# Mexican ingredients in Taipei **URL:** \ **Category:** Food & Drink\ **Created:** [April 5, 2022, 6:40am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521 "2022-04-05T06:40:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DogmaticStoic](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dogmaticstoic/32/179644_2.png) [@DogmaticStoic](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DogmaticStoic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 6:40am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/1 "2022-04-05T06:40:41Z")
Hi just wondering if anyone knows where to buy Mexican ingredients in Taipei. Looking for canned hominy, epizote, vanilla, tomatillos, various Chilli like chilli de arbo (want to make pezole Verde, refried black beans guacamole, enchiladas, ECT.) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![SunWuKong](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/sunwukong/32/125743_2.png) [@SunWuKong](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/SunWuKong)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 9:09am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/2 "2022-04-05T09:09:28Z")
> [@DogmaticStoic](#): > > chilli de arbo de _arbol_? I haven’t seen that, but if you don’t care about authenticity, I find refried black beans, guacamole, and enchilada sauce sometimes at Jason’s, Carrefour, and various online shops at Shoppe. You should look at a Shoppe shop called Tu Tienda. If there’s anything Mexican available in Taiwan they usually have it. > **[Tu Tiendita, 線上商店 | 蝦皮購物](https://shopee.tw/latingirl)** > > 歡迎來到我的店 Tiendita Express. > Welcome to Tiendita Express > Tienda online especializada en productos importados de Latinoamérica y europea. 提供完整透明的商品資訊，買家評價評論讓你安心無虞不踩雷，即刻挖掘更多Tu Tiendita線上促銷優惠。 ---
**Author:** ![lostinasia](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/lostinasia/32/60703_2.png) [@lostinasia](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/lostinasia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:04am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/3 "2022-04-05T10:04:17Z")
- Hominy, dried or canned: never seen it here. I bring dried back from Canada. Not all that easy to find in Vancouver either! - Epizote: ditto. - Other chiles: ditto. A few years ago fresh jalapeños showed up in supermarkets for a few months, but they didn’t last long. Every few years I investigate North American websites that could deliver a range of chiles, but I’ve never found anything that works for Taiwan. iHerb used to sell dried ancho chilies, but no longer. As far as I know, we’re stuck with jarred or canned jalapeños, and canned chipotles in adobo, the latter almost always diced. I have bought ancho seeds (yes, so labelled) at the Jianguo Flower Market. I presumably killed those seeds before they had a chance to give me either ancho or poblano chiles. - Vanilla: vanilla extract available pretty much everywhere, I think. Pods often available in higher-end baking stores & supermarkets (City Super, Jason’s, maybe the Tianmu Carrefour). - Canned tomatillos: to my surprise, currently regularly available at the two Carrefours I frequent (Danshui & Zhishan-Tianmu). I’ve never seen fresh here. They’re in the “stock up while they’ve got them category”, since they previously vanished for five or six years. - Not on your list: I’ve seen masa harina the past couple of times I’ve been to the Taipei 101 Jason’s, which is unusual - that’s another ingredient that can disappear for a year or more. - Implied by your list: I don’t think I’ve ever seen dried black beans here in supermarkets here, or at least the “right” kind. _Maybe_ I saw these for sale at Kook’s (restaurant in Danshui), but I’m not sure. EDIT: I get them from iHerb. As for processed stuff: - Guacamole “cups” often available at Costco. They’re not the best but I do buy them because they’re a manageable portion. My wife isn’t fond of guacamole, I can’t get through a whole avocado’s worth on my own, and it’s not a food that keeps well. I’ve also seen jarred guacamole dip but I’ve never bought it. - For better guacamole: Haas avocados are easier to find than they used to be: most supermarkets stock them, I think, although once in a while they’ll vanish for a month or two. - Canned refried black beans usually available at the right Carrefours. - Canned enchilada sauce, both red and green, often available at the right Carrefours, City Super, Jason’s. See also: > [@Latin, Hispanic, Mexican, Colombian Food/Groceries/Spices](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/latin-hispanic-mexican-colombian-food-groceries-spices/24928): > > Anyone knows where can I find Colombian/Mexican/Hispanic/Latin American food or spices… ??? Maybe a restaurant or a grocery store??? > [@Mexican Food for the Small Kitchen](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-food-for-the-small-kitchen/23544): > > A friend asked me today to share my recipe for ceviche. I got to thinking about some of my time spent in Mexico. I really missed the foods from there so when I arrived here I started trying to find the ingredients needed. I have found everything I need for my favorites so I thought I would share some of the more popular ones. Mexican food is quick and easy to make since it is mostly made of meats commonly found here and fresh fruits and vegetable also common here. A few items that you might nee… > [@WCIF achiote paste or annatto seeds in Taiwan?](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/wcif-achiote-paste-or-annatto-seeds-in-taiwan/48769): > > oh please oh please oh please oh please! pray > [@WCIF hominy?](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/wcif-hominy/214377): > > Trying to make pozoles for my Mexican wife who misses home. > [@Whole Hominy Corn/Posole](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/whole-hominy-corn-posole/66878): > > I have been looking for White or even Yellow Hominy for a while now. Looked high and low in Hong Kong and even Singapore: no luck. Saw a post for grits but that is not the same thing I am looking for. Even the small cans would be helpful in my cooking. Any sightings of this item in a store anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![DogmaticStoic](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dogmaticstoic/32/179644_2.png) [@DogmaticStoic](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DogmaticStoic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:09am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/4 "2022-04-05T10:09:16Z")
Thank you!!! I can make the salsas myself using local chilies. Though it’s not quite as good /different flavor it’s not so bad I think. I tried guacamole here using local chili as a substitute and it still came out pretty good. The other things are good to know. I didn’t see at my carrefour but I’ll back I probably just missed it. Those tomatillos mean I can make modified salsa Verde! Luckily I found dried black beans at Jasons. If there’s one thing I just can’t tolerate it’s canned or machine processed refried beans! But now I can just make it myself (though too bad about epizote) I’ve subbed epizote with a mix of cilantro and oregano and it’s… Acceptable ---
**Author:** ![Andrew](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/andrew/32/179806_2.png) [@Andrew](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Andrew)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:12am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/5 "2022-04-05T10:12:40Z")
> [@lostinasia](#): > > Other chiles: ditto. A few years ago fresh jalapeños showed up in supermarkets for a few months, but they didn’t last long. Every few years I investigate North American websites that could deliver a range of chiles, but I’ve never found anything that works for Taiwan. iHerb used to sell dried ancho chilies, but no longer. As far as I know, we’re stuck with jarred or canned jalapeños, and canned chipotles in adobo, the latter almost always diced. I have bought ancho seeds (yes, so labelled) at the Jianguo Flower Market. I presumably killed those seeds before they had a chance to give me either ancho or poblano chiles. You know about this guy yeah? > **[Mr. Chili Pepper 辣椒先生 | Xinbei](https://www.facebook.com/taipeichiliman/)** > > Mr. Chili Pepper 辣椒先生, Xizhi. 642 likes · 18 were here. Mr. Chili Pepper is your one-stop shop for all of your hot pepper needs! We've got everything from j ---
**Author:** ![lostinasia](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/lostinasia/32/60703_2.png) [@lostinasia](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/lostinasia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:14am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/6 "2022-04-05T10:14:13Z")
> [@Andrew](#): > > You know about this guy yeah? > > [Mr. Chili Pepper 辣椒先生 | Xinbei](https://www.facebook.com/taipeichiliman/) Nope! But I’ll be investigating. As far as I can tell that’s the first time he’s been brought up in the forum - I can’t find him anywhere else in search results. ---
**Author:** ![Aikaili](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/aikaili/32/100376_2.png) [@Aikaili](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Aikaili)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:14am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/7 "2022-04-05T10:14:55Z")
I order jalapenos from him and they are wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![lostinasia](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/lostinasia/32/60703_2.png) [@lostinasia](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/lostinasia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:15am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/8 "2022-04-05T10:15:49Z")
> [@DogmaticStoic](#): > > Luckily I found dried black beans at Jasons. Good luck! I’m guessing those are dried black soy beans. (I’ve heard those don’t work, but I’ve never tried.) > You can use most **black beans** interchangeably, though **turtle beans** are a little smaller. Just make sure you don’t use **black** soy **beans** , which have a completely **different** flavour and texture. [https://askinglot.com/whats-the-difference-between-black-beans-and-black-turtle-beans](https://askinglot.com/whats-the-difference-between-black-beans-and-black-turtle-beans) > **[Black Soybeans](https://www.cooksinfo.com/black-soybeans)** > > Black Soybeans are soybeans that have a black seed coat on the outside of the bean. Inside, they are the same colour as regular yellow soybeans. They are smaller, though, than yellow soybeans. A variety called "Tamba" grown in Japan is somewhat... ---
**Author:** ![Andrew](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/andrew/32/179806_2.png) [@Andrew](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Andrew)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:17am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/9 "2022-04-05T10:17:31Z")
> [@lostinasia](#): > > Nope! But I’ll be investigating. As far as I can tell that’s the first time he’s been brought up in the forum - I can’t find him anywhere else in search results. Ah okay, thought you’d be aware of him. I’ve never bought anything from him (except a couple of second-hand pans), but he seems to regularly sell various types of chilis. ---
**Author:** ![Aikaili](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/aikaili/32/100376_2.png) [@Aikaili](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Aikaili)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:19am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/10 "2022-04-05T10:19:41Z")
That’s a good list. It’s weird how we see masa harina for awhile and then it’s gone. Places like Masa tacos make their own masa for Taiwanese corn. I think that means there must dried hominy somewhere here. We get polenta and occasionally grits and cornmeal. I’m surprised grits (Georgia ice cream) aren’t more of a thing here because they remind me of congee. They taste like whatever you put on them. ---
**Author:** ![lostinasia](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/lostinasia/32/60703_2.png) [@lostinasia](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/lostinasia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:24am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/11 "2022-04-05T10:24:04Z")
> [@Aikaili](#): > > Places like Masa tacos make their own masa for Taiwanese corn. Didn’t you ask them about buying their masa? I remember someone did, and it wasn’t an option. Re: Mr. Chili Pepper: does he only do business via Facebook? I quite deliberately haven’t logged in to Facebook for a few years now, and it’s a platform I try to avoid. I may have to give up on that … so many restaurants and shops here seem to be pretty much only on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![DogmaticStoic](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dogmaticstoic/32/179644_2.png) [@DogmaticStoic](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DogmaticStoic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:24am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/12 "2022-04-05T10:24:21Z")
It specifically said black beans not soy but I didn’t buy it. Next time I will it was just a bit expensive ---
**Author:** ![DogmaticStoic](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dogmaticstoic/32/179644_2.png) [@DogmaticStoic](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DogmaticStoic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:26am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/13 "2022-04-05T10:26:02Z")
Taipei 101 Jason’s had Masa harina. A bit expensive though ---
**Author:** ![lostinasia](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/lostinasia/32/60703_2.png) [@lostinasia](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/lostinasia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:26am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/14 "2022-04-05T10:26:57Z")
> [@DogmaticStoic](#): > > It specifically said black beans not soy but I didn’t buy it. I believe almost all “black beans” here are black soy beans - they just don’t bother to say the soy. However, I may be wrong. Can anyone confirm if these different Dr. Oko products are soy or turtle beans, or something else? [https://www.droko.com/motion.asp](https://www.droko.com/motion.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Aikaili](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/aikaili/32/100376_2.png) [@Aikaili](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Aikaili)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:41am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/15 "2022-04-05T10:41:04Z")
I asked him when they are going to make us tamales. They struggle to make enough masa for the tacos. Mr. Chili Pepper is on FB. I’m sure we could get a local number for him. He ships via 7-11. ---
**Author:** ![Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Taiwan_Luthiers)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:41am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/16 "2022-04-05T10:41:06Z")
I know people have used 花豆 as replacement for pinto beans… it’s cheap here. ---
**Author:** ![BeachBum](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@BeachBum](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/BeachBum)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:04am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/17 "2022-04-05T11:04:20Z")
> [@lostinasia](#): > > I believe almost all “black beans” here are black soy beans Yeah, this has been my experience. I bought one bag at Jason’s labeled “black beans” and another from City Super. Both turned out to be soy beans, not good when cooked. ---
**Author:** ![JPMichaels1](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JPMichaels1](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/JPMichaels1)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 12:31pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/18 "2022-04-05T12:31:31Z")
![image](https://forumosauploads-12829.kxcdn.com/original/3X/1/7/172cbad0b65fc5909b2ff76fd91e66670ecfacb1.jpeg) I find this at a place called DGF. City super has things like taco sauce and chipotle sauce. Jason’s often has proper corn tortillas. City super too. I pickle my own chili’s. And have started growing my own beets and chili plants. Tequila is fairly cheap. Jason’s used to have chipotle seasoning mix. That stuff was good. Haven’t had it since they were bought out by carrefour. ---
**Author:** ![Explant](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/explant/32/130551_2.png) [@Explant](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Explant)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/19 "2022-04-05T12:35:57Z")
> [@DogmaticStoic](#): > > Thank you!!! > > I can make the salsas myself using local chilies. Though it’s not quite as good /different flavor it’s not so bad I think. I tried guacamole here using local chili as a substitute and it still came out pretty good. > > The other things are good to know. I didn’t see at my carrefour but I’ll back I probably just missed it. Those tomatillos mean I can make modified salsa Verde! > > Luckily I found dried black beans at Jasons. If there’s one thing I just can’t tolerate it’s canned or machine processed refried beans! But now I can just make it myself (though too bad about epizote) I’ve subbed epizote with a mix of cilantro and oregano and it’s… Acceptable You found real black beans? Damn, i have looked for ages. Black soy beans are common, but i have yet to find black beans that arent canned! Nice score! ---
**Author:** ![DogmaticStoic](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dogmaticstoic/32/179644_2.png) [@DogmaticStoic](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/DogmaticStoic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521/20 "2022-04-05T13:58:54Z")
I found what I thought was black beans at Jasons, but some others said they weren’t so I’m not sure. I learned how to adapt the recipe when I was living in the Midwest USA where I didn’t have a car or an easy way to get to a Mexican store. [Next page](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/mexican-ingredients-in-taipei/218521.md?page=2)