00:00Sweet potatoes are everywhere in Taiwan. They're fried in night markets,
00:05baked in convenience stores, and even churned into ice cream.
00:09But have you ever tried Taiwanese sweet potato liquor?
00:13Here at this distillery in Taoyuan, sweet potatoes are turned into award-winning spirits.
00:20Taiwan is practically synonymous with the root vegetable. Surprised that his country
00:26wasn't producing any domestic sweet potato spirits, Kino Luo decided to do something about it.
00:39And Taiwan is truly at the heart of Luo's work. His spirits showcase the popular locally grown
00:45Tainong 57 sweet potato. He also works with local farmers buying their ugly sweet potatoes
00:52that are still edible but not pretty enough to sell. This unattractive produce can make up around
00:58one-third of their harvest. Despite their current popularity, sweet potatoes were once looked down
01:04upon in Taiwan. They were often associated with poverty and eaten during times of famine and hardship.
01:12Today, the sweet potato has become a symbol of Taiwanese resilience. Luo is proud to share not
01:17only his liquor but also his culture with the world.
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