Gac gourd is the produce that Cheng-gong Farmer’s Association has done its best to promote in recent years. Because its seeds look like the shape of soft shelled turtle so it has the moniker “Wooden Turtle Fruit”. It is often seen in Amis people’s plantation and in Amis language, it is Sukuy.
▲The fruit of gac gourd. The endemic species is longer in shape while the Vietnamese one is rounder
Gac gourd is said to be “the fruit from heaven” mainly because it is too rich in nutrients. The content of lycopene alone is 70 times more than that in tomatoes. To promote gac gourds, Cheng-gong Farmer’s Association has developed various products such as gac gourd juice, ice cream, beverages and jellies.
▲Gac gourd juice, ice cream and jellies are the specialties in Cheng-gong Township
Cheng-gong Farmer’s Association also developed an interesting DIY activity, “Heaven Fruit Make Believe”. The most nutritious part of the gac gourd is the aril, which has a bright red color but no special smell that makes it a perfect dye for cuisines. In “Heaven Fruit Make Believe”, participants will make their own nougat filling from the arils of gac gourds, and paste the filling to the cookies to satisfy the dessert stomach.
During the process, one special ingredient will be added to turn it into a pot of “Mapo Doufu”. In a couple of minutes playing with the spatula, the nougat filling turned into the color of papaya. The changes during the process were amazing. If not seeing this happening in person, you may not believe such a wondrous cooking magic.
How on earth was it made? What ingredients were in the filling? I leave the answer at the Flower Field Restaurant run by Cheng-gong Farmer’s Association on Provincial Highway 11. Just go get the answer!
▲What ingredient is added to make it Mapo Doufu?
▲Mapo Doufu is the filling
▲The finished product is the biscuits, our snacks on the trip
Cheng-gong Farmer’s Association-- Flower Field Restaurant on Provincial Highway 11
Tel: 089-852338
1.“Heaven Fruit Make Believe”, minimum charge NT$1,600 (at least 8 participants and NT$200 each)
2. Pounding Coffee: minimum charge NT$600 (at least 4 participants and NT$150 each)
3. Making Swordfish Ball: minimum charge NT$600 (at least 4 participants and NT$150 each)
4. Making Coffee Egg Roll: minimum charge NT$1,200 (at least 8 participants and NT$150 each)
5. Lemongrass: minimum charge NT$800 (at least 4 participants and NT$200 each)