China’s ban on Taiwan’s pineapples inspires creative dishes

China’s ban on Taiwan’s pineapples inspires creative dishes

Taiwan’s classic beef noodle soup has taken on a bittersweet twist.

Hung Ching Lung, a chef from Taipei, has created a beef and pineapple noodle soup at his eponymous restaurant, Chef Hung, in what he says is a modest attempt to support Taiwanese pineapple producers.

The spiky fruit became a politically charged symbol after China banned the import of pineapples from Taiwan on March 1, citing pests. In response, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen launched a challenge on social media called “Eat Taiwan Pineapples Until You Explode,” calling on people to support the island’s farmers.

The campaign has sparked a pineapple media frenzy as Taiwanese politicians tried to show their support for Taiwanese farmers and agriculture. Politicians from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Nationalist Party flocked to the farms to post photos with pineapples.

Taiwanese restaurateurs like Hung were quick to prepare pineapple-infused dishes. Pineapple Shrimp Balls, Pineapple Salad with Betel Nuts, and classic dishes like pineapple fried rice are just a few of the dishes being rejected by island restaurants and hotels.

Hung said he and his team spent three days testing ways to incorporate pineapple into beef noodles. It took about 10 tries.

“The first time we tried it when we cooked it in the soup, it was very sweet, inedible, and it tasted completely like pineapple,” he said. The successful attempt relied on separating the juice from the fruit during cooking, which removed the sweetness that would otherwise dominate the flavor of the meat.

China has denied that its decision to ban Taiwanese pineapples was politically motivated, and a spokesman for the Beijing Office of Taiwan Affairs said the decision was a “normal and completely reasonable and necessary biosecurity measure.” The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry called the measure one that “contradicts free and fair rule-based trade.”

Hung said he and his team spent three days testing ways to incorporate pineapple into beef noodles. It took about 10 tries. (Photo: (AP Photo / Chiang Ying-ying)

China has most recently tapped into its huge market in a trade war with Australia. It halted or reduced imports of beef, charcoal, barley, seafood, sugar and timber from Australia after that country backed calls for an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which is believed to have started in China late. of 2019.

Despite the uproar, the pineapple ban may not drastically affect Taiwanese farmers.

A day after the ban was enacted, Taiwanese Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang told local media that the amount bought by domestic companies and citizens exceeded the amount that would have been sold to China. The government also promised subsidies worth one billion New Taiwan dollars ($ 35 million) to help farmers.

The government said it has also received orders from Japan, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and countries in the Middle East.

Taiwan produces about 420,000 metric tons of pineapples annually, 90% of which are sold on the island itself, according to the Council of Agriculture. About 10% of that annual production is sold abroad, with China accounting for the vast majority of those purchases.

It is unclear whether the recent surge in domestic orders and orders from foreign countries will offset China’s long-term ban.

Chef Hung displays pineapple beef noodles outside his restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan (AP Photo / Chiang Ying-ying)

But in the short term, it has sparked patriotic sentiments in some local residents.

“We’re all trying to find a way to help farmers,” said Alice Tsai, who stopped by Hung’s restaurant on Wednesday to sample the noodles, which she said were surprisingly tasty.

“The other day I went to the supermarket and found that all the pineapples were sold out and I was very touched,” she said. “Everybody has this feeling of solidarity.”