Strawberries: The "False Fruit" We Love to Eat

The jewel-bright red flesh we adore is actually the flower's receptacle—a false fruit—while those tiny specks dotting the surface are the true fruits and seeds.

Originally from South America, strawberries arrived in Taiwan in 1934, though not in their now-famous home of Dahu Township in Miaoli. Early attempts in New Taipei's Jinshan proved disappointing. It wasn't until 1958, when local farmers brought strawberries to Dahu, that magic happened. The soil proved ideal, and Taiwan's Strawberry Village was born. Today, Dahu Township dominates production with 80% of the island's harvest, while Miaoli County claims a commanding 90% of Taiwan's total strawberry bounty.

Strawberries belong to the rose family Fragaria, with over 200 years of global cultivation history. During the Japanese colonial period, botanists even discovered native Taiwanese strawberry species, though they were never commercially cultivated. The delicate nature of strawberries—prone to pests and notoriously difficult to grow—has long made heavy pesticide use a point of contention. Today's picture is more promising: thanks to the organic movement and innovative farmers, some growers now use predictive pest management to dramatically reduce chemical inputs, successfully producing certified, pest-free strawberries that prove sustainable cultivation is possible.

Toyonoka Rules the Fields

Taiwan currently grows about five strawberry varieties, with Toyonoka—known locally as Feng Hsiang (豐香)—as the original heavyweight champion, prized for its intense flavor. But farmers have largely switched to Kasumi—Hsiang Shui (香水)— for its superior disease resistance. While Japan exports plenty of strawberries to Taiwan—including those coveted white varieties—industry insiders insist local berries hold their own in taste and aroma. Plus, they're fresher and far cheaper than any fruit that needs a plane ticket.

Nutritionally, strawberries pack more vitamin C than apples or grapes and aid digestion, earning them the title Queen of Fruits. For Taiwan's dessert devotees, winter strawberries remain an essential sweet indulgence not to be missed.