Main Topic: Breakfast Market in a Chinese Cultural Setting

Hosts: Antony Warden, James Stanworth , Clyde Warden

Breakfast is not traditionally a big part of Chinese meals, although lunches and dinners are hugely important.  In this episode, Antony, James, and Clyde look at the changes in this market that has grown rapidly and is dominated by small operators and shaped by the common Chinese consumer behavior of being on the go!

Popular food types include fan tuan (rice ball), dan bing (rolled egg pancakes with onion), man tou (steamed bread), fan tuan (rice roll-ups), tang bao (soup-filled dumplings), potstickers and baozi (steamed buns stuffed with pork and vegetables), you tiao (crullers). Coffee is nowhere to be found, and coffee shops usually are not even open in the morning. In Hong Kong, however, milk coffee is very popular for breakfast.

€œSimplicity and frugality is the focus for breakfast in Taiwan€

Photos:

Traditional Chinese breakfast is limited to leftover rice boiled in water (gruel) with some toppings, such as shredded pork meat.

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• 2) Dried shredded pork, used as a topping. 2) Dried shredded pork, used as a topping.
• 3) A transformer type breakfast stand, with students lining up. These stands include pre-made sandwiches as well as made to order. 3) A transformer type breakfast stand, with students lining up. These stands include pre-made sandwiches as well as made to order.
• 4) These stands are very common, especially near schools. 4) These stands are very common, especially near schools.
• 5) The more traditional rice ball (high similarity to the gruel meal) is also very common. 5) The more traditional rice ball (high similarity to the gruel meal) is also very common.
• 6) Students do not show a strong tendency away from these traditional stands. 6) Students do not show a strong tendency away from these traditional stands.
• 7) Of course the ice drink stands are always open, especially when students are around. 7) Of course the ice drink stands are always open, especially when students are around.
• 8) In the morning, shop owners can rent or use their sidewalk space for small breakfast stands like this one. 8) In the morning, shop owners can rent or use their sidewalk space for small breakfast stands like this one.
• 9) McDonalds has been growing as a breakfast choice since the mid 1990s, but they are rarely crowded in the mornings (here a couple middle school students buy takeout). 9) McDonalds has been growing as a breakfast choice since the mid 1990s, but they are rarely crowded in the mornings (here a couple middle school students buy takeout).
• 10) A more basic stand will include mostly pre-made sandwiches. 10) A more basic stand will include mostly pre-made sandwiches.
• 11) Another rice ball stand. A minimal setup and a sign out in the road to get attention. 11) Another rice ball stand. A minimal setup and a sign out in the road to get attention.
• 12) Full featured breakfast shops include seating, as here, with mostly made to order foods. 12) Full featured breakfast shops include seating, as here, with mostly made to order foods.
• 13) While the portable stands will have pre-packaged drinks, a shop will have freshly made soy milk. These here are heated from below. 13) While the portable stands will have pre-packaged drinks, a shop will have freshly made soy milk. These here are heated from below.
• 14) Larger breakfast shops tend to specialize in cuisine. This shop has many bread-based foods. 14) Larger breakfast shops tend to specialize in cuisine. This shop has many bread-based foods.
• 15) Soups and noodles are another common breakfast type, but limited mostly to larger shops. 15) Soups and noodles are another common breakfast type, but limited mostly to larger shops.
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ConsumerCam:

Show Links:

•   小店創造奇蹟 共築台灣早餐王國œ‹
• USA Today story on Taiwan breakfast
• 市場早餐要油要香任君選擇“‡

Bottom Line:

• Milk is normally absent during breakfast in Taiwan, fried eggs, toasts were brought in from the west.
• Breakfast is normally something simple in Chinese culture, dinner is a family affair.
• Transformer stand is a popular place to get breakfast, it saves time for the working class.
• Transformer stands have a low initial cost, they offer brisk business, operate only in the mornings.
• Normally the food is hygienic; most of the food is freshly cooked on the spot.
• It Offers convince and low cost for food.
• Transformer stands offers varieties of food and drinks, this was developed over the years.
• MacDonald’s is the only multinational company that serves breakfast in Taiwan.