Ping Huang Coffee – Tourism Factory (品皇咖啡觀光工廠) @ Chiayi in Taiwan

The good thing about renting a car in Taiwan (or any country) is really the flexibility to travel to places that might not be so conveniently and regularly serviced by public transport. 

In our case, we met up with a Taiwanese friend who stayed in Chiayi but because he doesn't stay at the city; we decided to just drive to his town. To make it easier for us, he gave us a location of a famous coffee factory. Baffled we were as I have never heard of the brand Ping Huang (品皇). 

Turned out to be a tourism factory popular with local Taiwanese, and it's definitely not on the itinerary of those on tour groups, and I doubt you would even find mention of it in any travel guidebooks! 

I don't really know what to make do with the above two structures; it's like two mouldy balls stuck in coffee cups! What is the artist trying to express?! That it's happiness to sit in coffee cups?

Befitting its tourism label, there's also a small exhibition for visitors, to learn more about coffee! Do note that this would not be beneficial to those who don't really read Chinese, and in Taiwan, use of traditional Chinese characters is the norm.

Origins of coffee powder, the impact of different roasting, the top ten coffee producing countries, and the incredulous coffee taster's flavor wheel; latter of which was impressive as my level was absolutely at a comedic level. 

About Hung Ming-Pao, the founder of Ping Huang Coffee.

p.s. the company was founded in 1989. 

After the exhibition, it would of course be the area where travellers / tourists would spend, and spend, and spend! The souvenir shop that sells more than just coffee! 

While coffee was the main star, you get other stuff like biscuits etc. Problem is that there were hardly any sampling for the non-coffee items, and you know me; no sample, no sales! 

Some of the pre-packed coffee (in sachet form) allowed sampling and on our visit, there were three or four to choose from. My favorite was the above; strong golden avenue! I bought a huge pack, and I regretted not buying more. :( 

By the way, the coffee soap was really good! NT$150 a bar (buy 5, get 1 free) that weighs 200 grams; it was hardy, used premium coffee bean, with good enzymes added, including vitamin B3. Rest assured, you don't smell like a cup of coffee after using it. 

Those focused on coffee would love this section; with bags of premium coffee beans of various premiums, cups, coffee grinder, pots etc.

You can even get these Vienna Royal Coffeemakers, which looked more like they belonged to a laboratory, for a cost of between NT$4000 to NT$5000; not really that expensive, I feel. Might be wrong though as cheapo me loves 3-in-1 coffee, in sachet form.

Promotion a year ago....

p.s. this visit was a year ago.

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Address

No 155, Shuishang Township,

Chiayi County, Taiwan 

Map

As above.

Click HERE for 11 Days, 10 Nights Taiwan Trip: Summarised Itinerary for Chiayi Alishan (嘉义阿里山) - Kaohsiung (高雄) - Tainan (台南) - Taichung (臺中)