The Lure of a Traditional Market, Taiwan

The beauty of a market place has always been that it is a window into a country’s culture.  When I use the word market, I am not referring to your local supermarket. I am referring to farmer’s markets and traditional markets, where local producers passionate about their product, whether it be produce or livestock, are there to sell you all that the season has to offer.

As a child, I was often reluctantly in tow behind my grandmother as she shopped through the traditional markets on my annual visit to Taiwan. Often times, the result was my refusal to eat chicken or pork for the remainder of the summer after the cruel reminder of the realities of where meat comes from. 

Even so, there is a beauty about a traditional marketplace that I’ve learned to appreciate over the years. The culture, the energy, the people who once worked as young vendor watching children run by, but as their hairs grey the once children return as adults with their own family to buy weekly produce from a familiar face. 

There is an array of meat to choose from, generally non-refrigerated, and sitting on the countertop amidst the warm summer breeze. Not quite what North Americans may be used to, but the animals are generally slaughtered just hours before you point out which portion you'd like to take home. For the best cuts of meat, housewives arrive at the morning market early as supply is generally limited to the number of animals slaughtered per day per vendor. A nose to tail dining concept is definitely not lacking in Taiwan, you will find every imaginable part of a pig being sold by the local vendors. 

As Taiwan is known for its abundance of fresh seafood, the traditional marketplace definitely showcases the best of the day's catch. From the fish that are still moving with livelihood, to the glistening eyes, and firmness to the touch, all the signs of fresh seafood are readily visible.

There is also always a way to reduce waste, and it is noticeable especially when this next cart was pushed past me. The contents you ask? The left overs from gutting fish, which are then made into fish by products (not for human consumption of course). More on this later.

And of course, the market it never lacking of a great variety of ready to eat foods. Anything is available from fresh spring rolls, pineapples, to a refreshing bowl of shaved ice. The infinite selection combined with the warm personality of the local Taiwanese vendors, has for me created the lure of the traditional marketplace.