If you’re a fan of Boba Tea, also well known as Bubble Tea then you are most likely familiar with the terms: “Tapioca Balls” and/or “Boba Pearls.” If you’re not familiar with such terms, then you might want to know that Tapioca Balls are the main ingredient in the very popular Taiwanese drink – Bubble Tea.

This originated in the 1980’s in a tea house in Taiwan. Apparently, one of the employees at a tea house in Taiwan was pretty bored during a lunch break and she took her Tapioca pudding and dumped it into her tea. It tasted quite amazing and it was soon added to the tea houses’ menu. In no time, it became the most popular beverage they served.

At the beginning, Bubble Tea became a sensation and a delicious treat among the children in Taiwan. However, now with the help of Franchise – it is now equally loved by children and adults alike globally and has taken over the streets with tea shops.

Bubble Tea is known by many other names depending in which part of the world you’re in…

Below you’ll find some of the many names that is known by:

• Bubble Tea
• Tapioca Pearl Drink
• Black Pearl
• Pearl Shake
• Pearl
• Pearl Milk
• and more.

You should also, know that asides from tea based beverages – Pearls can also, be added to coffee, alcoholic drinks and smoothies!

In a nutshell, these are Tapioca pearls that are approximately the size of a marble. They consist of a neutral flavor, which is typically described as chewy or gummy in consistency. These are made from tapioca starch, which come from Cassava Root.

Tapioca pearls are either white and somewhat transparent in appearance or they are black, which all depends in the ingredients that are utilized. As mentioned previously – white, Tapioca pearls are made from either starch, caramel or chamomile extract. However, the more popular Tapioca pearls, which are black are made from starch, sweet potato and / or brown sugar. However, you can basically, make Tapioca pearls any color you want by soaking the white Tapioca pearls in colored syrups.

This is available in an array of tea flavors and styles. The most common Bubble Teas are either milk based tea or fruit flavored tea.

You can add a variety of fruits, which will make your beverage much more healthier. For instance, you can add following fruits to your Bubble Tea:

• Papaya
• Red Beans
• Mango
• Watermelon
• Strawberries
• and many more!

Gong Cha shops offer a grand assortment of Bubble Tea variations to make your beverages super delicious and healthy! They take pride in providing the most natural, most fresh quality ingredients available in the market. Moreover, they refresh all their teas every four hours.

A number of studies have shown that different types of teas, such as – green and black teas have numerous health benefits. For example, many teas are comprised of anti-inflammatory chemicals known as Polyphenols, which are also, antioxidants. These antioxidants decrease the levels of oxidants in your body, which can prevent cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, tea can also, support lowering the risks of other health problems, such as – high blood pressure and diabetes.

Surely, you can rest assured that when you have a Bubble Tea in one of tea shops, that you’ll be served with a healthy and organically based beverage that you will most definitely enjoy without having to consume processed or can based ingredients, which can often be detrimental to one’s health.

Their Franchise doesn’t only take pride in providing their customers with the best and the most healthiest ingredients in Bubble Tea beverages. They also, genuinely care about their customers!

If you haven’t tried Bubble Tea yet, then maybe it’s time for you to take a little field trip to your local Gong Cha tea shop.

Do you ever wonder how tea is made? What process involves that would turn fresh leaves into dried loose leaves? Are there different processes being used that contribute to the distinct characteristics that separate green, Oolong, and black tea? In this article, you’ll learn how each of them is processed from fresh leaves to final packaging.

Low Oxidization High Catechins

Let’s start with the most widely available black tea and increasingly popular green tea. Green tea does not go through the withering process, but instead straight to fixation, leaving the leaves no chance for oxidization and thus able to preserve a much higher level of catechins, a type of antioxidant. Additionally, black tea requires fermentation that further sets off chemical substance to react, turning the color of leaves from green to red.

Tea Processing: Black vs Green

Even different processes are used to produce grade-level and non-grade-level of black tea. The key difference between these two grades is whether the leaves are kept in whole or being shredded. Screening is absolutely required and normally a second twist rolling is needed to ensure its consistent quality. On the contrary, inferior leaves typically go through only one-time twist rolling since they are meant to be shredded later and often packaged into bags so are not easily for naked eyes to discern. Therefore, tea makers do not bother to screen them in order to save cost.

• Green tea (0% oxidization): harvesting –> fresh leaves–> manual or mechanical fixation–> twist rolling–> drying–> packaging
• Grade-level black tea (100% oxidization): harvesting –> fresh leaves–> indoor withering–> first twist rolling–> screening–> second twist rolling–> drying–> fermentation–> packaging
• Non-grade-level black tea (100% oxidization): harvesting –> fresh leaves–> indoor withering–> twist rolling–> shredding –> drying–> fermentation–> packaging

Taiwan Oolong Tea

In contrast, Oolong has the oxidization levels that come between green tea and black tea; therefore, it’s not surprising that making Oolong involves processes that can be found in both black and green tea. For example, indoor withering used in black tea and fixation in green tea are both used in Oolong. This enables the leaves to oxidize at various degrees, but also stops the leaves from continuing to oxidize fully at the timeframe planned by tea makers.

• Pouchong Oolong ( 8-18% oxidization): harvesting –> fresh leaves–> sun withering–> indoor withering (8-18% oxidized)–> manual or mechanical fixation–> twist rolling–> drying–> packaging
• Alishan/Milk/Dongding Oolong ( 20-45% oxidization): harvesting –> fresh leaves–> sun withering–> indoor withering (20-45% oxidized)–> manual or mechanical fixation–> ball rolling–> first drying–> cloth ball rolling–> second drying–> packaging
• Oriental Beauty Oolong ( 50-70% oxidization): harvesting –> fresh leaves–> sun withering–> indoor withering (50-70% oxidized)–> manual or mechanical fixation–> softening–> twist rolling–> drying–> packaging

Across all Taiwan Oolongs, sun withering is applied. But compared to twisted shaped Oolong such as Pouchong and Bai Hao, balls or pellet shaped Oolongs such as Alishan, Jin Xuan, Dongding and Tieguanyin, will go through rolling and drying twice rather than one.

I hope you would have a fresh perspective next time when you look or shop for different types of tea, that it does require much more work and processes than you may have assumed to get a tea from a farm to a market.

Rarely visited by Westerners, Green Island is a tiny, enchanting volcanic island tucked away off the shore of Taiwan’s Southeast coast. Now a popular vacation destination for locals, the treacherous Kuroshio Current surrounding the island and its infamous prison once made it notorious for being Taiwan’s Alcatraz. Easily accessible from the port city of Taidong, take the ferry (US $30 RT) if you have a strong stomach, or brave a tiny 19-seater propeller plane (US $60 RT) for a smoother-if more costly-trip. Keep an eye on the weather though; all transportation is grounded in the event of heavy rain or strong winds, and it’s easy to find yourself stranded. Booking a hotel package before you arrive is highly recommended. Many of the hotels are by the harbor, which is crowded, smelly and expensive. In addition, many of these are older, smell of mildew and stale menthols, and some do not even offer a view of the ocean (US $25+). Shiacarl is, hands down, the best place to stay on Green Island. It’s about a 10 minute scooter ride away from the harbor and offers a package deal which includes a scooter, a night tour, snorkeling, a round-trip boat ticket, a free dinner, huge picture windows with gorgeous views and friendly owners who speak great English. Prices vary by season, but I spent about US $150 on the package for four days/three nights during the high season. Nestled away in a tiny cove, Shiacarl features rooms with mountain or ocean views. The best room is a double room at the top which offers both. Book this one if you can.

Green Island is a haven for those wishing to escape the overcrowding of Taiwan’s larger cities and a must-see for anyone who visits Taiwan. Wake up early to watch a truly breathtaking sunrise atop the romantic overlook near the Sleeping Beauty and Pekinese Dog Rocks. If starting from Shiacarl, bike or ride a scooter north up a steep mountainous road (30 min. by bike/ 7 min. by scooter). Look to your right just before the road starts to ascend and you’ll see Confucius Rock standing sentinel over the harbor.

After catching the sunrise, start off northwest toward the Sika Deer Area. About two kilometers past that, Guanyin Cave is worth a peek, but it doesn’t open till later in the day. The cave protects a stalagmite mildly resembling Guanyin, a Buddhist goddess that island fishermen and sailors pray to for safety. Soon, you’ll reach Oasis Village, the ironic name of Taiwan’s most ignominious prison where political prisoners were held and tortured. The prison is open to the public and, for many visitors, is the historic highlight of the island. The neighboring white buildings and red tile roofs compose the old Green Island Skill Training Center compound, which doubled as a prison and forced labor camp for “hooligans” from the late 1960’s until martial law ended in 1987. Be on the lookout for lizards and coconut crabs as you follow the road around these buildings to your right and come upon a sandy path that leads to the beach. Since I discovered this place in the early morning, it was a bit of a shock to emerge from the wooded road into a clearing and behold two men making offerings to a cluster of hillside graves. I think I frightened them as much as they did me! The tombs belong to soldiers and political prisoners, and many believe the surrounding hills are haunted by their ghosts. Continue down the beach path toward Swallow Cave which, true to its name, houses a host of swallows and a rock-hewn stage that served the prisoners for entertainment as well as cremation purposes. Look up the steep cliffs behind Swallow Cave and you will probably see herds of goats vying for the choicest bits of grass and daring each other further out onto the ledges.

Leaving the goats and ghosts behind, head west, making a pit stop at the Human Rights Park which commemorates political victims who opposed Chiang Kai-shek under martial law during the so-called era of “White Terror.” The monument consists of a pool of rain water with a duct spiraling down to a fountain that is said to signify the thousands of tears that have fallen in grief for the dead or “missing” victims. The fountain is enclosed by white marble walls inscribed with the victims’ names which, along with the coolness provided by a large semi-covered room, gives the place an eerily mausoleum effect. If you’re feeling famished, pass through the village of Gong Guan where there’s a hotel-run coffee shop and a good grill-it-yourself buffet restaurant (US ~$12 lunch/dinner only).

History buffs should now head back up to the northernmost tip of the island called Gongguanbi. This is an immense pre-historic fossilized shell heap created by the San Zung Liao, who inhabited the island circa 1,000-1,800 B.C. Everything from shells and antlers to pottery and jewelry has been found there.

Next, head west again toward the island’s current prison. You can snap a picture from the outside, but will only be allowed in if you do something really heinous. Across from the prison is Chaikou diving area, which has some decent snorkeling. Unfortunately, a lot of the coral near the shore has died (probably from being trampled by tourists), but there is still a surprisingly large variety of fish. Flashy parrot and clown fish are easy to spot; keep your eyes peeled for less common critters such as eels, squid, octopus, jelly fish, and even sea turtles.

Near the diving area stands a modest lighthouse. In 1937, the American luxury ship SS President Hoover ran aground on the Island when she struck a reef, and her crew was rescued by the local people. As a gesture of gratitude, America donated money to construct the lighthouse, which was completed in 1939.

When you tire of the lighthouse, turn your attention south as you pass the airport and visitor center and head to Nanliao Harbor, which is the main drag for shopping and eating. The shopping’s OK if you need a bikini, want to pick up some dried deer, squid or seaweed, or are interested in shells with plastic googly eyes imported from Southeast Asia. I’ve made a few finds in these shops, like a delicate white jade necklace and a rustic wall-hanging crafted from fishermen’s knots, but you’ve got to look hard if you want to get past the cheesy tourist mishmash. The snacks are pretty good; indulge in big seashells of milk tofu and seaweed gelatin over ice. From Nanliao Harbor you can take a glass-bottom boat or go whale watching if it’s the right season. Just past the harbor is the Big Mushroom Coral Reef, which is rumored to be fantastic snorkeling, although I didn’t have a chance to see it myself.

On the southernmost tip of the island there’s a campground which consists of wooden platforms among large trees where you can pitch a tent. However, it’s a little pricey from what I’ve been told (US $15-20/night). Besides, you can basically pitch a tent anywhere; no one will bother you. Near the campground, right on the beach, is the world-famous Jhaorih sulphur/saltwater hot spring. Japan and Italy are the only two other countries that can boast ocean bed hot springs, so don’t miss it-especially for the sweet price of US $6 per ticket! However, if you go during the sweltering summer, avoid it until nightfall. Near the hot spring is the trailhead for the Cross-Mountain Trail, which is only accessible by foot. I’m told this is roughly a six-hour hike roundtrip; plan to make a day of it and pack a picnic lunch, sunscreen and insect repellant.

So, if you find yourself in Asia, don’t make the mistake of overlooking Taiwan. Green Island is a great place to unwind and get away from it all, and makes the perfect weekend retreat. The marvelous scenery, welcoming locals, rich history, and sprinkling of adventure are the perfect combination for an unforgettable journey.

Taipei is the exciting capital of Taiwan. It is the economic, tourist and cultural center of the island. Taipei is endowed with many good hospitals. Some of the major hospitals here have established separate centers for foreigners. This is a brief note on some of the leading hospitals in Taipei.

Taipei Veterans General Hospital, established in 1958, is a trusted hospital in Taiwan and is situated at No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Beitou District, Taipei. This hospital is a pioneer institute in medical education, research and medical care services with all latest technologies in diagnostic sector. Regarded as the teaching hospital for the National Defense Medical Center under the Ministry of National Defense, it has bilateral ties with foreign universities and organizations like Berlin University and also the Center for Rehabilitation of the Austrian Labor Committee.

Mackay Memorial Hospital is a famous private Christian hospital with all modern medical facilities and highly qualified medical professionals, founded in 1912. This world class hospital is located at 92 Zhongshan North Road, Section 2, Taipei and is considered as a flagship hospital of Taiwanese native peoples. This 1200-bed hospital offers treatment and assistance in all major medical specialties. Tel. +886 2 2543-3535

Taipei Medical University Hospital (TPUH) is a famous modern hospital with 500 beds and all of the most advanced medical facilities for treatment at global standards. This ISO-9002 certified hospital, founded in 1976, is also considered a pioneer center in clinical research and medical education. TPUH was recognized as the Class I Teaching Hospital and Health Executive Center by the Department of Health of Taiwan. The International Patient Center at TMUH is formulated exclusively for international patients and is conveniently located at 252, Wu Hsing Street, Taipei. Phone: +886-2-2737-2181

National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) founded in 1895 has perhaps been the most trusted and renowned medical center in Taiwan. This hospital, located at No.7, Chung Shan S. Rd., Taipei, employs more than 4000 dedicated and highly qualified medical personnel to offer most modern medical services and treatment of international standards in all the departments. NTUH is especially famous for their centers for liver diseases and Heart Transplant Division. Tel: 886-2-2312-3456 The Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) is another highly reputed hospital in the city and this large health center is situated at No.325, Sec.2, Chenggong Rd., Neihu District, Taipei City 114. This hospital is equipped with latest medical instruments and technology combined with excellent services of master medical professionals.

Taiwan Adventist Hospital is another well-known hospital in the city and is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a part of their worldwide mission system. The hospital working under government’s sponsorship employs 900 medical staff and offers cost effective treatment to more than 1,400 outpatients daily and emergency services to over 2,000 people monthly. English speaking staffs are available in this 379-bedded world-class hospital, which is placed at No.424, Sec. 2, Bade Rd., Songshan District, Taipei City10556, Taiwan. TEL: 886-2-27718151

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) is another top rated hospital in the city, which offers world-class treatments and services of brilliant doctors and allied staffs cost effectively. The hospital was founded in 1976 and has been a major center of medical services, teaching and research. Their International Service Center (ISC) attracts a large number of foreigners and is located at Duenhua North Road, Taipei. Tel: 886-2-27135211

Taipei Tzu Chi General Hospital is another well-known hospital in Taipei and is situated at No.289, Jianguo Rd., Sindian City, Taipei. Tzu Chi Foundation, the leading community service group of Taiwan operates this trusted health institute and offers clinical treatment and services at reasonable prices in a warm and caring environment. The hospital established in 2005 is especially famous for the micro-invasive operations formulated to minimize patients’ suffering. Phone: 02-66289779

Travellers and photographers everywhere are constantly searching for that unique experience. That unique shot of that unique place that gets the respect and awes from friends and magazine editors. With the ever-expanding tourism industry, these places are becoming harder to find everyday, especially if you aren’t friends with a local. Traveling to unfamiliar places, it is easy to carted around to the typical tourist sights and being charged handsomely for it. Getting to those untouched gems off the trail takes research and effort. Most of the time, its because of these two requirements these places remain so beautiful in the first place; and make it that much more rewarding for those who actually get there.

Taiwan being an undiscovered gem in East Asia it-self, it is full of these uncharted areas, making it a brilliant destination for those in search of a unique experience. This weekend I rediscovered one of these destinations in which I’ve labeled the ‘Formosa’s Futuro Village’. Below is its colorful story, I hope you enjoy it.

History

Architecture

The 1970’s was an interesting time for the entire world. New fashion trends, music styles, and lifestyle perspectives were emerging like never before. People not only had ideals now, but the money to buy them as well. Trends were also emerging in the architecture design industry, attempting to satisfy the thirst of those in search of a unique home to match their new unique views on life. In an era where it was believed robots and machines will eventually cure all of humanities inconveniences, a Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed a new house he christened the ‘Futuro’.

This new house was designed to eventually be the world wide standard of all houses, to enable worldwide travel and living for everyone. Built out of reinforced fiberglass, this 16-piece ‘pod’ or ‘flying saucer’ like shape house was designed for easy transport and to be sustainable in any environment. The basic idea was, you buy one house when you live on the beach in Hawaii, and when you want a change of pace and move to the Swiss alps to live in a skiing village, you simple fly your house over piece by piece to be reconstructed. All that was needed were four concrete pillars as the base, and the house could be placed on top of them, enabling it to be positioned almost anywhere.

Besides the unique transportable design of the house, the interior was also designed with ultimate convenience in mind. The living room had a series of reclining chairs, on which people could sit comfortably or even pull down n’ out to make into sleepers for guests. These chairs were along the outer wall facing the center of the house where the kitchen and bar area were located. This would have made for a great conversational dinning and living room area all in one compact space. Along the backside of the house, the master bedroom and bath were kept tucked away with privacy and intimacy. An interesting environmental appeal to this house was that using the electric heating system, it could go from -20 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in only 30 minutes. Incredibly sustainable.

Sadly, there were less than 100 of these houses constructed worldwide, which is commonly blamed on the Exxon Mobile Crisis and the dramatic price increase of oil. The domino effect of the increase made the plastics for these homes more expensive to produce and naturally people began to loose interest. Matti Suuronen dream of a futuristic world with traveling flying saucer houses whizzing through the air under helicopters died hand in hand with his design in the 1980’s.

Business Venture

Before the Futuro’s fate ran its course however, one savvy Taiwanese businessman shared Matti Suuronen’s dream and took action with it.

Mr. Su Ming was a Taiwanese businessman with a vibrant past in the military during his earlier years. One of his first ventures was a now popular brand of Sarsaparilla soda sold throughout Taiwan. In its beginning days, it wasn’t very popular with the local’s taste buds and got off to a slow start. However, with the American establishment of military bases in Taiwan as a post for the great East Asia, western tastes for both culture and foods began to develop in the country. Along with this, Mr. Su Mings’ carbonated beverage sales exploded and he established a new factory, becoming a new rich member of high society.

With his new money, Mr. Su Ming was anxious to invest and decided to aim for an up scale market of Taiwanese citizenry shopping for vacation homes. He decided that water sports and beach living were the appeals he needed to create a beach side community for the high class Taiwanese. With this in mind, he picked out a beautiful beach front location along the North Eastern coast of Taiwan, made a property investment, and began to construct a futuristic housing community filled with Futuro design houses as well as Square shaped beach villas. His market was the super rich of Taiwan, as these beach villas were originally priced at around what today is equivalent to $94,000 US Dollars.

Informed by the local property manager, I was told that eventually investors lost interest and the project ran out of money. He explained that many of the investors could afford to go abroad to other exotic locations and private villas, leaving little desire for a simple vacation on home turf beach property.

Moreover, in an interview with a local dance instructor at the neighboring spa and hotel, I was informed that the weather conditions of the area were extreme year round; Summers being unbearably hot, and winters bringing intolerably strong winds and crashing cold waters to the beach. She explained how it was a less than ideal placement for vacation homes and that the neighborhood had been vacant for 20-30+ years.

The current day result is the ruins of a once futuristic beach side villa neighborhood, deserted and unsettling, giving us a small window into what was once a successful business mans dream.

Shooting Experience

Transport (travel)

Trying to catch the morning magic hour for the shoot, I headed out around 5:00 A.M. to catch the first bus over to the now abandoned beach resort. This was only possible because Taipei’s transportation system is resilient, making life easy for those who choose to avoid the danger of driving scooters in the hectic traffic. Winding through the mountains and watching while the scenery changed from high rise apartments to jungle covered green hillsides and temples, I couldn’t help but begin to appreciate how easy it was to get out of the mess in Taiwan. In only about an hour, I was already coastline. DSLR and tripod in hand, I got off the coach and spotted the first Futuro.

Feeling

The morning was overcast, as it usually is on the Taiwan coastlines, which brought a whole new feeling to the scenario. With rolling grey clouds, dispersed sunlight, and the Futuro house on approach, I felt like I was literally about to be abducted. The eerie weather and abandoned structures really worked well together, giving me a hair-raising sense that I should get in, shoot, and get out.

While wandering through the planned community lined streets, the color contrasts and random objects of the ruins presented an amazing window to into the past. All of the Futuro style homes were either a dull orange or faded light yellow color, indicating their age and rough past life. There were rust stains running down the sides of each home resembling bleeding scars caused by years and years of the harsh environment pounding down on them. The wind canopy’s steel poles on each of the square homes front porch had been mangled by the intense winds, as if they were pipe cleaners bent by a child.

Overgrown, most of the homes had clearly been deserted for a long time. Remarkably however, there were still some in which had rusted padlocks on the doors, television sets inside, and appeared to still be inhabited. This gave me the sense I was in some sort of abandoned town horror film and continually checked the shadows to ensure there was nothing creeping behind me to put an axe in my back.

I did venture into a few of the homes that weren’t barricaded with wooden pole and barbed wire locks for a better look. I found Japanese influenced tatami rooms, twin beds with sheets still on them, and even toothbrushes alongside a bottle of head and shoulders shampoo in one bathroom.

Kitchens with stoves, refrigerators, and air-conditioning units still hung on the wall all screamed at the modernity the entire project was aimed at back then. What I did find quite appealing, was that in front of the beachfront square villas, and underneath many of the Futuro designed homes, there were tables and seating along with barbeque pits and gardens. It resembled what I thought of as a camp ground, where families could get together and cook outside to enjoy nature and the company of their loved ones. An interesting contrast of feelings and mood for such a place.

Overall, the energy was a bizarre mix of extreme creepiness countered by that of an feeling that it actually could have been a very pleasant community to live in had it succeeded. The villas interior design along with the quaintness of the community could have been a very nice place for a camping vacation getaway right only a short drive from the capital.

Lessons & Enlightenment

The beach side villas established by Mr. Su Ming provide a unique and interesting view into the past of Taiwan and world trends in general. The place is a not-to-miss opportunity for any traveler or photographer coming to Taiwan searching for a one of a kind sight. Fortunately, it has so far been able to avoid the bulldozer, unlike its unlucky West coast brother Pod Houses in SanZhi, but its impossible to know when their day will finally be numbered.

Just a short time out of Taipei, it also is a nice reminder of how incredible of a travel destination Taiwan is. Being one of the undiscovered gems of the east, Taiwan’s scenery and culture remains rich and unique, yet the modernity of the country makes it all very accessible. The undiscovered Futuro Village of Taiwan is an amazing travel experience and I would highly recommend it as a day trip for those who are interested in a place that is off the beaten path, has a unique and rich story, and is all in a very photogenic package.

If you haven’t heard of the latest, trending drink get ready because we have 5 fun facts that you should know about Bubble Tea, also known as Boba Tea. If you haven’t tried or heard of it, you’ll definitely want to go the nearest Bubble Tea cafe after you read these fun facts about this beverages.

This tea isn’t the healthiest drink for you, as it contains a lot of sugar and syrups based off fructose. The good news is that some cafes / shops do serve healthier versions of it, as they use organic milk, homemade syrups and the likes…

Either way, It is a yummy, fun and super refreshing beverage, which is most truly authentic!

Listed below you will find 5 fun facts about Bubble Tea that we promised you and that you should also, know…

1. Origin of Bubble Tea. This originates from Taiwan. However, a popular story about how it goes like this: A woman named Ms. Lin Hsiu, who worked in a tea stand in the 1980’s was feeling a tad bit bored during one of her breaks and in search of entertainment she dumped her Taiwanese dessert called “Fen Yaun” and her sweet tapioca pudding right into her Assam ice tea and she drank it. It was delicious!

In fact, it was so yummy, that it was added to the menu! Later, it became the franchise’s top selling drink! After other cafes / houses saw the success of this spontaneously created drink, they began adding tapioca pearls and an assortment of fruit flavors to their ice teas. As we know it – that’s how it came to be…

2. Bubble Tea is Trending: As you may or may not know, the popularity of this Tea is over the top! Today, you can find Bubble Tea shops all over the streets of Taiwan. Popularity has increased so much that it has spread onto the streets of China and South Korea. Furthermore, in the states it is also blowing up as it’s a pretty big deal in cities like San Francisco, California and in different cities in New York. However, to the majority of Westerners – it is yet to be discovered, but growing in popularity, nonetheless…

There are approximately 800 Bubble Tea shops in The United States, mainly in California and New York and other shops have been spotted in more than 30 other countries.

3. Bubble Tea in McDonald’s? In 2012, McDonald’s was the first global, fast food chain to hear of this new drink / trend and actually give it a go… McDonald’s served Bubble Tea for one month at their German locations. Customers were offered three different options – with or without milk, seven flavors of syrup, four options were available and two jelly options. In the end, there was a total of 252 combinations that customers could choose from.

4. Adults Drinking Bubble Tea: Yes, adults do in fact drink this tea. We can see how the name can be misleading and people can easily assume that it was made for kids or young adults.

The fact is, that this tea first became a sensation with school children from Taiwan. But, it is certainly not only for kids. It is like any other typical ice tea. However, when you drink this Tea, you’re going to have a lot more fun! In New York, back in 2008 a bar was spiking up it. Now… Is that creative or what? Sadly, this bar in New York is now closed.

5. The Many Names of Bubble Tea: It is just one of the many popular names for this fun drink. But, It has quite a few names that it goes by in popular culture. Some of these names include: Tapioca, Momi Milk, Q, Boba Nai Chai, Milk Tea, Boba Tea, Pearl Tea and frankly, a bunch of others names… Call it what you like. As you can see, there are plenty of names to choose from.

Again, if you haven’t tried this tea, maybe it is time that you do… Bubble Tea is a delicious drink, that’s also, a lot of fun to drink! Best of all, you can totally customize your this Tea. From the tea you pick to the flavor. Moreover, you can add as much sugar as you want and last but not least you can order your Tea with either tapioca pearls or jelly.

In Taiwan sports recreation has become increasingly popular, hardly surprising when you consider that it was in 2001 that the two-day weekend was first introduced. Legislation decreased a five and a half day working week, down to five days. This saw more Taiwanese have spare time in which to pursue recreational activities.

There was a sudden growth in Taiwan sports recreation and group activities were and are especially popular. A large number of teams were created to compete against each other, often organised by schools, local companies and government offices. Basketball and softball in particular have become extremely popular, though soccer and baseball have only had limited take up so far. These last two team games are become a well followed sport at international level, although there is a relative lack of take up in playing at a national level.

Taiwan sports recreation has also seen a good take up or racquet and bat sports, with tennis, badminton, and table tennis being especially popular. Water has also played an important role in Taiwan sports recreation growth, and are the most popular sports activities. Swimming and diving in particular have proved to be popular in the sea and in swimming pools. Weekends see the seas and lakes of Taiwan packed as people relax by windsurfing, yachting, canoeing, fishing and paragliding.

Fishing is one of the biggest growing sports activities in Taiwan, although golf is taking over in popularity. World class golf courses are increasingly appearing across the island, and the best clubs have a long waiting list of those wishing to join. Taiwan has invested a lot of money in all of its recreational facilities; this is obvious in the overall quality of the golf courses and golf clubs.

Taiwan sports recreation is also taken up with more strenuous activities as hiking and mountain climbing. It appears that the Taiwanese in their leisure time like nothing more than hiking up the country’s mountains. Taiwan is relatively famous for its hills and mountains and thousands leave the cities each weekend to take in the landscape and try trekking up the slopes.

Taiwan sports recreation is a growing pastime amongst the Taiwanese who find themselves with more spare time than they ever had before. As a result there has been a growth in the provision of equipment and supplies to feed the activities. This has seen the manufacturing of sports equipment become one of the growth areas within the Taiwanese economy.

Have you ever been unsuccessful in dating Taiwan girls? If so this could be due to the fact that you have not got to know much about them or their culture. What you have to learn before attempting to date Taiwanese women or girls is that they have an extremely rich cultural heritage and that they are very different from European or American girls.

Taiwan dating is not as easy as you think. You may be successful in getting them out once, but unless you can really impress them you can be sure that they will not come out with you again. Get to know their background well before taking them out so that you will be in a position to understand them better.

Generally the women folk in Taiwan are very attached to their families, so they will be thrilled if you show some interest in her family. Get her to talk about the members in the family and ensure that you show genuine interest in them too. They have strong familial bonds and have great respect for one another.

These girls are open, friendly and fun loving, so make sure that you are humorous and smart when dealing with them. The girls in this part of the world love to know that you have other Asian friends, so if you do, ensure that you make her know about them. When dating them see that they are at ease and have no problem chatting with you.

Other than direct dating you also have a number of online Taiwan dating sites where you will find that lots of Taiwan girls and women have registered. So if you register in one of these sites you can get to know the different people from their profiles and choose one who may catch your fancy. Once you get to know her well, them maybe you could think of seeing her face to face and become more familiar. You can never say where this could lead and for all you know it may culminate in your tying the nuptial knot!

Wherever we get in the globe, we have to have acquaintances and settle down finally with an individual. Those among us who do not take a trip, it is not much of a headache for them. But we require thinking where we will settle and the soul with whom we will settle down in life.

One of the countries in the Far East is Taiwan. Taiwan industry is booming and there are many jobs available in several fields and spheres. It is the home to world’s top most technology entities and lots of hardware makers. Even if there are a variety of opportunities, looking for a buddy and settling down is hard. Though dating websites do not constantly get the reputation they deserve, it is unjust to cover all of them with the identical brush. It has to be thought that for individuals who are usually busy, they provide a significant service.

If you are a single person who is staying in Taiwan and wish to make friends with someone, either a local or a person just like you, you need to check out a Taiwan dating sites to Taipei girls and boys. You will get to have communication with one another and at last discover the exact individual you need.

Everyone is allowed to log in at Taiwanese websites. Any person despite of gender, work status, physical appearance, personality or age can sign up and search for Taiwan dating sites. Even individuals who are inactive on online system will be pleased to learn how easily they can discover an individual to engage at such Taiwanese dating sites. In most situations, you may register your own free account at a Taiwan dating website. Then you look through the profiles of different fellow members and find out about them. You are capable to send message to other members and establish conversations with them.

Dating websites will fit you with other individual depending upon what you wish. You will be presented the members that will be interested in you. Therefore, you can have friendly relationship with them. So why hold back any more? Just check out the Taiwan dating sites that offers the individual you are looking for and find out an individual who is interested about you and your personality. So there is no more looking here and there.

If you want to visit a location that is exotic and has fantastic scenery, Taiwan is the answer for you. An island country, Taiwan is home to a prime Southeast Asian culture, tasty cuisines, amazing climate, and numerous forest parts and festivals. The capital city of Taipei boasts of vibrant culture and entertainment. Taiwanese cuisine is rated as one of the best on a global scale. So once you step into Taiwan, where do you go to experience the full grandiosity of Taiwan?

1. Taipei

The largest city and the capital of Taiwan, Taipei is the cultural, arts and the natural heartbeat of this landlocked country. Numerous artistic temples devoted to local deities dot the landscape. Famous among them is the Longshan and Taipei Confucius Temple. Taipei 101 captures your attention as the tallest skyscraper in the horizon. On New Year’s Eve, the platform serves as the tallest fireworks display in the world. There are numerous festivals like lantern festival, ghost day celebrations, double ten day etc. These festivals liven up the atmosphere and you should be there to experience the feeling. Taiwan tour packages are incomplete with an authentic festival experience.

2. Nantou

The second largest city in Taiwan, Nantou is home to the most famous tea plants, the oolong teas. See the original teas grown in full splendor. The mountainous landscape makes it very dear to trekkers and mountain hikers. Notable hiking trails include Maolan and Hanbi hiking trails. You should also definitely visit the Cingjing farm, which boasts of luscious farms of oolong trees.

3. Kaohsiung

From its humble roots as a small trading firm, Kaohsiung has grown into an economic powerhouse. You will find many refining and shipbuilding industries here. The city boasts of stable and strong infrastructure, which enabled it to host 2009 world games. The primary attractions in this beautiful city include, Liuhe Night Market, World games stadium and a great resource of nature with forests. Taiwan travel packages ensure a stop in Kaohsiung.

4. Hsinchu

Did you know that most of the worlds’ electronic items are made in Taiwan? Your phone probably was made in Hsinchu, the leading electronic manufacturing hub in Taiwan, and probably the whole world. The Hsinchu technological zone is home to IT offices and leading giants like Huawei etc. Why don’t you come around and take a tour of the world’s leading electronic hub? You may even get great discounts while shopping here.

5. Kinmen

Kinmen is actually a group of islands under Taiwanese administration. The major attraction is knives made from the unexploded arsenal during the Chinese Civil War. Kinmen noodles are equally famous as a delicacy. Collect your kinmen knives as a souvenir and make your Taiwan stay memorable.

The above five places showcase what Taiwan is all about. Make sure you book your Holiday Packages to Taiwan from an established travel agency to enjoy the full benefits.