Taiwan promotes allies' Guatemalan coffee, Belizean cocoa

Taipei, Nov. 14 (CNA) Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) joined Belizean Ambassador Katherine Vanessa Meighan and Guatemalan Ambassador Luis Raúl Estévez López on Friday at a food and beverage expo in Taipei to promote Belizean cocoa and Guatemalan coffee.

The officials promoted Central American ingredients at the expo's Central American Pavilion, which was set up by Taiwan's Central America Trade Office (CATO) in collaboration with allies Guatemala and Belize.

They inaugurated Food and Beverage Taiwan, a trade show that encompasses the Taiwan Int'l Tea Expo, the Taipei Int'l Wine & Spirits Festival, Taiwan Int'l Food Show, and the Taiwan Int'l Coffee Show.

In his opening remarks, Chen said the Central American Pavilion was set up inside the premises of the Taiwan Int'l Coffee Show with coffee and cocoa as its main architectural design, to invite visitors to experience the cultural significance of the commodities in Belize and Guatemala.

Chen added that 14 Guatemalan export companies are participating in the expo, which he said "shows how important the Taiwanese market is to the Central American country."

The 14 companies came to Taiwan under the leadership of Andrés Destarac, chairman of Guatemala's national coffee association, to present coffee beans from eight of the country's major coffee-growing regions.

Speaking with CNA, Destarac echoed Chen's remarks, stating that Guatemala greatly values the Taiwanese market, as shown in the increase in coffee bean exports every year.

Destarac went on to say that he hopes to be able to return to Taiwan every year to participate in the trade show.

CATO Director Violeta Hsu (徐韶慧) said that beans imported from Guatemala made up 10 percent of coffee bean sales in Taiwan in 2024, making Guatemala the fourth largest source of coffee imports for Taiwan.

According to CATO, the Central American Pavilion will also aim to draw visitors into the world of Belizean cocoa, a world-renowned product.

To showcase the quality of the Belizean cocoa, Taiwan companies such as Suntown, a local sweets store, and Wei Chuan Foods Corp. set up booths in the pavilion to feature chocolates and beverages made from Belizean cocoa.

Aside from cocoa, Belize will also present the country's rums to bring the passion of Central American culture to Taiwan, the office said.

At the opening ceremony of the expo, Chen, Meighan and López made a beverage together using ingredients from both countries, which were later refined by an award-winning coffee cocktail mixologist from Taiwan.

The Food and Beverage Taiwan trade show will run from Friday to Monday at both Hall 1 and Hall 2 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.