The Chinese Culture Association released the latest episode of the “Artisan Spirit” video today (20th), documenting the story of Tainan brown sugar makers using traditional wood-fired methods to refine sugar, bringing back Taiwan’s “sweet” memories.
The latest episode of the Chinese Culture Association’s “Artisan Spirit – Handmade Memories of Brown Sugar” was launched today. The filming team headed to the Guanshan Nanhua Reservoir in Tainan, documenting the story of two generations of sugar makers, Zhang Xibin and Zhang Yueteng, who inherit the ancient method of handcrafting wood-fired brown sugar.
At the video release press conference held by the Chinese Culture Association today, Vice President Jiang Chun-nan emphasized that Taiwan’s brown sugar is definitely on par with that from Okinawa, Japan. Brown sugar holds many stories of Taiwan, and he thanked the Zhang family for preserving the traditional method of making brown sugar.
Due to the implementation of community development policies, the Guanshan Community Development Association was established in 1996. Zhang Xibin, who served as the general manager, traced back the past of the village and discovered the sugar cane juice extraction gears left behind by the elders who used to produce private sugar in the village. With the assistance of the villagers, they began leasing land to grow sugarcane and attempted to handcraft brown sugar. Seeking advice from the village elders, they boiled pot after pot of sugarcane juice, step by step exploring the sugar-making process. After more than twenty years of continuous improvement and adjustment, Master Zhang finally made the sweet brown sugar of childhood memories.
The second generation of the brown sugar farm, Zhang Yueteng, returned to Guanshan at the age of 25 to help his parents due to concern for their exhaustion. Not only did he learn the process from his father, but he also had to take responsibility for brand management. He carefully nurtured sugarcane and during the sugar-making period, he often started work at 3 a.m., working until 7 or 8 p.m. The local environment in Guanshan nourished two generations of sugar makers. Their commitment to growing sugarcane using eco-friendly methods and refining sugar with traditional wood-fired techniques is their shared belief, connecting the family through mutual support and creating a local brand.
Zhang Yueteng stated that the brown sugar farm has been established for 20 years, reviving the traditional method of making wood-fired brown sugar. From sugarcane cultivation to sugar refinement, from brand establishment to shelf sales, and planting sugarcane in an eco-friendly manner, they produce high-quality black sugar. He believes that the spirit of traditional wood-fired brown sugar can represent Tainan and even Taiwan.
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che stated that Tainan is a city full of sugar, and President Lai Ching-te recently said to cut back on sugar, but he jokingly bet that it’s not easy. He added that sugarcane is an important economic crop in Tainan, with many sugar factories. Guanshan not only produces mangoes but also boasts a piece of the sky with Tainan brown sugar. This year marks Tainan’s 400th anniversary, and there are many artisans in Tainan. He expressed gratitude to the Chinese Culture Association for continuously documenting the stories of artisans. The city government will fully support the continuation of craftsmanship.
Jiang Chun-nan mentioned that Taiwan has its own culture and traditions, and the spirit of Taiwanese people’s dedication to hard work is the key to Taiwan’s presence in the world and being recognized by the world. This has always been the focus of the Chinese Culture Association’s work. Since 2017, the Chinese Culture Association has produced the “Artisan Spirit” series of videos for 7 years. It is an honor to record the presence and spirit of artisans.