Taoyuan | Vanilla Farm x Rural Kitchen | Agritourism Supermarket

－ Highlights －

Friendly guides from Herb Garden will lead visitors to explore the organic farm, introduce the local story of Zhongzhuang and its signature crop, Chinese chives, and invite guests to experience farm work firsthand. Afterward, visitors will use the ingredients they harvested to cook and dine with the Herb Garden chef. Through this series of activities—from educational tours and hands-on farming and cooking to savoring the fruits of their labor—visitors will experience the charm of the European vegetables and ingredients grown at Herb Garden.

－ Itinerary －

• 10:00 Meet at the park, introduction to Zhongzhuang Island, and overview of sustainable/organic farming (approx. 60 minutes)
• 11:00 Herb Garden chicken tour and insights into 'imperfect' produce (approx. 20 minutes)
• 11:20 Harvesting herbs, edible flowers, and seasonal ingredients (approx. 60 minutes)
• 11:50 Cooking with the chef using various culinary techniques (approx. 60 minutes)
• 13:00 Slow living: relax and enjoy the delicious meal you prepared (approx. 60 minutes)

－ Cooking Class Content －

【Special Ingredient Introduction】

• Organic Mixed Lettuce: Known as a rare ingredient by star-rated restaurants, these colorful lettuces are not only visually stunning but also offer unique nutritional value and flavor.

• Organic Herbs & Edible Flowers: Herbs are one of the main crops at Herb Garden. We grow oregano, rosemary, lavender, geranium, and 8 varieties of mint. They are not only used as ingredients but also serve as part of our ecological pest control method, effectively practicing organic farming.

• Organic Zucchini: Available in 5 different colors including white, light green, and orange, as well as round varieties. Their high quality has earned recognition from many Michelin-starred and Gambero Rosso-rated restaurant chefs.
  
  

【Local Specialty Cooking Class Content】

• Wild Season Rich Zucchini Soup: The first step in our farm kitchen is making soup with the farm's signature zucchini. Currently, the main zucchini varieties grown in Taiwan include Tainan No. 1, 2, 3, and 4, featuring colors like dark green, dark green with white speckles, and yellow. While some varieties may lean towards orange or creamy white, the most popular and widely accepted types over the years are generally dark green and yellow. 

• Herbal Shadow Ravioli: Knead all-purpose flour, egg yolks, and water into a dough, then use a machine to roll it into thin sheets. Press freshly harvested herbs or edible flowers onto the dough sheets. Prepare a filling by sautéing egg whites and zucchini, wrap it in the dough, and seal the edges with a fork. After boiling, finish by pan-searing with zucchini soup and fresh cream until thickened, then plate and serve. 

• Herb Garden Soy Milk Spheres: Boil fresh herbs and seaweed, then rapidly cool the mixture over ice. Mix the cooled herbal water with soy milk and sodium alginate. Prepare a calcium lactate solution and use a dropper to drip the mixture into the solution to create spheres. Place the seaweed on a shell and top with the spheres to complete.
  
  

【Local Souvenirs】

• Shrimp and Zucchini Dumplings: Made with organic zucchini grown on the farm, eco-friendly chives, non-toxic white shrimp, and CAS-certified domestic pork. With guaranteed safety and quality, these dumplings showcase delicious ingredients in a versatile way, making them a healthy and tasty addition to your dining table.

• Herb Garden Eggs: Our free-range chickens are fed with organic vegetables from the farm as part of our ecological cycle, producing safe, healthy, and 'happy' eggs.