Inspired by Frankie Gaw’s cookbook First Generation—a culinary-literary manifestation of what it was like to grow up Taiwanese American—this bundle has everything you need for good dumpling sauce, with a good measure of third culture thrown in.

Third culture, a phrase in use since the 1950s, describes the experience of living with two cultures that blend (or explode) into a third. Frankie’s book celebrates that in all its glory and hardship. Taiwan is full of third culture, too. Its cuisine reflects the cultural hybridity resulting from a long history of colonization, conflict, and migration. The products we've selected for this bundle reflect that pluralism.

Bundle Contents

This bundle includes:

First Generation by Frankie Gaw
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Equal parts Taiwanese traditional fare and American comfort food. The winner of several Best Cookbook of the Year awards in 2022.

Amber River Soy Sauce
A single-origin soy sauce Frankie features in his book, made by fermenting black soy beans for over a year in a terracotta vat in Yunlin, Taiwan.

White Sesame Oil
For a long time, the hardest thing about living in America was the quality of the sesame oil. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but let's just say it's been a problem. This one is really good. Cold-pressed, nutty, fresh, and absolutely worthy of all the dumplings you are going to make.

Su Chili Crisp Mala
A chili crisp recipe that originated in Szechuan and made its way to Taiwan over three generations. One example of the breadth of regional Chinese foods that were brought to Taiwan in successive waves of migration and displacement.

Nyonya Sauce, Spicy, Small
The family recipe of a Malaysian-Taiwanese garlic farming couple, originating with their Malaysian grandmother but made with garlic from their family farm in Taiwan. Third culture.

Empress Hot Sauce
An American-style fermented hot chili sauce made with Taiwanese produce, and tweaked for local tastes. An example of new food trends in Taiwan. Available in mild Pineapple Miso (inspired by Al Pastor) or a hotter Smokey Hibiscus (featuring smoked longan).

Dried Green Mango
We know Frankie loves a good sweet treat. These are as traditional as you can get in Taiwanese dried fruits, featuring the endemic Tu mango, but they also telegraph *sour gummy,* a defining flavor of American childhood.

Engraved Dumpling Paddle
bundle exclusive
A dumpling filling stick made from bamboo from the mountains of Nantou in central Taiwan. Use this to get just the right amount of filling for your dumplings. Engraved with our logo.

Hinoki Chopsticks
bundle exclusive
Made from salvaged Hinoki wood. Much of the old hinoki forests were logged from Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. For conservation reasons, existing growth can no longer be logged, but wood salvaged from old structures is still being used, like in these chopsticks.

Ga Ji Dai Gift Box
Silkscreened in Taiwan, the outer box is inspired by Ga Ji Dai, a traditional Taiwanese market tote in a technicolor palette. Designed by our friends and collaborators O.OO, a Taipei-based design studio and print shop.

Our 2023 Holiday Gift Collection

This holiday, the Yun Hai team put together five thematic gift boxes that reflect different aspects of Taiwanese cuisine and its champions. In addition to carefully selected Yun Hai products, each assortment features a special item exclusive to the set, probably hand-carried back from Taiwan by Yun Hai Shop co-owner Lillian.

Each set is packaged in a custom silkscreened box featuring the red, green, and blue Ga Ji Dai motif of Taiwan's traditional market totes. These boxes are designed to fit perfectly within our standard shippable mailer; send direct and customize your own gift note too.

Specifications and Dimensions

Dimensions: 11.9” L x 8.9” W x 5.8” H
Weight: approx. 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg