Indonesian Hakka "Yam Bean in Vegetable Buns" Brings Novel Warmth and Diverse Harmony to Miaoli's Hakka Villages

A culinary journey across the ocean and a cultural reunion is about to take place in Miaoli! The "Grandma's Southeast Asian Kitchen - A Handmade Warmth" cultural empowerment event, organized by the New Immigrant Family Service Center of the Southern District, Miaoli, will be held on July 11th, 2026 (Sunday) at 8:30 AM in Shangan Community Care Center (No. 58-1, Neighborhood 5, Shangan Village, Yuanli Township, Miaoli County 358, Taiwan). The event will focus on "Stir-friend Yam Bean and Shrimp in Vegetable Buns," a dish that blends Indonesian Hakka and Taiwanese Hakka flavors. Community elders, new immigrant families, and local residents will light the stove together, bringing handmade touches to steam these diverse and inclusive flavors, injecting new energy into Miaoli's self-reliant development and bringing joy to all visitors.

Miaoli, as a traditional Hakka region, boasts a rich culture of rice cakes (ban shi). Meanwhile, the "Indonesian Hakka" communities in Pontianak and Bangka of Indonesia preserve precious memories of how their ancestors brought their native cuisine to Southeast Asia and integrated it with local flavors. The "Stir-fried Yam Bean with Shrimp in Vegetable Buns" being made at this event feature a filling that integrates the savory aroma of Southeast Asian dried shrimp with the sweetness of local yam. These handmade buns will they represent an extension of traditional Hakka rice cake culture. As this snack is infused with Southeast Asian sunshine and spices and is returning to Miaoli, we can see that it's not just a cross-border culinary journey, but a beautiful contemporary exchange between the Hakka cultures of both regions.

The center states that "Grandma's Southeast Asian Kitchen" is not just a culinary space, but a "collective healing support network" where new immigrant women and Hakka women can break down cultural barriers and find solace when they feel homesick. The event upholds the spirit of "warmth of handmade craftsmanship," aims to transform the exquisite skills of new immigrant women and Hakka women, honed through years of domestic work, into cultural capital, and help transform women from welfare recipients into media of diverse cultures.

The program will include a cultural background introduction, demonstrations by skilled chefs on how to make the stir-fried fillings of yam bean and Southeast Asian spices and hand-knead and wrap the rice cake dough, and a heart-warming "opening the pot and sharing a meal" ceremony amidst the steam from traditional steamers. This initiative aims to bridge cultural and geographical barriers and foster deeper cultural understanding and respect. We sincerely invite everyone to experience this cross-cultural dialogue that blends Southeast Asian and Hakka heritage.

Places are limited to 20 new immigrant women and their families and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

To register, please contact: Li Ting (Contact Person) Tel: 037-371283