Finding Different Products in Taiwan

I enjoy seeing how people live in other countries — it can be enlightening. Of course, the culinary traditions are what stand out the most as I have more experience encountering them. Except for life as an expat, it’s rare to experience a local’s home in a foreign country (unless you’ve set up a homestay experience).

One of the activities I find fun in foreign countries is walking around markets and grocery stores. I like to see the food product packages, even if I can’t read them. Sometimes I find recognizable products that are localized — KFC sold a spicy Sichuan chicken wrap when I lived in Shenzhen; they became known for adjusting their menu to attract more Chinese customers.

In Taipei, the products didn’t seem as unusual. Maybe I was desensitized after my years in China and time living in Tokyo (I didn’t find Tokyo to live up to the weird reputation that I had heard about). Of course, Taipei has it’s share of kitsch — there’s the Hobbit-themed restaurant and even a toilet-themed restaurant (neither is particularly good).

I’ll admit that I have an unhealthy attitude toward snacks in foreign countries that either have mangled English or ridiculous designs. I generally eat healthy, but I can’t resist trying something like Lay’s lychee potato chips (they were awful. My friend and I offered them to locals to see if they’d like the flavor; they didn’t either).

While I managed to take pictures of a lot of the interesting and/or amusing products I came across, there were still more that never got photographed.

In Taipei, I noticed these toy vending machines outside of all the convenience stores. Usually, they were really boring little toys for kids. Sometimes, they were just confusing.

I regret not buying the Statue of Liberty toy, or whatever it’s supposed to be. When I finally decided I should go buy one, it was gone. I never saw it again.

On my second trip through Jiufen, I came across a chocolate shop that specialized in chocolate that resembled coal. They also had two other forms of chocolate that I wasn’t sure anyone would want to buy.

I actually bought the chocolate packaged in a condom box. The chocolates are individually wrapped and shaped like condoms. For about $5 I got a decent giggle.

I did not, however, buy this Quaker health supplement drink. They sell a variety of health supplements in Asia, including ginseng drinks. They also make an overnight oats mix that isn’t sold in the US (it was a great cheap breakfast with some dried fruit and cinnamon).

I’m not exactly sure what clam essence is good for, but judging from the box design, I can guess.

There were many more fun and/or interesting (even horrifying) products and packages around Taiwan. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of all of them. I do, however, have a collection of more amusing signs to go along with these.