On January 23, 2022, we traveled to Zhudong township, next to Hsinchu, for a traditional Taiwanese activity day including Spring Couplet writing and mochi and lei tea making.

Traditionally, red spring couplets are said to bring good luck if placed above your door. This activity gave us the opportunity to practice calligraphy skills as we create our own couplet by writing Chinese characters. We even used painting materials to draw on the red couplets, and used the brushes to write down blessings for the year of tiger! It was fun.

After the red couplet activity, we travelled to Nei-Wan old street for snack time! Mochi are delicious sweet dumplings and lei tea is an indigenous Hakka culture delicacy. We prepared both from scratch.

The main raw materials of Hakka lei tea are boiled tea, wheat, black sesame, sesame, peanut and walnut. Hakka people put the grains and the raw materials of tea, such as “Xuanmi” and tea leaves, into a small bag which is light, easy to carry and protects from rice insects. Long ago in Taiwan, Hakka people used to be nomadic. In order to avoid hunger and thirst, they would grind the lei cha ingredients and soak them in water. Therefore, Lei Cha is actually a last resort meal for Hakka people!

A total of 25 participants attended the event, and GMBAers enjoyed this cultural experience.

The schedule for the day:
11:20 Meet at NTU (Family Mart on Roosevelt rd. behind CoM building 2)
11:30 – 13:30 drive to Zhudong Township Wah! 幾散竹東
13:30 – 15:30 Spring Couplet activity
15:30 – 16:30 drive to 阿朱客家擂茶 (No. 78, Zhongzheng Rd, Hengshan Township)
16:30 – 17:30 Mochi – Lei Tea activity
17:30 – 18:00 Walk around Nei Wan Old Street
18:00 – 19:30 Drive back to NTU
19:30 Arrival time at NTU