenir that is sure to make jaws drop. The cigarettes are available at all 7-11s and Family Marts, and if they are too girly for you, you can also go for other flavored cigarettes, such as orange or mojito, which come in handsomer packages. Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/spiritualtravels/). ## Traditional Tea Sets [![Traditional Taiwanese Tea Set - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/tea-set-500x334.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/tea-set.jpg) For a Taiwan souvenir that can range from purely functional to fine art, consider a traditional Chinese tea set. Used for preparing gong fu cha (Chinese tea ceremony), a typical set may include a teapot (used for brewing the tea), tiny tea cups, a gaiwan (a cup that usually comes on a saucer and has a lid but no handle, used for brewing, serving, or drinking tea), and a tea tray to place all the items on. The best place in Taiwan to buy tea sets is on the [Yingge Pottery Street](https://www.nickkembel.com/ceramics-and-pottery-shopping-in-yingge/) in New Taipei City. Here you can find an unbelievable variety of teaware, including dirt-cheap functional ceramics, portable tea infuser bottles, Yixing teapots (the classical, unglazed variety), and ceramics so gorgeous they belong in a museum. In fact, there really is a whole museum devoted to ceramics in town. When my sister got married, my wedding gift was a gorgeous tea set purchased in Yingge\! Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/spiritualtravels/). Save for later: [![The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN-500x750.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN.jpg) Find more of my posts on [the best souvenirs](https://www.kaveyeats.com/tag/souvenirs) to buy around the world. With many thanks to all my contributors for helping me to compile this guide to the best souvenirs to buy in Taiwan. All images are by the authors of the relevant entry, unless credited otherwise. Please check the customs restrictions of your home country before your trip, so that you know which food and drink souvenirs you are permitted to import. [Kavey Eats](https://www.kaveyeats.com/) Posted by [Kavita Favelle](https://www.kaveyeats.com/) on January 6, 2023 Category: [Travel](https://www.kaveyeats.com/category/travel) ([Destination](https://www.kaveyeats.com/category/travel/destination))Place: [Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/place/taiwan)Tag: [gift guide](https://www.kaveyeats.com/tag/gift-guide), [souvenirs](https://www.kaveyeats.com/tag/souvenirs) ### [Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you\!](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#respond)29 Comments to "The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan" 1. [Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche](https://www.amuse-your-bouche.com/) [December 3rd, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647832) Some really cool stuff here! Those cat socks are adorable. The writer definitely should have bought some at that price\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647832#respond) 2. [amanda](http://theamandatoryadventure.com/) [December 3rd, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647935) YES! I love that people are transitioning to functional souvenirs for friends and family from their travels! I think I would totally opt for the cat socks and penis cakes. I once brought back penis pasta from Italy and it was so worth it! haha [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647935#respond) 3. Sarah Wilson [December 3rd, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647945) This is so funny. When I went to Taiwan, I came home with cat socks, a traditional tea set and lots of oolong tea. Wasn’t so keen on the pineapple cake though! And of course I brought my friends a penis cake 🙂 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647945#respond) 4. Courtney Hopkins [December 3rd, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647950) MMMmm pineapple cakes. Those sound absolutely AMAZING! The cat socks are super adorable. As a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady I would love to have a pair of those. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647950#respond) 5. [Heidi Roberts](http://www.kitchentalkandtravels.com/) [December 4th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647983) If I ever get to Taiwan I will know which souvenirs I want. I love the tea sets\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647983#respond) 6. [Rebecca Pattee](https://www.awayfromtheoffice.com/) [December 4th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-647988) Aww, the cat socks are adorable. And the penis cakes are unique. I’d love to visit Taiwan. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=647988#respond) 7. Elena [December 4th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648053) What an interesting list of Taiwan souvenirs! If I ever get to Taiwan, I would definitely want to get my hands on the tea sets. Tho cat socks are adorable too 🙂 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648053#respond) 8. [Laura Pedlar](http://www.cruiselifestyle.co.uk/) [December 4th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648059) If I ever visit I would buy sugar lollipops and cat socks – also a Christmas bauble if I could find one as I try and collect one from every place I visit. This was a really interesting read, and a refreshing new type of blog post. Not sure I would buy the penis cakes though\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648059#respond) 9. [Soumya Gayatri](https://www.storiesbysoumya.com/) [December 5th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648270) I love those cat socks. A few of my friends are quite fond of socks and love collecting them. I think this would be like the best gift for them. And for the foodie in me, the pineapple cakes would just be perfect. A crumbly shell with pineapple filling – can almost taste it in my mouth right now. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648270#respond) 10. [Jackie](http://enjoytravellife.com/) [December 5th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648319) What an unusual array of souvenirs from Taiwan! I have had moon cakes before from an Asian grocer in Providence RI, but never made fresh. I’d also love to try the pineapple cake. They sound delish. And who wouldn’t love kitty socks…I’ll take half a dozen, please! Fun gifts. Penis cakes? 😂 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648319#respond) 11. [Medha Verma](http://www.hoppingfeet.com/) [December 5th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648353) Those cat socks are super cute! I bought some really cool and colorful socks from Japan last year and I absolutely would love to get these cat socks too, I think I have a thing for quirky and cool socks haha. And the penis cakes are also so quirky, got to try one for sure and bring some for the family 😉 LOL\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648353#respond) 12. [Camilla Hawkins](https://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/) [December 5th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648461) Loving the tea set but think I’d pass on the phallus cakes LOL, might be a bit of a mouthful for the recipient:-) [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648461#respond) kaveyeats [December 5th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648465) Oh my god, Camilla, you made me spit out my tea! 😝😝😝😝😝 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648465#respond) 13. [MEENAKSHI J](https://polkajunction.com/) [December 6th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-648577) What an interesting list of souvenirs! Never heard of tofu pudding called Douhua nor the popper cigarettes. The tea-set looks adorable and phallus cakes sound….well very kinky :p But you made the pineapple cakes sound so delicious that I want to taste it like..now! That cat sock looks so very cute and I am sure you are gonna again visit Taiwan and buy a dozen for your grand-daughters 😀 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=648577#respond) 14. [Kayla Marie](https://lifeoutsidethemargin.com/) [December 8th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649208) I can’t believe you passed up the cat socks! Those are adorable. I’m also not a smoker but those mojito cigarettes sound interesting to try. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649208#respond) 15. [Emmalene](https://abrummiehomeandabroad.com/) [December 9th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649404) I love those cat socks! I have been know to bring socks back as a souvenir (I have moose socks from Canada!) – and also the local liquor on more than one occasion 🙂 Never bought penis cakes back though… [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649404#respond) 16. [Wendy Pappas](http://mywonderfulwalk.com/) [December 9th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649440) I would have bought the tea and the sugar candy, my daughter would love the cat socks… [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649440#respond) 17. [Maggie](https://pinkcaddytravelogue.com/) [December 10th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649625) I’m with you, I LOVE exploring grocery stores whenever I’m visiting a new place! It’s amazing the unusual things you can find in a different country. I admittedly don’t know that much about Taiwan, such as the fact that they’re famous for pineapple cake.?!? But that sounds delicious and I would happily take one home as a souvenir\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649625#respond) 18. [Jane Frith](https://www.abfabtravels.com/) [December 11th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649886) I love finding souvenirs when travelling, things which you simply cannot find back home. My favourite here would be the tea set (and the tea of course!), but I think it would be hard to go past those penis cakes! These are so quirky and friends would love them. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649886#respond) 19. [Candy](https://www.thetravelpockets.com/) [December 12th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649928) I am a huge fan of oolong tea and would definitely buy that! I also think those cat socks are so adorable. I don’t like wearing socks, but I would wear those 🙂 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649928#respond) 20. Heather [December 12th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-649933) Interesting options Taiwan has. I’m not a smoker, but I must say I have never heard of pink heart cigarettes before (or anything other shape/design). Pink is my favorite color. I would have to go with the sweet pineapple cakes I think and I totally get where you are coming from on the socks. I have talked myself out of several items I really wanted and regret now. I’d almost say I’m a master at it. I even tell myself “you’re doing it again…just get it” and still don’t. Facepalm. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=649933#respond) 21. [Sab](http://www.justonewayticket.com/) [December 13th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650248) I heard so many great things about Taiwan, especially about the food, it suppose to be amazing 🙂 The penis cakes are hilarious, what a funny guft to bring to a party, haha…. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650248#respond) 22. [Michael Hodgson](https://hitraveltales.com/) [December 13th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650298) Grocery stores are the all-time BEST place to find authentic and local gifts and souveniers anywhere in the world. Our dog would not allow me to wear cat socks…just sayin. 😉 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650298#respond) 23. [Erica](https://getupgetoutgetlost.com/2017/11/29/tis-the-season-celebrating-christmas-in-spain/) [December 13th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650350) Laughing out loud thinking of cat socks… you’ll have to google the “kitten mittens” episode of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a good chuckle. For me though, I’d definitely lean toward the oolong tea, and I always like to bring back a bottle of the local liquor to share with friends at home. Love the tips. [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650350#respond) Mary Twiss Connolly [December 21st, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652268) I think Kitten Mittens is my favorite episode of IASIP\! <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22O6Nmjt-mw> [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652268#respond) kaveyeats [December 21st, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652289) That’s hilarious! I think the misspelling of mittens all the way through is a nice touch! 🤣🤣🤣 [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652289#respond) 24. [Zac](https://new-faces-new-places.com/) [December 13th, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-650366) Tea sets are always a winner when buying souvenirs in Asian countries, but personally I’m in love with those pineapple cakes. Never heard of them, and they sound kind of strange, but just from looking at them I’m so intrigued to try one\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=650366#respond) 25. Mary Twiss Connolly [December 21st, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652266) This article is great, Kavey, since I really only like to shop for souvenirs when I’m in another country (in general, I’m just not a shopper); I’m totally down for the CAT SOCKS! I’m bookmarking this article in case I get a chance to visit Taiwan. Now I want to try Taiwanese high mountain oolong tea. Do you have a particular favorite brand? I’m an occasional smoker and while I don’t smoke menthols I think I would pick up a few packs as novelty gifts for others\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652266#respond) kaveyeats [December 21st, 2018](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#comment-652287) I’m the same, I’m not big into shopping but I do love buying souvenirs! With the mountain oolong in not sure I was ever aware of brands per se, as we mostly bought from shops representing a single farm’s output. In the city stores, they will no doubt have a lot of different producers represented. We always tasted and went by our taste buds\! [Reply](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan?replytocom=652287#respond) ### Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you! 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Readable Markdown	Pete and I loved our all-too-brief visit to [Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/place/taiwan) a couple of years back. We enjoyed [sightseeing in Taipei](https://www.belaroundtheworld.com/5-day-taiwan-itinerary-is-everything-you-need/), [visiting Maokong via cable car](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/09/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html) and exploring the beautiful [Taroko Gorge National Park](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/07/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). We bought home tea and pineapple cakes, but wish we’d known to look out for the rest of these great souvenir suggestions from fellow travel bloggers. ## The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan [Candy / Confectionery](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#candy) \\| [Cat Socks](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#catsocks) \\| [High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#oolong) \\| [Kaoliang Liquor](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#kaoliang) \\| [Penis Cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pencakes) \\| [Pineapple Cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinecakes) \\| [Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#pinkheart) \\| [Traditional Tea Sets](https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-best-souvenirs-to-buy-in-taiwan#teasets) ## Candy / Confectionery [![Taiwanese Sugar Lollipops Candy - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright-500x357.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/taiwanese-sugar-lollipops-by-eileen-cotter-wright.jpg) I have a thing about grocery stores when I’m traveling. There’s nothing better to me than wandering through endless aisles of interest foodie items that I’ve never seen before. So when I landed in Asia for the first time, in Taiwan, I couldn’t wait to see what treasures I could find. Like many countries, Taiwanese people love their sweets! Alongside some local music instruments and clothing, I hauled a huge bag of unusual treats back home for gifts and souvenirs. There are lots of sweets to try on the streets that are best eaten right away, like tofu pudding called Douhua. But the packable ones include moon cakes filled with bean paste and stamped with Chinese characters. These baked goods are found fresh during the mid-fall moon festival, but you can get them in stories year-round. I also brought back pineapple jam cakes, stretched sugar lollipops and bags of oolong tea. Eileen blogs at [Pure Wander](https://www.purewander.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/Pure_Wander). ## Cat Socks [![Cat Socks - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark-500x334.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/TAIWAN-Taipei-Shilin-Night-Market-cat-socks-c2016-Carole-Terwilliger-Meyers-full-CROP-1000pix-watermark.jpg) You just never know where you’ll find the perfect souvenir. In this case, it got away from me at the Shilin Night Market in Taipei. I was with a group, and everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the darling cat motif socks. I adored them but kept finding reasons not to get them. I think the bargained price was three pair for US\$10. What was I thinking? Why didn’t I buy? They were so easy to carry – they took up no space at all! I could have given a pair to each of two granddaughters and kept a pair for myself. And they were even all cotton. Fortunately, I got a great photo of them, but it only makes me want to kick myself harder. Interestingly, they were made in Korea but if I’d bought them in Taiwan, they would have remained in my mind as a souvenir of that country. What was I thinking? I blame jet lag. Carole blogs at [Travels with Carole](https://www.travelswithcarole.blogspot.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/caroletmeyers). ## High Mountain Oolong & Other Teas [![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-143340-350x589.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-143340.jpg) [![Taiwanese Oolong Tea - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-135758-500x484.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Taiwan-Tea-135758.jpg) Oolong has long been my favourite type of tea. After trying a particularly magical high mountain oolong from Taiwan, I have sought out and prized Taiwanese oolong above all. When we finally made it to Taiwan last year, I made sure to seek out Taiwanese teas during our visit. We took the [glass-bottomed Gondola cable car from Taipei to nearby Maokong](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/09/taipei-gondola-cable-car-to-maokong.html), a tea-producing village in the lush green mountains to the east of the city. There, we ate dishes laced with local tea at a tea cafe, and browsed in the shops for souvenir teas. We also made a trip down to [Taroko Gorge National Park](https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/07/traveling-to-taiwans-taroko-national-park.html). After telling our guide of my love for Taiwanese tea, he took us to a small shop specialising in mountain oolongs. As we sipped samples of some of their teas, the shopkeeper showed us photos of the tea being grown, harvested and processed, before we made our choices of teas to bring home. Quality and flavour of oolongs is variable, so I recommend finding a shop where you can sample different varieties before you buy. Me, Kavey, here at Kavey Eats. Find me on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kaveyf/). ## Kaoliang Sorghum Wine / Liquor [![Kaoliang Sorghum Wine / Liquor - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/kaohliang-EV-500x363.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/kaohliang-EV.jpg) Most people think of tea or pineapple cakes as traditional food souvenirs from Taiwan, but to be a true local you must buy Kaoliang liquor for that special someone back home. This fiery alcohol made from sorghum can be found at every corner 7-11 and in bulk at the supermarket. This is the adult drink of choice in Taiwan for festivals, barbeques and game playing. The most popular kind of Kaoliang is a bottle of “58” or 58 proof fermented sorghum wine. The first time I tried it I thought I might spontaneously combust! The flavour from this crystal clear distilled liquor is much stronger than a rice wine like sake or the Korean soju but with a similar smooth aftertaste. To drink Kaoliang, a small shot is often poured at room temperature. Another way to try Taiwan’s most popular alcohol is chilled because the alcohol content content prevents freezing and makes for a smoother drink, especially in Taiwan’s hot summer months. My favorite way to drink Kaoliang liquor, however, is as a mixer similar to vodka. For a real treat and taste of Taiwan, try making a cocktail with fresh pineapple juice and garnish with a slice of lime and a cherry. If you really want to bring someone a unique food souvenir from Taiwan, look no further than your local convenience store for a bottle of Kaoliang. Cerise blogs at [Enchanted Vagabond](https://www.enchantedvagabond.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/enchanted_vagabond/). ## Penis Cakes [![Penis Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/penis-cakes-500x375.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/penis-cakes.jpg) If you are looking for a souvenir that is a little racier than the standard Taiwanese pineapple cakes, look no further than a box of giant, anatomically correct, penis shaped cakes. The cakes originated at an infamous (and controversial) food stall in Shilin Night Market, the largest and most popular night market in Taipei. Aptly called “A Piece of Gayke” (大雕燒), the stall serves a variety of penis-shaped foods, including penis popsicles and hot dogs. The boxed cakes are plastic wrapped and suitable for taking back home as a souvenir. Each box comes with two tasty, 18-centimeter phalluses, with flavors such as sesame and peanut, raspberry, blueberry, pomelo, and honeymelon. Shilin Night Market is a maze, but you can find the cakes more easily in [Ximending Night Market](https://www.nickkembel.com/taipei-ximending-night-market/), a pedestrian shopping district that is open in the daytime as well, near Ximen MRT exit 6. Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/spiritualtravels/). ## Pineapple Cakes [![Pineapple Cakes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2-500x405.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Life-Of-Doing-Sunnyhills-Pineapple-Cake-2.jpg) Have you tried [pineapple cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe)? They’re one of the best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan. This popular and delicious pastry has a buttery and crumbly shell (like a shortbread cookie) and is stuffed with pineapple filling. You can choose a sweet or sour type of pineapple cake. We like the sour one as it isn’t too sweet and has a more natural pineapple flavor. Some pineapple cakes’ fillings are mixed with wintermelon but it’s seen as lower quality. There are other unique flavors such as cranberry and egg yolk. Pineapple cakes are easy to find in supermarkets, shopping centres, and speciality stores and they are available in Taiwan’s airports as last minute gifts before departure. The more well known brands cost about \$10-\$15 USD for a box of 10. Don’t forget to eat them quickly as they are perishable. Our favorite brand is SunnyHills due to the crispy shell and sour pineapple filling. You can find them at their store in Nantou City along Road 139 or at the Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 2, 2nd floor before crossing the security check. Jackie blogs at [Life of Doing](https://lifeofdoing.com/). Find her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lifeofdoing/). - Try our [authentic recipe to make your own Taiwanese pineapple cakes](https://www.kaveyeats.com/an-authentic-taiwanese-pineapple-cake-recipe). ## Pink Heart Filter Cigarettes [![Pink Heart Cigarettes - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pink-cigarettes-500x375.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pink-cigarettes.jpg) OK, so we don’t want to condone smoking here, but even non-smokers can appreciate how cute these La Rose Taiwanese cigarettes are. As a rare social smoker who prefers extremely light, girly menthols, these are my go-to cigarettes in Taiwan. I usually bring a few packs of these back to Canada when I visit home (I’ve been living in Taiwan for 10 years), and they are always a huge hit among my friends there. Not only are menthol cigarettes no longer sold in Canada, but most Canadians have never even seen “popper” cigarettes that are the big trend in Taiwan and other Asian countries these days, with a little ball in the filter that you squeeze and pop for an added blast of menthol. These dainty, ultra slim, ultra light cigarettes come in a pretty pink package, and as if that weren’t impressive enough, each cigarette has a pink heart-shaped hole cut into the filter. At only NT110 (\$3.50) they make a cute, light, and very cheap souvenir that is sure to make jaws drop. The cigarettes are available at all 7-11s and Family Marts, and if they are too girly for you, you can also go for other flavored cigarettes, such as orange or mojito, which come in handsomer packages. Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/spiritualtravels/). ## Traditional Tea Sets [![Traditional Taiwanese Tea Set - The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/tea-set-500x334.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/tea-set.jpg) For a Taiwan souvenir that can range from purely functional to fine art, consider a traditional Chinese tea set. Used for preparing gong fu cha (Chinese tea ceremony), a typical set may include a teapot (used for brewing the tea), tiny tea cups, a gaiwan (a cup that usually comes on a saucer and has a lid but no handle, used for brewing, serving, or drinking tea), and a tea tray to place all the items on. The best place in Taiwan to buy tea sets is on the [Yingge Pottery Street](https://www.nickkembel.com/ceramics-and-pottery-shopping-in-yingge/) in New Taipei City. Here you can find an unbelievable variety of teaware, including dirt-cheap functional ceramics, portable tea infuser bottles, Yixing teapots (the classical, unglazed variety), and ceramics so gorgeous they belong in a museum. In fact, there really is a whole museum devoted to ceramics in town. When my sister got married, my wedding gift was a gorgeous tea set purchased in Yingge\! Nick Kembel blogs at Spiritual Travels. Find him on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/spiritualtravels/). Save for later: [![The Best Souvenirs to Buy in Taiwan](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN-500x750.jpg)](https://www.kaveyeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Best-Souvenirs-Taiwan-PIN.jpg) Find more of my posts on [the best souvenirs](https://www.kaveyeats.com/tag/souvenirs) to buy around the world. With many thanks to all my contributors for helping me to compile this guide to the best souvenirs to buy in Taiwan. All images are by the authors of the relevant entry, unless credited otherwise. Please check the customs restrictions of your home country before your trip, so that you know which food and drink souvenirs you are permitted to import.
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