Six Signature Bakeries in Taipei

A foreigner friend once told me that Taiwanese bread is soft and sweet, slightly out of the ordinary but surprisingly delicious.

But in Taiwanese bakeries, you can also find a variety of savory bread — such as scallion and shredded dried pork — alongside traditional Chinese pastries like mung bean cake, and even European bread that has been tweaked to suit Taiwanese tastes.

An increasing number of bakers from the island-nation are traveling to Europe and Japan to hone their skills, and foreign brands are also establishing their presence in Taiwan, bringing authentic flavors and options that incorporate Taiwanese ingredients.

If you would like to try an innovative Taiwanese flavor, try master baker Wu Bao Chun's Taiwan Longan and Red Wine Bread, which won him an award in the Coupe Louise Lesaffre in 2008; his bakeries also offer a variety of European and Japanese bread that incorporate Taiwanese ingredients.

Founded in Nantou, Sunny Hills is a famed patisserie of pineapple tarts; if you visit their shops, you are welcome to sample the cakes before purchasing.

For cakes, Between General Store, makes the best pound cake. You will need to pre-order on their Facebook page.

Boite de Bijou offers a variety of French pastries, while Flugel Studio bakes delicious German cakes and Green Bakery satisfies the sweet tooth of vegan friends.

"Good Eye Taipei," a new bilingual Taipei city guide, recommends six signature bakeries.