A taste of friendship across the water

Recently, renaibao, a kind of hot rice cream popular in the Chinese mainland, has become a hit in Taiwan province. Zheng Yaling, a Gen Zer from Taiwan, has set up her own business by selling homemade renaibao in the town of Beigang. She tells of her experience in the China Daily show Gen Z's Words.

To her surprise, her customers showed great interest in the mainland treat. Dealing with customers, she found that this was not just business but a cultural exchange between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

In Taiwan, Zheng Yaling saw many foods from the mainland, such as Chengdu carambola ice, Chongqing hot and sour noodles, Shanxi sliced noodles and so on. Not only that, but during cross-Straits exchanges she came across Taiwan culinary specialties everywhere, from beef noodle soup and braised pork on rice to rice balls, stinky tofu and tantalizing hand-shaken drinks.

"I was deeply affected by the enthusiasm of everyone I met," Zheng says. "They asked about my studies in the mainland and how I was faring with the weather and cuisine there."

Zheng says that in Taiwan, TikTok and Little Red Book, and even Bilibili have become very popular among young people. She often had customers buying hot milk treasure, saying things such as "I've been watching Little Red Book and TikTok videos for a while. Today I finally get to eat it here in Beigang, and I'm so happy."

One of her reasons for selling renaibao in Taiwan, Zheng Yaling tells Gen Z's words, is that she wanted to bring more trendy food from the mainland, so that people could enjoy their wonderful flavor.

Food from the mainland has become popular among youngsters in Taiwan. "We would love it if our Taiwanese friends could join us for an exchange of knowledge and travel in the mainland," Zheng says.