Sarsaparilla Soft Drink (沙士汽水)
Lunch @ '度小月' (www.iddi.com.tw/) in Taipei.
Hey Song (黑松) is a big beverage brand in Taiwan. One of it's flagship label and taste is the Sarsaparilla soft drink. Folks who has never tasted "Sarsi" tends to hate it as it's earthy, herbal and almost medicinal like taste can be polarising. Colleagues here across the Strait in Shanghai are not very fond of the aroma and taste that reminds them of Chinese medicated oils.
On the other hand, it is a taste familiar to many Southeast Asian countries with Taiwan the only exception out of the mix. (I grew up loving the taste in Singapore). The closest thing in Western context will be the "Root Beer" of the US, although "Root Beer" is a lot tamer and creamier.
I have the fortune of coming across the Sarsaparilla tree in the state of Tasmania in Australia. I still remember rubbing the bark and leaves in my hands and inhaling the familiar and exhilarating perfume.
Sarsaparilla Soft Drink (沙士汽水)
Lunch @ '度小月' (www.iddi.com.tw/) in Taipei.
Hey Song (黑松) is a big beverage brand in Taiwan. One of it's flagship label and taste is the Sarsaparilla soft drink. Folks who has never tasted "Sarsi" tends to hate it as it's earthy, herbal and almost medicinal like taste can be polarising. Colleagues here across the Strait in Shanghai are not very fond of the aroma and taste that reminds them of Chinese medicated oils.
On the other hand, it is a taste familiar to many Southeast Asian countries with Taiwan the only exception out of the mix. (I grew up loving the taste in Singapore). The closest thing in Western context will be the "Root Beer" of the US, although "Root Beer" is a lot tamer and creamier.
I have the fortune of coming across the Sarsaparilla tree in the state of Tasmania in Australia. I still remember rubbing the bark and leaves in my hands and inhaling the familiar and exhilarating perfume.