Winter is here, but Taiwanese people have ways of keeping warm. High on the list is eating ginger duck stew. But there are also other popular foods consumed around this time of year.
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A duck meat stew is bubbling away, almost ready to be served. After ginger julienne strips are added, it becomes a nourishing soup that can also heat up one’s body.
One restaurant serving this winter favorite in Nantou normally opens at noon, but has decided to open earlier, at 7am, so that customers can get early takeouts.
Ginger duck soup is not the only popular winter dish. Some convenience stores are having special discounts on hotpot ingredients. People can even order live lobsters online and have them delivered to their doors.
Some swear by sesame oil chicken as a remedy for winter chills, others have a habit of eating dumplings on cold days. That’s because dumplings are shaped like ears and there’s a belief that if you eat them, you won’t get frostbite on your ears.
Other traditions include eating scallions to warm up the body, because the spiciness will induce sweating. Another is eating sweet glutinous rice balls to restore heat.
One interesting practice among Taiwanese people is heating up whole oranges to reduce the coolness in the fruit. Many say these are good for the lungs. And if your feet tend to get cold in the winter, some nuts and grains could be just the kind of boost you need.