Two rum products from Taiwan took the top Grand Gold prize at the Vinalies Internationales in France earlier this month. The winning rums were the result of a joint research project by Taiwan Sugar Research Institute and National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT) to produce rhum agricole, a style of rum made from sugarcane juice rather than molasses.
Taiwan Sugar Corp (Taisugar) chairman Wu Ming-chang (吳明昌) said winning gold at the event has put a spotlight on Taiwanese rum.
The nation now has a prominent place in rhum agricole production and Taiwanese distilleries have a firmer foothold in local and global markets, he said.
Photo courtesy of the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism
The rums were made from the juice of a sugarcane variety developed in Taiwan called ROC24, which is known for its native wild cane DNA. It was cultivated at Taisugar’s Shanhua Sugar Factory in Tainan’s Liuying Plantation (柳營農場), Wu said.
The “Rhum Agricole Pur Jus de Canne de Formose Coeur de chauffe Ambre Hors d’Age” and the “Rhum Agricole Pur Jus de Canne de Formose Coeur de Chauffe Hors d’Age” were double matured in wood barrels at the Shu-Sheug Leisure Domaine in Taichung.
“The distillation and maturation process had to overcome Taiwan’s hot and humid weather. To prevent oxidation and discoloration, we fermented the sugarcane juice at a low temperature. Then we used our special techniques to distill the rum base and stored it for four years in oak barrels made by NKUHT lecturer Chen Chien-hao (陳千浩) and the Shu-Sheug Leisure Domain,” Wu said.
The result is a rum with an aroma of fresh sugarcane juice, distinct sweetness and smoothness, Wu said.
Chen said that it was not easy to reach such high quality in just four years.
The process must start with high-quality sugarcane juice, undergo distillation using special techniques, and requires a good environment and the right conditions, he said.
“Only then can we produce the honest-to-goodness original aroma, sweetness and flavor of rhum agricole,” Chen said.
Taiwan’s unique brewing culture has been lost for more than eight decades, since the then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regime implemented the system of alcohol and tobacco monopoly board after World War II, he said.
Distillery and alcohol production only became available to the private sector in recent decades, he added.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS