Lynda's Taiwan-logue

< Visited in Aug 2018 & May 2017 >

A gem I found from Taiwanese blogs, this small eatery comes with a name that could be easily overlooked (or misunderstood) - Chinese Herbal Medicine Po-Jen Store 博仁堂中药铺. Currently managed by the fifth generation of a TCM family, the humble looking eatery whips up nourishing soups with rice or noodle sets, at very affordable prices. 

Tucked away in a small quiet lane off a busy main road, I took a while to navigate my Google map and had to backtrack after missing this lane (a few times).   

One of the shopfronts still lit in the early hours of the night, albeit a small one that barely seats 20. Business was good when I arrived (fortunately I had a reservation). Before you think this is an eatery favoured by the elderly, you will be surprised most of the clients are young. And why not, given that the owner is a fairly young man (in his early 30s?) extending his family business and possibly making it appeal to a younger crowd. For a place like Tainan (hot the whole year round), I found it amazing that I could find a place specialising in herbal soups. But as the chinese saying goes "以热治热，是养身之道" (loosely "using heat to combat heat, is the way to well-being"). Guess there are many other people like me who love our nourishing soup, no matter the weather.      

<Below> The younger man in white is the grandson of Physician Chou Chih Fu 周智夫, who was a Kuomintang army physician and served General Bai Chongxi 白崇禧 (a plaque bearing the General's name in the shop had caught my attention). This humble young man was serving customers, clearing tables and when I was the only customer left and looking at the chinese calligraphies curiously, he shared that the framed ones on the walls are genuine, and just a few from the many prized pieces in his grandfather's collection. I often marvel at youths who put in heart and soul to revive their family businesseses, with their own creativity to inject fresh appeal into old brands. And Chou Junior is one of them.     

The eatery may be small, but conducive while I was there. The other patrons spoke softly, perhaps in consideration of the scholarly ambience (or plainly in deep enjoyment of the nourishing soups). The menu at my time of visit boasted eight signature soups, each sounding very good, that I took a while to Google the benefits. (Check out their FB for the most updated menu.) Eventually, I went for Polygonum Ribs Soup 何首乌排骨盅 (NTD120), and topped up NTD100 to complete a meal with meesua noodles, side dish, dessert and a bottled sencha hibiscus drink 仙楂洛梅. Most of us would know polygonum 何首乌 to be good for our hair, but my Google revealed there were a lot more benefits to it!    

Maybe due to my choice of herb, the chinese medicinal taste was not overwhelming (more than fine by me), tasting more like a well-boiled soup. The pork ribs were tender and flavourful, testifying the effort that went into slow boiling the soup with a generous amount of ingredients. It definitely left me wanting more, and tempted me to order a takeaway (incidentally, many of the customers who dined in did). The noodle was springy, living up to the standards of Tainan meesua. Lightly flavoured by sesame oil, the decent portion complemented the soup well. The side vegetable and hashima dessert were welcomed inclusions to make the meal more balanced.   

Revisiting in an even hotter month in Aug 2018 did not deter me from getting more of their nourishing herbal soup. (And I was not alone, judging from the turnover of customers the evening I was there.) 

Making my way there on foot from the previous destination (Google Map is extremely handy), I turned into a familiar alley with little activity, except for Po-Jen Store 博仁堂 which was enjoying good business. 

Went for a beauty herbal soup 四珍胶炖鸡盅 set with meesua and cassia wheat tea 决明麦茶 this time. (Search for their benefits online.)   

The dessert tasted slightly "medicinal", not quite to my taste, but in the name of personal health and well-being (even if it was just one meal), I finished it.

Both times, I left the place feeling very satisfied and even skipping supper. Will highly recommend this place to anyone who loves herbal soup.   

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Chinese Herbal Medicine Po-Jen Store | 博仁堂中药铺
Address --- No. 27, Lane 300, Section 2, Ximen Road, West Central District  西門路二段300巷27号 , 中西区

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