Beef noodles are very closely connected to Taiwan’s environment. This famous dish started many years ago when people from China brought beef-cooking traditions to Taiwan. There are a lot of small local shops, so the beef sometimes comes from local farms, and the vegetables are grown in Taiwan’s rich mountain soil and warm, tropical climate. The farmers play a big part in keeping these ingredients fresh and healthy.
The broth’s flavor also comes from spices that travel through Taiwan’s busy ports! The spices show how Taiwan’s location near the ocean connects it to trade routes where ingredients from other parts of Asia can arrive.
When I eat beef noodles, I feel like I am tasting a little bit of everything that makes Taiwan special. It reminds me that food isn’t just something we eat; it’s a way to connect with the places and people who make it.
