Driving south from Hualien City into the Rift Valley, Fenglin Township is the first Hakka village you reach. Arcade storefronts along the main street display row after row of amber-colored glass jars, each holding whole peeled red and green chilies submerged in brine, gleaming in the sunlight. This is peeled chili — made generation after generation in Fenglin Hakka households from grandmother to grandchild — and one of the most famous souvenirs from the East Rift Valley.
What is Peeled Chili
The process sounds simple but is labor-intensive: green chilies are deep-fried until the skin blisters, then peeled one by one while still hot, and soaked in a seasoning blend of soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine. The result is salty-sweet with tamed heat — eaten on their own with rice, chopped and tossed with noodles, braised in chicken soup, or simmered in pork rib soup, all common home uses. Bottled, they keep at room temperature for months, making them one of the few Hualien–Taitung souvenirs that both last and are versatile.
Why is Fenglin the origin? The official materials of the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area explicitly list peeled chili as one of the "Three Treasures of Fenglin" (the other two being peanuts and garlic chives), and Fenglin is widely recognized across Taiwan as the originating township. With ample sunshine in the Fenglin Hakka region producing high-quality chilies, Hakka home cooks developed this skin-removed, brine-preserved technique to extend shelf life. The Fengrong District Farmers' Association, Jinpin Sauce Garden, and other brands have produced it for years, and small family workshops in town each have their own recipe — a culinary cluster with no single dominant producer.
How to pick the authentic product
Local know-how
Verified endorsements (ad-free)
- The East Rift Valley National Scenic Area officially lists peeled chili as one of the "Three Treasures of Fenglin" and recognizes Fenglin as its origin across Taiwan.
- The Fengrong District Farmers' Association has long supported Fenglin chili farmers and processing brands; the association's own-brand products are considered highly reliable.
- Jinpin Sauce Garden and other Fenglin-based sauce houses have been producing peeled chili for decades, with over 1,000 Google reviews and wide distribution through souvenir channels.
Practical tips
- Heat levels vary significantly between family workshops. If you're spice-sensitive, buy a small jar first to taste before stocking up.
- Once opened, refrigerate and consume within one month for best texture — sitting too long causes the chilies to release water and turn soft.
- Many small handcraft workshops in Fenglin don't have storefronts. Start your shopping at the farmers' association or the cluster of vendors near the main intersection on Gongjheng Road.
Data compiled from Hualien County Government Tourism Department, local township farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.