We’ve all heard the news. In fact, we’ve been waiting for it — Taiwan is visa-free for Philippine passport holders until July 2020! You know what that means: We have another whole year to stock up on our favourite Taiwan souvenirs!
As Pinoy travellers, most of us can’t deny that we love hoarding goodies we can’t find back home. And when our funds (and the extra space in our maletas!) allow it, we can’t help but spoil our loved ones with all the best Taiwan pasalubong we can find.
So, to help you prepare, the TripZilla Philippines team has put together a list of souvenirs you have to fly back home with. You’ll want to save some extra cash and luggage space for these items!
Also read: Flights to Taiwan: Air Asia Opens Clark & Cebu to Kaohsiung Route
Not a fan of pineapples? Don’t say no to this sweet Taiwanese delicacy just yet. There’s a reason these are among the country’s most popular treats — they’re known to delight even some of the most anti-pineapple palates!
But if anything pineapple flavoured is really out of the question, then not to worry. These soft, buttery pastries come with other flavoured fillings such as strawberry, cranberry, mango, and blueberry. Durian cakes and taro cakes are available, too!
Where to buy: You’ll find these at almost any food souvenir shop around Taiwan! You can also check out popular shops like Chia Te Bakery.
How much: Prices start at NT$100 (₱165) per box.
As one of the most popular souvenirs to buy from Taiwan, peanut nougat bars are perfect for those who prefer their candies just the right amount of sweet. These crowd-favourite snacks range from soft and chewy, to almost crunchy!
Apart from nougat bars, you can also enjoy other variations of these gooey treats — some stores also offer nougat biscuits, as well as nougat macarons!
Where to buy: Almost any souvenir shop around Taiwan, or specialty shops like Sugar & Spice!
How much: Prices start at NT$100 (₱165) per pack, but expect to spend more at specialty shops.
Is it just me, or is it such a Pinoy thing to love glutinous rice desserts? I used to think that mochi was only big in Japan, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s a well-loved snack in Taiwan, too. Fun fact: There’s even a whole museum dedicated to mochi in Nantou City!
Enjoy your mochi plain, covered in flavoured powder, filled with a flavoured paste, stuffed with ice cream, or even grilled! Treat yourself to a generously sized piece, and grab a few boxes of bite-size pieces that make for great Taiwan pasalubong!
Where to buy: Food shops and markets all around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at NT$40 (₱66) for a big piece, or NT$100 (₱165) for a box of smaller pieces.
When visiting Taiwan’s night markets, you’ll want to join the queue for castella sponge cakes. This moist, fluffy dessert is world-famous for satisfying any sweet tooth — plus, it’s great fun to watch as it’s being made!
Choose between plain, cheese, or chocolate flavours — or actually, why not have all? Yum!
Where to buy: Night markets around Taiwan, and stores such as Grand Castella Cake, Le Castella, Original Cake.
How much: Prices start at NT$90 (₱148) per piece for plain, NT$100 (₱165) for cheese.
These crunchy, paper-thin pieces of jerky are hard not to get addicted to! Prepared with a mix of sugar and soy sauce, these sheets of pork are embedded with small pieces of almonds and dried apple. Spicier variants are available, too! Our favourite part about these addicting snacks? They’re MSG-free!
Where to buy: Shilin Night Market, Kuaiche, Chiang Ji Hua Long, and Chien Hsiang
How much: Prices start at NT$120 (₱197) per pack.
Originating from Taichung, these Taiwanese pastries have soft, flaky crusts and delicious malt sugar fillings! You’ll also be able to find these biscuits with other interesting flavours such as green tea, sesame, and pork floss.
Where to buy: Bakeries such as Chia Te, Li Yi, and Ruyi Sunny Cake
How much: Prices start at NT$180 (₱296) per box.
We dare you to try not to get hooked on these fruity snacks! Both delicious and easy to pack, Taiwanese fruit jelly is one of the most popular souvenirs to buy in Taiwan. Infused with natural fruity goodness, these bite-sized treats offer a delightful burst of flavour!
Mango is probably the most popular flavour, but a whole range of other options are available as well. These include plum, lychee, blueberry, strawberry, and coffee!
Where to buy: Food souvenir shops and night markets around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at NT$100 (₱165) per box.
One of the best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan? Packaged tapioca pearls to go with your homemade milk tea — great for satisfying your random milk tea cravings, ASAP! As big milk tea lovers, this is one of the pasalubong items my family and I regretfully missed out on. Here’s hoping you learn from our mistake!
Where to buy: Night markets around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at NT$60 (₱100) per pack.
Taiwan isn’t just the land of milk tea — it’s actually well-known for its rich tea culture, and is home to some of the best oolong in the world. Some even refer to Taiwanese oolong as the ‘champagne of oolong tea’! Besides this popular product, you’ll find a range of white teas, green teas, and black teas.
If you’re a big tea lover, you can even join tea tours all around Taiwan! In particular, make sure your itinerary includes a trip to the Pinglin District. At this rural district in New Taipei City, you’ll find the country’s largest Tea Museum, as well as lots of tea shops and tea plantations!
Where to buy: Tea shops around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at NT$600 (₱988).
While we might not be able to take home milk tea from our favourite bubble tea stores in Taiwan, we can pack these bottles of Chun Cui He! One of the country’s most popular bottled drinks, they come in lots of flavours, including milk tea, latte, green latte, and Sumiyaki (roasted coffee).
I’d honestly never heard of Chun Cui He before, but I later discovered they’re actually pretty in-demand souvenirs. My own schoolmates actually stock up on these drinks and sell them at home! Needless to say, they get sold out here really quickly.
Where to buy: Convenience stores around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at NT$60 (₱100).
Have you heard of Kaoliang wine yet? Simply put, if sake is a must-have from Japan and Soju is your go-to drink when in Korea, Kaoliang is their Taiwanese counterpart. Known for its smooth aftertaste, this drink can be enjoyed on its own, or mixed with fresh pineapple juice!
Where to buy: Convenience stores around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at NT$65 (₱97).
These souvenirs are a must, especially for those who love decorating their refrigerators with mementos from their travels. My personal favourite? A milk tea-shaped magnet we found along Pingxi Station!
Where to buy: Gift shops, souvenir shops, and night markets around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at $NT75 (₱123).
Because what’s a trip to Taiwan without taking part in their popular sky lantern tradition? These mini sky lanterns are certainly cute keepsakes to take back home with you. For eco-conscious travellers, they also double as environment-friendly alternatives to lighting up the real deal and releasing them into the sky!
Where to buy: Souvenir shops in Shifen, night markets around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at $90 (₱148) per piece.
Call me old school, but there’s nothing like receiving a handwritten note in the mail! One of my favourite things to do on trips is sending postcards to my family and friends — and to myself!
From standard postcards featuring popular scenes from Taiwan, to more creative variations (wooden postcards and cute boarding pass-themed versions), they’re definitely among my favourite souvenirs!
Where to buy: Gift shops, souvenir shops, and bookstores around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at around NT $30 (₱49).
Ever since I was a kid, I’d make it a point to check out local bookstores whenever I would travel. While you can surely buy stationery wherever you are in the world, you won’t always find the country’s locally made products in other parts of the globe. Take these funky pens, for example — these Taiwan pasalubong items are cute, functional, and unique!
Where to buy: Gift shops, souvenir shops, and bookstores around Taiwan
How much: Prices start at NT $75 (₱123)
I used to think that keychains were such typical souvenirs, but the ones around Taiwan are just too cute! (And quite frankly, you can never have enough cute keychains.) In addition to this, they’re also among your most budget-friendly Taiwan pasalubong options — so, hoard away!
Where to buy: Gift shops, souvenir shops, and night markets
How much: Prices start at NT$50 (₱82).
If there’s one thing a lot of us Pinoys travel to Taiwan for, it would have to be milk tea! After all, how could we not have some when visiting our favourite drink’s very own birthplace?
Milk tea-crazed travellers won’t be able to resist these drinks being sold in the most adorable bottles! Doubling as decorative pieces, they’re definitely some of the cutest souvenirs to take home and remind you of a satisfying milk tea-filled trip.
Where to buy: Food court at Taipei 101
How much: Prices start at NT$139 (₱229).
Attention, fellow beauty addicts! Taiwan is a treasure trove for travellers like you and me. It’s an exciting beauty hub with local skincare, makeup, and haircare products just waiting to be discovered!
You might already recognise Taiwanese brands like 23.5°N and Naruko, which are pretty popular internationally. On the other hand, Dr. Morita’s sheet masks and Miss Hana’s waterproof eyeliner should be among your top souvenirs to buy from Taiwan, too!
Where to buy: Drugstores such as Watsons, CosMed, and Tomod’s; standalone stores like Naruko and 23.5°N
How much: Prices will vary depending on what brands you’re looking for, but you will surely find products for any type of budget!
Also read: 10 Popular Taiwanese Beauty Products You’ll Want to Try
Some of my favourite Taiwan pasalubong items? Scarves! On one of her girls’ trips to Taiwan, my mom and her barkada brought home a whole bunch of them.
Cute, functional, and definitely pasalubong-worthy, they’re really affordable, too! With so many designs to choose from, you’ll be tempted to buy as many as you can — both for yourself, and for your friends! Try to keep your eyes peeled for ‘magic scarves’ — these popular Taiwan souvenirs can be worn in 100 different ways!
Where to buy: Night markets around Taiwan
How much: Prices for magic scarves start at around NT$180 (₱300), but regular scarves will definitely come cheaper.
When visiting a new place, I personally love checking out the locally made jewellery! They not only showcase a place’s culture and the talents of local artisans — they also make for beautiful reminders of your travels. They get plus points for being the kinds of souvenirs that you can use often, too!
Where to buy: All over Taiwan, but Ximending or Jiufen are two places you might particularly want to check out!
How much: Prices will vary depending on materials used, but expect to spend at least NT$400 (₱658) for handmade or specialty products!
An interesting fact: Taiwan actually makes some of the finest jade in the world! This gemstone is said to do things like ward off evil, provide bodily healing, and bring good fortune. Check out the famous Jianguo Holiday Jade Market for anything from Buddha figurines, to accessories like pendants, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
But before anything else: If you’re on the lookout for genuine jade pieces, you’ll want to get your money’s worth. Be prepared to identify authentic jade pieces, or travel with someone who can distinguish real from fake!
Where to buy: Jianguo Holiday Jade Market
How much: Prices will vary depending on the size and quality, but you can expect to spend thousands of NT$ for authentic jade pieces.
These gorgeous hand-painted umbrellas are certainly irresistible, don’t you agree? Intricately designed with bamboo frames and lacquered transparent paper, these beautiful decorative pieces are particularly famous in Kaohsiung. Traditionally used at wedding ceremonies, they are thought to symbolise a happy and full life!
Where to buy: Huashi Street Night Market and Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center in Taipei; Meinong Prosperity Paper Umbrella Store, souvenir shops, and night markets around Kaohsiung
How much: Prices start at NT$400 (₱658).
Taiwan is also home to beautiful glass handicrafts! With works that range from cute figurines to exquisite glass art, you definitely won’t have a difficult time finding something you’d love to adorn your home with. Just remember to take extra care when taking these home with you!
Where to buy: Taiwan Glass Gallery, Liu Li Gong Fang Taipei, Jiufen, and the Shifen residential area
How much: Prices will vary depending on what type of glass handicrafts you’re on the lookout for!
Did you know that Taipei is actually one of the best places to buy high-quality Chinese silk? From luxurious home items like placemats, pillowcases, and cushion covers, to plush nightgowns, robes, and neckties, these intricately made items will surely tempt you!
Interestingly, you can even purchase the textile and take them to the local tailors. Or, stock up on rolls of fabric and do as you please with them once you get home!
Where to buy: Wufenpu Clothing Market and Yongle Textile Market
How much: Prices will vary from vendor to vendor, but you can spend as low as NT$200 (₱329)!
Taipei’s Yingge Old Street is a famous hub for great quality ceramics — and even better, they have offerings for any kind of budget! If you’re into collecting pottery and homeware, the products along this street are the souvenirs to buy from Taiwan. So, prepare to geek out (and maybe bring an extra suitcase, too)!
From bowls and plates to garden pots, there’s a whole lot to choose from at the country’s centre for ceramic goods. One thing you might not want to miss? A traditional Chinese tea set, complete with a teapot, a gaiwan (a small bowl with a lid used for brewing and drinking tea) little teacups, and a tea tray!
Where to buy: Yingge Pottery Street
How much: Prices will vary depending on the vendor, but if you’re lucky, you can score finds for as low as NT$20 (₱33)!
Also read: 8 Things to Do in Taiwan on Your Succeeding Visits
Enjoy your trip! We can’t wait to see your Taiwan pasalubong haul!
Including a massive Leeroy New installation.
A journey through old-world Manila.
Let our guide walk you through pet travel essentials and must-knows!
Boracay by bus? Yes, please.
A great option to discover the island!
Travelling to BARMM just got easier!