When using chopsticks, never stick your chopsticks in the bowl. When people pass, we stick incense stick into rice to pray for them.
--Yingyingchen29
80
Don't say you hate a food or are grossed out by it. (Instead, say you "don't dare" eat it or are "afraid of" it! -- This is a completely forgivable way of avoiding something that we use among ourselves all the time!)
--Chenluolan
60
You don't need to leave a tip. -- Some higher-end restaurants will add gratuity to your bill (which should be noted somewhere on the menu as a forewarning... usually 10%), but otherwise, it's simply not a thing.
--Chenluolan
40
Don't be fooled by tea sugar levels. "Normal" or "regular" (aka full) sugar is NOT normal. People usually order half sugar at most. #diabetes. Also, "Less" is 70-80% sweetness, not 30%. -- When you see "Normal > Less > Half > Little > No sugar" think "Extra > Heavy > Medium > Light > No sugar ADDED.
--ResidentEgg
00
Don't assume ordering tea with "no sugar" means it's necessarily sugar-free. It only means no extra syrup will be added. Ex. Bubbles are cooked in sugar, so any bubble tea will still be sugary. (No sugar oolong/green tea should always be fine, but black tea is sometimes brewed sweet. Ask first.)
--ResidentEgg – PSA for Diabetics
00
At gatherings, when people come up with their drink and say "乾杯" {gan1bei1}, don't say it back, like you would in China or Japan, unless you promise to immediately chug your entire drink down. Instead, say "隨意" {sui2 yi4} and take a sip or however much you want.
--Rad
Taiwanese love to make sure guests are full & happy, so when being treated to a family style meal, mention you're getting full before it's really true. After an "I shouldn't... but it's so good!" you can finish your meal. They'll be pleased it was worth eating more of & you won't be overly stuffed!
--Chenluolan
50
When dining family style, digging in enthusiastically will not only make your host happy, it'll also show you're not helpless. This is especially key for picky eaters, because if people think you don't know what to do they'll help you fill your bowl & you'll lose your chance to choose what you want.
--Chenluolan
40
Stinky tofu tastes better than it smells. Who knows, you might like it right away! But even if you don't, try ONE bite every time you're offered (deep fried only, not in soup). It just might grow on you!
--ResidentEgg
10
If you have celiac disease, be aware that most Taiwanese soy sauce has wheat in it. Some Japanese soy sauces are gluten-free (in the imports section of some grocery stores). -- Meanwhile, you sadly may find that you must prepare nearly all of your own food to avoid cookware contamination.
--Chenluolan
10
At home, bring your tap water to a quick boil before considering it safe to drink.
--Rad
00
In a restaurant, when your teapot runs out of water, rearrange the lid so that it's obviously out of place. The wait staff will hop right on it.
--Rad
00
If you go to a large dinner gathering, especially one with large tables, ask someone if there'll be multiple food courses. Having 12 courses of food is not abnormal. You don't want to fill up too soon.
--Rad
