Braised Pork Rice and Bubble Tea Captivate Norwegian Residents; Local Government Supports Taiwan Food Festival

(Central News Agency, Helsinki, 8th, by special correspondent Wu Chi-lin) The flavors of Taiwan wafted through the central square of the small Norwegian town of Askim, with offerings including zongzi (rice dumplings), braised pork rice (lurou fan), and bubble tea. On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, Taiwanese culture captivated local residents and people who made a special trip from Oslo in Northern Europe. Taiwan's Representative to Sweden, Yeh Fei-pi, also attended to show support, and the event received extensive coverage from local media.

The Norwegian Taiwanese Association held the second Taiwan Food and Culture Festival yesterday in Askim's central square. The square is adjacent to the train station, with a shopping center and water park nearby, providing excellent foot traffic. Food stalls offered egg cakes, egg tarts, and classic grilled sausages. Cultural experiences included Taiwanese tea ceremony, calligraphy, sachet making, Chinese knotting, and diabolo (Chinese yo-yo), creating a lively atmosphere with plenty of food and fun.

The tea ceremony experience was led by Lin Jie-ting, a Chinese language lecturer at the University of Oslo, assisted by student volunteers. The venue was full, with Norwegian participants exploring the history of Taiwanese tea and enjoying cup after cup. Among the attendees was a local council member, a former student of Lin's from the University of Oslo, who returned to the tea table to enjoy tea with fellow townspeople.

Taiwan's Representative to Sweden, Yeh Fei-pi, and Secretary Chang Wei-hsun also traveled from Stockholm to attend. Norwegian media outlet "Smaalenenes Avis" covered the event, publishing extensive reports and photos. In an interview with the newspaper, Yeh said, "I hope to give more people the opportunity to experience our traditions. There are currently about 900 Taiwanese people in Norway. I hope our Norwegian friends will want to integrate and learn about our culture, a beautiful culture that combines tradition and modern history."

The choice of Askim was not accidental. Local Taiwanese resident Yan Jun-ting runs a bubble tea shop called July Tea in the area, specializing in bubble tea and Taiwanese snacks like popcorn chicken, which led to connections with city officials. Association President Angela Wang told Central News Agency, "The Askim city government actively promotes immigrant cultural integration. They proactively provided the square venue, water, electricity, tables, and chairs. Last year's first edition was a trial run here, and it received good word-of-mouth. This year, the city government proactively contacted us to hold it again."

On the day of the event, small and large Taiwanese flags were visible throughout the square. Wang said that while there might have been some concerns in the past, the city government was very supportive, saying "it's absolutely not a problem here," so they filled the square with flags.

According to Norwegian media reports, a Norwegian man named Jørgen, who came specifically from Oslo, said, "The capital doesn't have a festival like this," explaining why he came to Askim. Therese, who is of Taiwanese-Norwegian descent, held her child and said, "We don't usually cook Taiwanese food at home. Being able to buy the flavors of home that my mother used to make when I was a child is really wonderful and touching."

Wenche, who was out with her dog, said she loves Taiwanese food. While waiting for her son and daughter-in-law, she prepared to enjoy the food she had just bought. Max, the dog belonging to Lersbryggen, kept staring at the grilled sausage stall next to him, ignoring any dog treats offered.

The association has been established for over 30 years. After Wang took over as president in 2016, she renamed it the Taiwanese Association, reflecting the idea that regardless of whether they are old or new immigrants, everyone loves Taiwan. This year, her son also volunteered. Wang said that although she is busy working at a tech company, her children are grown, making it a good time to contribute to the community. She hopes to move the event to Oslo next year or the year after, joining the ranks of regular cultural events held by countries like Japan and Korea. (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan) 1150608