Taiwan grapes

Red-faced muscovies guarding grapes

Grapes had never hit it big in Taiwan in the past. For years, private wine-making including that with grapes, was against the monopoly law which carried severe penalties. Native grapes were also tiny and sour, unfit for table use. No grapes, no problems, other fruits abounded anyway. These have all changed in the 1960s. Since then, we have 巨峰 (Kyoho or ChuFeng), 義大利 (ltalia), 金香 (Golden Muscat), and 蜜紅 (Honey Red) varieties, among them, the huge, juicy and sweet Kyoho is arguably the most abundant and the best-tasting table grapes all around.

Italia

Golden muscat

Kyoho was first developed in Japan in 1935, a cross between the native Ishihara-wase and the Centennial from Australia. The exact date of its introduction into Taiwan is unclear; although 2 of the first 6 seedlings planted in 1964 in Changhua 大村Da-chun by Mr 賴炳芳 have survived to this day, and in fact are still going strong.

巨峰葡萄 - Kyoho grapes (with the protective paper bags removed for photography)

Kyoho is cultivated mainly in Changhua, Taichung and Nantou, totaling 3,000 hectares. It is harvested twice yearly, in contrast to only once a year in its native Japan. Not only the soil and weather conditions are both right, the credits should also go to the skilled Taiwanese grape farmers for their careful pruning, fertilizing and nurturing of the plants. And of course, consumers do appreciate a good thing when they see one, and the demand has skyrocketed.

Curiously, China, known for hundreds of different types of grapes available from Xinjiang (grown in 吐鲁番Turpan area on the Silk Road), also started growing Japanese Kyoho in 1959. It remains somewhat murky as to how the cultivars were procured. We do know that starting in 1996 or a bit later, Taiwanese merchants brought the Taiwanese strain to Hainan and the transplant proved a huge success. Their Kyoho is now in direct market competition with Taiwan.

Honey Red was introduced in mid-1980s from Japan by Prof 楊耀祥 of National Chung Hsin University. Its taste and texture both have received favorable reviews. Planting is, however, limited to around 70 hectares. It is still awaiting further improvement in the rupture, storage and shipping departments. This is a work in progress; although it will soon become the next Kyoho, most certainly worthy of a try even now:

蜜紅 (Honey Red) grapes shielded from the sun

To order your own shipment of Kyoho grapes, go to this site (here) and for the Honey Red, here.