One of the most unique things I tried in Taipei, Taiwan, was the bitter melon juice. When I first arrived in Taipei, I noticed the many vendors selling bitter melon juice there. Sounded kind of wierd…bitter melon juice, it didn’t exactly sound quite appealing. However my curiosity got the best of me, so when I finally got the chance, I definitely had to try this strange sounding drink.
Vendor in Ximending district, Taipei, selling bitter melon juice.
When my wife and I visited the Ximending shopping district of Taipei city, there was a vendor on the most northern end of Hanzhong Street selling bitter melon juice. You cannot miss it, there’s a huge bitter melon display all around the stall. What I find is unique about the bitter melon you find in Taipei is that is not your typical green coloured gourd. The bitter melons in Taipei are an interesting white colour!
The owner of the stall preparing some drinks.
We ordered one cup of this brew. It was suprisingly simple how they prepared this drink. Just some bitter melon, put it into a juicer, add some ice and water, and top it off with some honey. The moment I took a sip of this drink…I was quite shocked at how good it was. There was a slight bitter tinge to it, but combined with the sweetness of the honey, it tasted quite refreshing! So if you ever are passing by the Ximending district, do try this unique drink out. You will be quite surprised (maybe for the good, or bad…you decide!).
Notice the unique white colour skin of the bitter melon.
Close up view of the bitter melon.
Visitor’s Information to the Bitter Melon Juice Stall in Ximending District:
Location: North end of Hanzhong St, in Ximending district
Nearest MRT subway station: Ximen MRT station
Location map of the bitter melon juice stall in Ximending.
Have you tried the bitter melon juice in Taipei before? Did you think it was good? Please share your feedback in the comments below!
