Meihao Time's Finger Movement

　　The Qingming Festival is the time when plums are in season. In addition to being eaten directly, there are many delicacies that use plums as the main ingredient. Counties and cities with larger production will even hold plum festivals. Follow this issue of "Food Network" to learn about the benefits of plums and their diverse cooking methods, and experience the delicious taste of plums in spring.

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　　April is the plum production season. The green plums before Qingming Festival are relatively green and astringent, making them suitable for making crisp pickled plums, black plums and plum essence, or for making green plum vinegar and wine. The plums harvested after Qingming Festival to early May are more ripe, turn yellow in color, and become soft and juicy, so they are often made into Q plums, perilla plums or yellow plum wine.

• The fruit is alkaline: According to data published on the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Knowledge Portal, plums have a blood-purifying effect, can maintain a slightly alkaline blood state, while activating metabolism, promoting the normal functioning of various organs, and having the effect of eliminating fatigue.
• Who should not eat it: Plums are sour foods. People whose gums or teeth easily feel sore should avoid eating too much. In addition, people with weak stomachs or excessive stomach acid should not eat it. If you want to eat plums, it is recommended that you choose items with low sugar and less artificial additives so that you can get the nutritional elements of plums.
• All plum blossoms bear fruit: Plum trees are divided into ornamental plums and edible plums. The easiest way to distinguish them is to look at the color of the flowers. The flowers of ornamental plum trees are pink, while the flowers of edible plum trees are white. One plum blossom will bear one plum fruit.

        After understanding the advantages of green plum and yellow plum, let's now follow the delicious recommendations of Far Eastern Department Stores across Taiwan and enjoy the "plum" feast.

 

【Sweet and Sour Drinks】

01 Half Minute Crispy Plum Green Tea

        Selected high-quality green tea with rich and fresh flavors, paired with fragrant green plums, brings a stunning and wonderful enjoyment with its sweet and sour taste. The recommended price for Zhongbei is NTD 85. Inquiry hotline: Far Eastern Department Stores Xinyi A13 4th floor, (02) 8786-6700.

02 Hanlin Teahouse "Crispy Plum Green Tea"

        High mountain green crispy plums combined with special plum sauce, combined with Hanlin green tea, create a unique fruit aroma and tea flavor, sweet and sour with a sweet aftertaste, refreshing and thirst quenching. The recommended price for large cups is NTD 85, and for extra large cups it is NTD 100, Far Eastern offers an exclusive 10% discount. Inquiry hotline: 8th floor, Far Eastern Department Stores, Hsinchu, (02) 523-1372; B2 floor, Hanlin Tea House, Far Eastern Department Stores, Tainan, (06) 208-7569.

03 Tea Fun TOGO "Plum Green Tea"

        Fresh kumquats paired with fragrant green tea, accompanied by specially mixed sour plum juice, the sweet and sour taste slowly dissipates in the mouth, leaving an endless aftertaste. Suggested selling price is NTD 70 for medium cups and NTD 90 for large cups. Inquiry hotline: B2 Floor, North Building, Far Eastern Department Stores, Taichung City, (04) 2259-3365, 11th Floor, Far Eastern Department Stores, Kaohsiung, (07) 536-0056.       

【The pioneer of relieving greasiness】

04 Hanlin Teahouse "Mei Nian Steamed Fresh Fish"

        The sour and sweet pure plum wine juice highlights the refreshing flavor of steamed fresh fish, with each bite fresh and sweet, making it the perfect match to awaken the taste buds. Suggested selling price NTD 668. Inquiry hotline: B2 floor, Far Eastern Department Stores Zhubei Branch, (03) 658-0679.

05 Wa Cheng Thai Cuisine "Shrimp Dumpling Circle"

        Using fresh and plump 100% pure shrimp paste, make golden and thick circles, sprinkle with salted egg yolk or pair with plum sauce for a unique salty and sweet taste. Dip in some spicy powder for an even more appetizing taste, allowing you to enjoy a circle and multiple flavors. Suggested selling price NTD 390, with an additional 10% service charge for internal use. Inquiry hotline: 3rd floor, Far Eastern Department Stores, Tainan, (06) 208-8018.

06 Kaifanchuan Cafeteria "Plum Juice Second Lane Chicken"

        Fresh chicken is fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, then stir fried with aged perilla plum sauce. It is a delicious and appetizing dish that is suitable for all ages. Suggested selling price NTD 320. Inquiry hotline: 10th floor, Far Eastern Department Stores Taoyuan, (03) 335-2768, 11th floor, North Building, Far Eastern Department Stores, Taichung City, (04) 2258-5776.        

【 Seasoning Master 】

        07 Xiangji "Plum Juice"

        Using Xiang Ji Purple Su Mei that has been marinated for over a year, the plum flesh is ground with plum juice to make it thick, flavorful, and rich in pectin. It is suitable for making various unique sauces and dipping sauces, making it a great helper in cooking. It can be paired with hot, cold, salty, and sweet flavors, and is known as the eighth treasure of the kitchen. 600ml suggested selling price NTD 490 Far Eastern offers an exclusive discounted price of NTD 441. Inquiry hotline: Far Eastern Department Stores Taoyuan, B1 floor, (03) 339-5807. 

【Dancing with Wine】

08 Anbei ABAS "Anbei Meijiu"

        The natural and mellow 12% plum wine produced in Taiwan is brewed using ancient methods of local crops. It has a smooth and non irritating taste, with a light fruity and caramel aroma, charming and beautiful. 500ml is recommended to be priced at NTD 600. Inquiry hotline: Far Eastern Department Stores, located on the B1 floor of Chiayi store, (05) 236-5137 # 8230.

09 Typhoon Taiwind Beer "Mud Coal Sour Meier Craft Beer"

        A variety of flavored beers carefully crafted by Tainan's first craft brewery, among which "Screaming Prum Mud Coal Sour Plum Ale" is fermented with Kaohsiung Jiaxian Green Plum Juice, resulting in a rich fruity aroma. Typhoon made alcohol brewed beer 6-pack gift box, recommended price NTD 999. Inquiry hotline: Far Eastern Department Stores, located on the B1 floor of Chiayi store, (05) 236-5137 # 8230.

 

※ Remarks:

1. Drinking alcohol is prohibited under the age of eighteen.

2. The "discounted price" requires the presentation of a group employee identification card, valid until April 30th.

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