A recent Taiwanese short film about local coffee has increased its popularity in Japan. Taiwan's coffee plantations sit at various altitudes, from 200 meters to over 1,000 meters above sea level, and that creates a variety of exquisite flavors.
Although there's a lot to love about Taiwanese coffee, its price tag is not one of them. Taiwanese coffee is usually two to three times more expensive than local coffee in Japan. Some might ask: why are Japanese consumers willing to pay such a high price?
Nantou County official Chen Jung-chun says this is partially due to Japan's history of colonizing Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century. Taiwan was once the largest coffee producer in Southeast Asia, so coffee enthusiasts in Japan love its unique flavor.
Chen says that Taiwan is also one of the few countries that controls its coffee process from start to finish. Countries that consume the most coffee are usually at latitudes too high to produce their own coffee. In Taiwan, everything from growing and processing the beans, sales and marketing, and consumption are all managed in a seamless chain. This way, consumers can be sure they're getting a superb, fresh cup of joe.
With all this in mind, it's clear why Taiwanese coffee is on the rise. Over the past few years, Taiwan's coffee beans have won awards at many international competitions. Lin says that Taiwan is now including coffee as a major tourist attraction for the first time. With all that caffeine, tourists are sure to be full of energy to explore the rest of Taiwan's spectacular sights.