Taiwan is strongly associated with China, as citizens of both countries speak Mandarin, and China actually claims Taiwan as a territory. But ask any Taiwanese person where they're from, and they'll introduce themselves as Taiwanese, not Chinese. This …
Food
Taiwan Itinerary: 7 Days Outside Taipei
Spending 7 days in Taiwan is perfect for seeing the country's varied landscapes, sampling local dishes, and getting a handle on the island's complex history. While most people start & end their visit in Taipei, I'd actually recommend getting off …
Cacao vs. Cocoa: How They’re Different
How are "cacao" and "cocoa" different?As a chocolate writer, I get this question all the time, and the answer is quite simple: cacao and cocoa are the same word in different languages. It's a bit of a debate in the craft chocolate industry as to …
Interview: Emily Paek, Founder of Public Chocolatory
"I think even if the [cacao] beans are all the same, but the makers are different, the outcome is very different."-Emily Paek, Founder of Public ChocolatoryEmily Paek was one of the first craft chocolate makers in Korea, and quite frankly, it's …
Where To Find Affordable Kobe Beef In Kobe, Japan
Japan is a place where people will pay a eighty bucks for a melon, five dollars for a chocolate truffle, and fork over hundreds for less than a pound of beef. I've never before witnessed such absurdity in pursuit of exclusivity. But I don't blame …
Korean Chocolate Culture: From Bean to Bar & Beyond
Korean chocolate is a topic close to my heart, as I've been living in South Korea for the last three years, and watched the local market blossom. However, South Korea is rarely— if ever— associated with great chocolate. It's not that Korean chocolate …
What Is Tablea? All About Filipino Hot Chocolate (Sikwate)
I heard the word tablea— also spelled tableya— so many times over my first couple of weeks in the Philippines, back in early 2017. I even bought some honey tablea in Bohol a couple of years ago. Then again, when I went back in to research Philippine …
Ruby Chocolate: Where to Buy It & What It Is
Ever since the controversial new ruby chocolate was revealed at a Shanghai trade show in September 2017, the ever-wandering eye of the public has been curious about pink chocolate. China's not exactly a hub for chocolate making (yet). But one of the …
How & Why to Visit CoEx Coffee Expo in Seoul
If you've ever been to Seoul, you've seen the evidence of thousands of coffee shops, one or two per corner. Over the last couple of decades, coffee has also managed to invade the homes of millions of Koreans, and stage several annual coffee festivals …
Hong Kong Chocolate Guide: 23 Spots To Check Out
Hong Kong chocolate shops are few and far between. But places to buy chocolate in Hong Kong? Those are all over, almost all online. After all, Hong Hong is one of the most expensive cities in the world, with a budding chocolate culture to match.Of …
