Berlin food writer Cici Chen breaks European stereotypes with debut Taiwanese cookbook

In the era of globalization, culinary culture has become a vital bridge for deep cultural exchange between nations and regions. However, for German readers long accustomed to a distant perspective on Asia, Asian cuisine is often reduced to a vague and generalized concept, obscuring its refined and diverse nuances. To break this stereotype, Berlin-based food writer and content creator Cici Chen has recently released a German-language cookbook dedicated exclusively to Taiwanese cuisine. The work not only reflects her passion for gastronomy but also embodies her ambitious goal of introducing the authentic culinary culture of Taiwan to the European world, injecting a fresh wave of local flavor and cultural depth into the German-speaking reading market.

To ensure the cookbook truly captures the essence of Taiwanese food, Chen demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and a field-research mindset. On the eve of the book’s publication, she undertook a four-month immersive journey to Taiwan, personally stepping onto this land rich in human warmth. Over these four months, her travels spanned the streets and alleys across the island, ranging from bustling traditional markets and local street food stalls to historic old towns and vibrant night markets. Through extensive exploration and documentation, she engaged in conversations with local vendors and tasted every dish firsthand. This process allowed her to collect not only recipes but also to deeply understand the respect and emotional connection that Taiwanese people hold for food, experiences that have become the core soul of her subsequent writing and culinary creations.

The central significance of this newly published German-language cookbook lies in its attempt to clarify and reshape the established perception of “Asian cuisine” in German society. In the past, books on Asian food in the German publishing market have largely focused on more mainstream cuisines such as Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, or Chinese, while Taiwanese cuisine was often overshadowed by the broad label of “Asian.” Through this work, Chen meticulously outlines the unique trajectory of Taiwanese culinary culture, which is a fusion of Minnan, Hakka, Indigenous, and mainland Chinese (Wai-sheng) communities. She seamlessly combines these complex historical contexts with modern culinary innovations, transforming them into German-language recipes that are easy for German households to prepare, allowing European readers to understand the diversity and inclusivity of Taiwanese culture through taste.

Having successfully transitioned from a content creator to a food writer, Chen has long managed her culinary content in Berlin, giving her a profound understanding of German readers’ tastes and reading habits. She knows that introducing an unfamiliar culinary landscape to a Western audience requires more than a cold list of ingredients; it demands engaging stories and visual presentation to build resonance. Therefore, her cookbook not only details cooking steps but also incorporates stories of local customs and people witnessed during her four months in Taiwan. This writing style, which blends culinary culture with travel literature, significantly enhances the book’s readability, elevating it beyond a mere reference tool into a collection of cultural essays with high collectible value.

With the release of this German-language cookbook dedicated to Taiwanese cuisine in Berlin, it has brought a refreshing breeze to the German publishing and food industries while playing a crucial role in public diplomacy and cultural export. Through the transmission of words and dishes, an increasing number of readers in Europe are able to bridge geographical distances, imagining and recognizing the contours of Taiwan through a bowl of soup or a plate of food. This cross-border publishing project proves that food is the most borderless language, and that Taiwan’s unique culinary culture is taking root and flourishing on the European continent through such meticulous cultivation, allowing the world to witness Taiwan’s captivating cultural soft power.

(Source: Central News Agency)