What do all of these things have in common? An obsession with craft, whether it be artisan or technological. I once heard someone describe Taiwan as the "Portland of Asia," and that stuck with me. The passion for inventing and revitalizing products with heart is endlessly inspiring.

9. Din Tai Fung Robotic Service: The chain is blowing up stateside, but it’s still best at the source. The Taipei 101 location features a larger menu, more variety in soup dumplings, and fleets of robots working alongside human servers. High tech meets high touch.

8. OMAR Single Malt Whisky: Kavalan is the big player that has grown globally since its release, but several local friends recommended Nantou’s OMAR as the emerging favorite. I picked up a bottle at duty-free to verify if the hype is real.

7. Reversed Caramel Egg Pudding: If you know, you know. Unified Pudding is a nostalgic, iconic staple. They recently got playful and flipped the design, literally reversing the look and the flavor layers. A limited release went viral, so they brought it back.

6. Zou Zhou Yuan (Alishan Coffee): Taiwan is famous for tea, but it is rapidly transferring its skillsets to coffee. Brands both big and small are reimagining the craft. Zou Zhou Yuan is one example, once a high-mountain tea farm, now an award-winning coffee estate.

5. McDonald’s Grimace Coin Purse: While the US gets the Grinch, Taiwan is all-in on Grimace with limited-edition furry coin purses that sold out instantly. It connects to the furry accessory trend (yes, including Labubu) that has taken over the island.

4. adidas Originals (Dihua Street): A brand new opening on Taipei’s oldest heritage street. The retail space blends seamlessly into the historical architecture while featuring the brand’s recent global release of traditional Chinese-inspired styles.

3. Taihu Concept Breweries: Taiwan Beer is the island’s staple, but since the government opened up the liquor market, a craft scene has been emerging. Taihu is a leader and stands out with its themed concept spaces like a Japanese gyoza bar and tiki-themed location.

2. 7-Eleven X BEAMS DESIGN: Taiwan has the highest density of convenience stores in the world, and they serve as drop sites for limited-edition collaborations and brand takeovers. These socks by Japanese brand BEAMS sold out before I could get a pair.

1. Maestro Wu Bombshell Knives: Forged on Kinmen Island using Cold War artillery shells fired from China. These are tools literally embedded with history and meaning. Pro tip: Get them at Jende Industries in Kaohsiung and ask for Tom.

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