"Taiwan's Station in the UK" (Episode 6)

"Taiwan's Station in the UK" (Episode 6)

To promote Taiwanese pastries in the UK, one must understand the tastes that the British like. So I decided to take it a step further and join the Cambridge Country Market organization to sell pineapple cakes to foreigners at the open market in the center of Cambridge. I worked hard to understand the local tastes. I did that for more than four years until the market had to close its stall in Cambridge after 52 years due to a lack of manpower.

At the market, I learned a lot about life and work attitudes from those elderly British ladies, and also learned some English. Even in the freezing winter, setting up a stall outdoors at -2 degrees Celsius was really unpleasant, but my colleagues, who were all in their 60s and 70s, still stood for eight hours straight, which I admired immensely. I felt too ashamed to slack off. The rigorous test taught me a strong will and the perseverance that has enabled me to get to where I am today.

Over the years, besides striving to make delicious pineapple cakes, I've also tried making fruit pastries in different flavors. Taiwan is a fruit kingdom, but sometimes we encounter overproduction and can't export them, which is truly heartbreaking. High-quality tropical fruits are not easy to preserve, so it would be more practical to use them in dessert fillings. Fruit fillings have a sugar content of about 75%, which acts as a natural preservative. With vacuum packaging, they can be stored for three years, allowing them to be shipped overseas for sale. This reduces farmers' sales costs and solves the problem, while also enhancing the reputation of Taiwanese tropical fruits.

Desserts are as essential to the British lifestyle as three meals a day; they are indispensable. Therefore, if fruit tarts can be made into healthier desserts with less sugar than British desserts, or served as banquet desserts or gifts, and sold to the British people and their children and families, coupled with the support of the local Chinese community, then production volume can truly help fruit farmers.

We sincerely hope to extend the reach of Taiwanese agricultural products into a brand image that promotes culture, thereby providing the greatest possible assistance to Taiwanese fruit farmers.

My background in art came in handy. I applied my skills to incorporate design elements such as petals, hearts, and lace into unique shapes, creating different variations that perfectly blended "Taiwanese flavor and English afternoon tea." I hope that one day I can promote exquisite, delicious, and high-quality Taiwanese desserts to the international stage, allowing more foreigners to see the glory of Taiwan through these culinary delights.

Starting my own bakery was like being both the principal and the bell ringer at the beginning. I had to do everything myself, from production, marketing, shipping, R&D, packaging design, and website setup. Even the photography was my own creative design and independent product photography. All these challenges almost turned me into a jack-of-all-trades. From knowing nothing to figuring out a path and becoming a professional, I had to work incredibly hard to slowly achieve some success. It truly filled my life with joy and a sense of accomplishment.

Over the years, Kang Chiao Bakery has collaborated with the Ofund Foundation for Chinese Overseas Students at the University of Exeter to hold charity sales, with proceeds going to the education of children in rural areas. It has also been invited by the Students' Union of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, to hold a sun cake teaching activity and introduce traditional Taiwanese pastries to foreigners in the UK.

Enjoying delicious food is a joy in life. It not only satisfies our hunger, but also allows us to appreciate the color, aroma, and taste of desserts. We hope that those who taste the pastries can feel a sense of happiness, and that every bite is a combination of love.

The reason I can keep going despite all this hardship is my "willpower." I can sell my cakes for charity, and the profits can support my work. I find joy in giving back, seeing the happy smiles of the children at the Taiwan Family Support Center, and warming the hearts of the homeless in Cambridge with delicious food. I support my mission with my business, so no matter what the future holds, I will continue to do charity and "never give up."

My ultimate goal in starting this business is to integrate Taiwanese pastries into British culture and the lives of expats, and finally donate a portion of the profits to charitable organizations in need. This mission makes my work increasingly interesting, and I hope that pineapple cakes and Taiwanese pastries can be widely promoted in the UK and throughout Europe, becoming a source of pride for Taiwan.

Stay tuned for the summary and sharing of insights.