I’m going to Taiwan on August 18th and i need to bring a gift to my host family…
My host sister told me to just bring a few I <3 NY shirts but i think that might be a little cheesy ya know.
So i was thinking of bringing some snacks and drinks and stuff to them. What are some basic american snacks that you guys don’t have over there in Taiwan?
Salt N Vinegar, Dill Pickle and Ketchup Chips (Hostess)
Oh Henry bars
Planters Peatnuts/Cashews
Heh I haven’t even eaten any of the things you just said… except for peanuts.
Do they have snickers and crunch bars and stuff like that?
Yes, yes, Snickers bars and the like are readily available here.
If I were you I wouldn’t worry about the “cheesy” aspect of the NY T-shirts. When you get here you will see that Western concepts of cheesiness simply do not apply. Sounds like a reasonable gift to me, especially as your host sister suggested it.
I’m going to get the shirt i just didn’t want to get the same exact shirt for 3 people, i wanted a little variety so i thought i would get food :P.
[quote=“Springfield”]Heh I haven’t even eaten any of the things you just said… except for peanuts.
Do they have snickers and crunch bars and stuff like that?[/quote]
Snickers, yes. Crunch - I haven’t seen it here.
I’d suggest Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
[quote=“Chris”][quote=“Springfield”]Heh I haven’t even eaten any of the things you just said… except for peanuts.
Do they have snickers and crunch bars and stuff like that?[/quote]
Snickers, yes. Crunch - I haven’t seen it here.
I’d suggest Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.[/quote]
Reese’s are amazing! Are you telling me they DON’T have reese’s in Taiwan?
They must have Reese’s Pieces… i love those things.
But yeah if they don’t have them i will definately bring some.
Reese’s are amazing! Are you telling me they DON’T have reese’s in Taiwan?
They must have Reese’s Pieces… I love those things.
But yeah if they don’t have them i will definitely bring some.[/quote]
Haven’t seen either the Cups or the Pieces here in all the years I’ve been here.
They have Reese’s at the Klin market, corner of Fuchian and Nanmen Roads in Tainan.
Pop Tarts
Butterfingers
Beef Jerky - the real stuff, they have shredded beef, pork, and squid here, but it’s totally different from the jerky at home. Take some Slim Jims if you like those.
Little Debbie’s Snacks
Twinkies
Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Rootbeer - you have to go to one of the Filipino stores to get a can, they aren’t stocked in regular stores
Reese’s are amazing! Are you telling me they DON’T have reese’s in Taiwan?
They must have Reese’s Pieces… I love those things.
But yeah if they don’t have them i will definitely bring some.[/quote]
Haven’t seen either the Cups or the Pieces here in all the years I’ve been here.[/quote]
And you live in Taipei… that must mean they don’t have them. I’m gonna have to stock up.
Anyone in their right minds would be crazy to hate Reese’s Pieces so that should be a fine gift.
EDIT: I just noticed your post Mod.
I hate butterfingers, i don’t know who could like those things… but maybe i’ll bring one anyway. Pop tarts are awesome for breakfast here but my family is probably gonna cook some crazy taiwanese breakfasts every morning… unless they just have cerial.
BlueBell ice cream
Dr Pepper
Miss Vickies
Do they have Cooler Ranch Doritos? I love those things to death.
Yes we do
Bring a cooler with ice. And get Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.
When your friends eat it and almost explode in a fit of yummiosity, make sure to ask them to tell everyone they know how good it is and for everyone to spread the world that Taiwan has been living in a state of ice cream ignorance and demand supermarkets to stock it please 
Omg no ice cream!?!?!?
Or do they just have Chicken Flavored and Seaweed flavored ice cream…
Lots of icecream. Just no Ben & Jerry’s.
The peanut butter things sound alright. (I’m from England and I’ve never tried them.) Just be aware that whatever food stuff you bring, no matter how great you think it is, your host family’s tastes may differ so they may just try a bit and be polite but not really like it. (I’m talking from experience here). Bringing snacks is a nice idea though and of course it’s the thought that counts.
[quote=“mod lang”]Pop Tarts
Butterfingers
Beef Jerky - the real stuff, they have shredded beef, pork, and squid here, but it’s totally different from the jerky at home. Take some Slim Jims if you like those.
[/quote]
yeah, I miss Pop Tarts. LOVED Butterfingers as kid. Now that I’ve been here 12 years, I would probably gag on them.
BTW ML, they do have real American-style jerky, not the TWN stuff, at Costco. Check it out. 
[quote=“Springfield”]Omg no ice cream!?!?!?
Or do they just have Chicken Flavored and Seaweed flavored ice cream…[/quote]
You can get Haagen Dazs here as well as a lot of local icecream. For Ben & Jerry’s, however, you’ll have to make a trip to Hong Kong.
As for seaweed and chicken flavors, there’s always Snow King in Taipei, close to the Foreign Affairs Police Office: 73 flavors, including Pig’s Feet and Sesame Chicken!
Talk about too much information! 
They have poptarts at jason’s .
[quote=“M0NSTER”]Salt N Vinegar, Dill Pickle and Ketchup Chips (Hostess)
Oh Henry bars
Planters Peatnuts/Cashews[/quote]
A quick trip to Cosco or Jason’s Market and you will find lots and lots of planters…