Taiwan Vibes Summer Series Brings Taiwanese Culture to Life in New York
This summer, TCML–New York Taiwan Center launched the Taiwan Vibes Summer Series, a six-workshop series inviting New Yorkers to experience Taiwan through hands-on crafts, food, language, and cultural traditions.
From Hakka indigo dyeing and pineapple cakes to shaved ice and night markets, each workshop offered a different window into Taiwanese culture—giving participants the opportunity not only to learn about these traditions, but also to make, taste, and experience them for themselves.
The series kicked off with two Hakka Indigo Dyeing Workshops, offered at beginner and advanced levels. Participants learned about the history of Hakka indigo dyeing before experimenting with folding, tying, and dyeing techniques to create their own one-of-a-kind pieces. The advanced workshop introduced snowflake-inspired dyeing patterns, with participants creating crisp blue-and-white designs that brought a refreshing touch to the hot New York summer.
Food was another highlight of the series. At the Pineapple Cake & Taiwanese Tea workshop, participants made their own pineapple cakes and enjoyed Wenshan Baozhong tea (文山包種茶), exploring two distinctive flavors of Taiwan through a hands-on tasting experience. The Ang Ku Kueh (Red Tortoise Cake) & Cao Zai Guo (Herbal Rice Cake) workshop introduced participants to two traditional Taiwanese rice cakes. By making them from scratch, participants also discovered how these foods are connected to Taiwanese festivals, family traditions, and cultural customs.
As temperatures climbed, the Taiwanese Shaved Ice workshop brought a taste of a Taiwanese summer to New York. Participants made “QQ” (chewy and bouncy) taro and sweet potato balls from scratch, then built their own bowls of shaved ice with a variety of Taiwanese-style toppings. The workshop offered a fun and refreshing way to discover one of Taiwan’s favorite summertime treats.
The series wrapped up with the Taiwan Night Market Experience, inspired by one of the most iconic parts of everyday life in Taiwan. Participants made Taiwanese-style candied tomatoes with preserved plum, sampled night market snacks, and tried their hand at Mahjong Bingo, Ring Toss, and Taiwanese Pinball. The workshop also explored the connection between temples and night markets, showing how food stalls, vendors, and entertainment often developed around places where communities gathered. Through food, games, and cultural stories, participants gained a deeper understanding of the role night markets continue to play in everyday life in Taiwan.
Mandarin learning was woven throughout the series. Each workshop introduced practical vocabulary connected to the day’s theme, giving participants a chance to encounter Mandarin naturally while cooking, creating, tasting, and playing.
Across all six workshops, Taiwan Vibes brought language learning beyond the classroom and made Taiwanese culture something participants could experience firsthand. Through food, crafts, traditions, and conversation, TCML–New York Taiwan Center created new ways for New Yorkers from different backgrounds to discover Taiwan—and perhaps even begin their own Mandarin-learning journey.
Stay Connected
Want to learn more about Taiwanese culture and Mandarin learning in New York?
Visit TCML–New York Taiwan Center online and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming classes, cultural programs, and community events.
Website: nytaiwancenter.org/mandarin
Facebook & Instagram: @NewYorkTaiwanCenter
