Sun Moon Lake's food draws directly from Thao indigenous culture — a people who have lived along these shores for hundreds of years — blending their traditions with classic Taiwanese street food and a black tea grown in the same climate as India's Assam region. The food street running through Ita Thao village is the main destination for anyone serious about eating here, open all day for grazing.
#1 Sun Moon Lake Black Tea (Ruby No.18)
Sun Moon Lake black tea is grown in the Yuchi area, a microclimate that mirrors India's Assam region closely enough to produce similarly full-bodied leaves. Ruby No.18 was developed by Taiwan's Tea Research Institute by crossing a Burmese strain with a native Taiwanese variety — the result is a tea with a natural hint of cinnamon and soft vanilla that sets it apart from ordinary black tea. Drink it hot or iced.
- Taste the brewed tea in-shop before buying loose leaves to take home — different cultivars vary more than you'd expect.
- Ruby No.18 commands a higher price than standard Assam cultivars; check the label for weight and grade before paying.
- Ruby black tea ice cream sold along Ita Thao village street is one of the area's most popular snacks.
#2 President Fish (Grass Carp)
Grass carp (草魚) from Sun Moon Lake earned the nickname "President Fish" because Chiang Kai-shek was said to be particularly fond of it. Restaurants here prepare it two ways: deep-fried whole until the skin crackles, or steamed with spring onion, ginger, and cilantro. The flesh is fine-textured and clean-tasting — none of the muddy undertone you often get from freshwater fish. It is the signature dish of every lakeside dining room.
- A whole fish runs fairly high per plate — best split between 2 or 3 people.
- Lightly soy-steamed gives a cleaner flavor than fried if you want to taste the fish itself.
- Reserve in advance at better restaurants; some kitchens take only a limited number of whole fish per day.
#3 Indigenous Wild Boar Sausage
Wild boar sausage is a signature food of the Thao people, made from ground boar meat mixed with indigenous spices and marinated in millet wine (<em>millet wine</em>) before being grilled over charcoal until the casing crisps and the interior stays juicy. The flavor is noticeably richer than ordinary pork sausage, and the charcoal smoke drifting down the street is usually your first signal that Ita Thao village is close.
- Eat it straight off the grill while the meat is still juicy — it drops off quickly.
- Some vendors sell fresh vacuum-packed sausage suitable for carry-on luggage; ask at the stall.
- Pair it with bamboo tube rice for a complete Thao indigenous meal.
#4 Sun Moon Lake Tea-Braised Egg
Tea eggs (茶葉蛋) are a beloved street snack across Taiwan, but the Sun Moon Lake version uses local Ruby No.18 black tea and shiitake mushrooms in the braising liquid, producing a deeper aroma and more complex flavor than the standard recipe. The shell is cracked before braising so the liquid seeps all the way through — the egg turns a rich, uniform brown to the core.
- Buy from stalls with a large pot and a long braise time; freshly started batches rarely taste as good.
- Pair with rice porridge for a proper Taiwanese-style lakeside breakfast.
- The eggs here tend to be saltier than the Taiwan average — worth noting if you're watching sodium.
#5 Bamboo Tube Rice
Bamboo tube rice (竹筒飯) is a traditional dish of central Taiwan's indigenous peoples — glutinous rice seasoned and mixed with peanuts, mushrooms, and spices, packed into fresh bamboo tubes, then steamed or roasted over fire. The rice absorbs the bamboo's fragrance, picking up a subtle sweet, woody flavor. Eating it hot, straight from the tube, is one of those simple experiences that stays with you.
- Let the tube cool enough to handle before splitting it down the middle to release the rice.
- Some vendors add pork or chicken; ask first if you want a vegetarian version.
- It travels well in a bag or bicycle basket — a solid lunch option on the lake cycling route.
#6 Aiyu Jelly and Mochi
Aiyu jelly (愛玉凍) is made from the seeds of a fig-family plant native to Taiwan. The gel is clear, pale yellow, and mild-flavored, typically served with fresh lemon juice and ice as a refreshing dessert. Taiwanese mochi (麻糬) here is a chewy, springy rice-flour cake rolled in peanut powder, with red bean or black sesame filling. Both are local staples you'll find all through the village.
- Aiyu over ice is especially good on a hot afternoon after a bike ride.
- Freshly made mochi is noticeably softer and stickier — ask the vendor what time the last batch came out.
- Look for Sun Moon Lake black tea-filled mochi, a local fusion worth trying.
Where to stay in Sun Moon Lake for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Sun Moon Lake — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Ming Yue Hu Hotel
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The Richforest Hotel - Sun Moon Lake
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Hu Yue Lakeview Hotel
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Hotel Del Lago
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Tours, tickets & activities in Sun Moon Lake
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Sun Moon Lake — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Before You Pack
Sun Moon Lake is one of the easier places in Taiwan to find genuinely rare food without much effort. Most of the indigenous dishes are concentrated on Ita Thao village food street, while tea and tea ice cream are available at shops along the entire tourist circuit.