Penghu Dried Shrimp

Penghu Dried Shrimp is a sun-dried seafood product made from small shrimp caught in the waters around Penghu, valued for its concentrated umami and reddish-orange color as a common seasoning in local fishing-village cooking, in an area of Baisha Township best known for its similarly sun-dried silverfish industry.

Chikan Village in Penghu's Baisha Township is one of the island's most representative dried-silverfish production areas, with catching techniques dating back to the Japanese colonial era; the catch is traditionally laid out on nets and sun-dried, a technique that defines Penghu's traditional dried seafood. Dried shrimp is made using a similar sun-drying process, but whether Chikan is also a major dried-shrimp producer, and the claim that dried shrimp and dried silverfish form the fishing village's "twin treasures," could not be confirmed in any official documentation and remains an unverified local claim.

What are Penghu dried shrimp

Penghu dried shrimp are made by sun-drying freshly caught small shrimp (typically hairy shrimp or krill) with no preservatives added. Penghu's powerful northeast monsoon provides highly efficient natural drying conditions, rapidly evaporating moisture from the shrimp bodies and reducing fishiness, leaving the finished product with an orange-red color and a rich aroma. They can be used as an umami-boosting ingredient in fried rice and stir-fried vegetables, or simmered directly into a sweet, savory stock. Even a small amount significantly elevates the depth of flavor in a dish.

Chikan Village is one of the most important dried shrimp production sites in Taiwan. The Penghu County Government Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau lists dried shrimp as a fishing village specialty product for promotion and regularly assists with production and marketing. The season is concentrated in summer to early autumn, when shrimp are abundant, sunlight is strong, and winds are at their peak — conditions that produce the most consistently high-quality product. They can be purchased directly from fishermen or at the Penghu Agricultural and Fishery Specialty Exhibition and Sales Center. Vacuum-packed for room-temperature storage, they are one of the most versatile Penghu agricultural and fishery products to bring back to the main island.

How to use it the local way

Local knowledge

Sources: Penghu County Government Agriculture and Fisheries Bureau fishing village specialty promotion materials, on-site information from Chikan Village fishermen's direct sales, Penghu Agricultural and Fishery Specialty Exhibition and Sales Center. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.