Eating Loofah (Yes, That Thing You Wash Yourself With) In Taiwan

There’s nothing more invigorating than taking a nice hot shower and scrubbing your tired, depleted skin with some honey and strawberry body wash squeezed into a giant fluffy loofah. As I learned recently at Five Dime Driftwood in Taipei, loofahs aren’t just great for washing your body, but also for making delicious Taiwanese food. Although most people probably think of it as linen, loofah is actually a cucumber-like plant that can be used in a hearty seafood soup. The dish contains the spongy loofah cut into strips and dipped into its own thick juices. To enhance the meal, shredded local crab is added. To be honest the loofah doesn’t taste like much but is interesting to eat as it gives you a good idea of how Taiwanese people use different textures in their meals. The spongy consistency combines with the thick liquid and soft but firm crab to create an interesting Taiwanese meal. I recommend adding trying this dish to your Taiwan travel itinerary! And if you’d like to burn off your meal through active adventures, make sure to check out some of the best hikes in Taiwan! What’s the most unusual dish you’ve ever tried? Featured image via foxuman