Age-Old Tan-a-Mi stall at Taipei Roundabout (photo provided by Howgi Tan-a-Mi)

Situated in the southeastern coast of Eurasia in the western Pacific, Taiwan has a total land area of 36,000 square kilometers. With relatively crucial geographical position, Taiwan has long been acclaimed as a beautiful island for centuries. In 1542, as Portuguese sailors sailed past Taiwan en route to Japan, they were so stunned by sight of the lush forested mountains on the island that they couldn't help but exclaiming “Ilha Formosa,” meaning the beautiful island.
The beauty of Taiwan includes not only mild climate, abundant commodities, but also the diversified culture created by Taiwanese people's tolerant and industrious spirit. The realization of Taiwanese spirit ranges from highly developed information technology industry to traditional Taiwanese cuisines. Tan-a-Mi is one of the outstanding attribute of traditional Taiwanese cuisines. A small bowl of noodle soup symbolizes Taiwanese people's profound hardworking spirit. Originated in Tainan, Tan-a-Mi is the most famous street cuisine in Tainan.
※ Translator's Note: Tan-a-Mi is the Taiwanese pronunciation of a special kind of street style noodle soup originated in Tainan. In Mandarin it's pronounced like “Dan-zih-Mien.” Therefore, both Mien and Mi means “noodles” while Dan-zih or Tan-a refers to a traditional type of shoulder pole that laborers used to carry to sell or transport goods. On this website, we choose to use the term Tan-a-Mi in order to stay true and coherent to our common local usage.

Early fishermen sitting on the curb eating noodles. (photo provided by Howgi Tan-a-Mi)

Mr. Hung Yu-Tou founded the genuine Du-siao-yue Tan-a-Mi in 1895. Mr. Hung made a living by fishing in An-ping area in Tainan. The time from April to September every year is the slack season for fishing business. Businessmen used to call this period “slack months.” In order to survive the slack months (Du-siao-yue means surviving the slack months in Taiwanese) , instead of going fishing, Mr. Hung would hawk along the street, carrying his shoulder pole with the noodle soup he made. That's where the name “Tan-a-Mi” came from (Tan-a in Taiwanese means “shoulder pole”). Mr. Hung applied the recipe of minced pork he learned from a chef in Changchou, Fukien to making the noodle soup, by adding the stewed minced pork to the soup. He then did his business regularly in front of Shuei-Shein Temple. Locals who were tired of eating regular homemade meals would go to his stall to enjoy the noodles for a change. As the weather got hotter, people ate less, Mr. Hung put less noodles in the soup. His stall business gradually prospered, and the reputation of Du-siao-yue Tan-a-Mi became widespread.

Tainan's centennial noodle stall Du-siao-yue Tan-a-Mi

The stall of Du-siao-yue Tan-a-Mi is famous for its low stove, small bamboo stools, and red lanterns; however, the true secret of Du-siao-yue Tan-a-Mi's tasty flavor actually lies in the age-old pot where minced pork are stewed. The pot is said to be more than three decades old, and it's never been washed in case the traditional flavor goes away. As time goes by, diners simply cannot resist the stewing smell of minced pork.
The assiduous and frugal locals in Tainan know that they can always go to Du-siao-yue Tan-a-Mi to sit on its old bamboo stools and taste a bowl of steaming hot Tan-a-Mi under the dim light of the red lanterns. This is the most attractive feature of Du-siao-yue Dan-a-Mi－age-old and primitive atmosphere that always gives people a sense of nostalgia.
Noodles, minced pork, broth, minced garlic, black vinegar, fresh shrimps, with a stewed egg or sliced sausage as its side dish, Tan-a-Mi has been transformed into a refined delicacy. Tan-a-Mi is served in almost every food court in department stores and malls in Taiwan. It is an island-wide famous cuisine now.

Background Music: An-ping Port Memory Song, Teresa Teng, Our Songs, Taiwanese Songs, Golden Penguin Records

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