When people ask me what I miss most about Poland, they often expect answers like family, castles, snowy winters, or Christmas markets. Of course I miss all of those things.
But after living in Taiwan for many years, I've discovered that sometimes the things you miss most are much smaller. Sometimes it's a particular smell coming from your grandmother's kitchen. Sometimes it's a flavor you grew up with and took for granted until you moved halfway around the world.
Taiwan has amazing food. In fact, one of the things I love most about living here is the incredible variety of fresh produce, night market snacks, and local specialties.
Still, there are a few ingredients from Poland that I regularly wish I could find more easily.
1. Poppy Seeds
This is probably the ingredient I miss the most. In Poland, poppy seeds are everywhere. We use them in cakes, pastries, rolls, and especially during Christmas.
One of the most traditional Polish Christmas cakes contains huge amounts of ground poppy seeds. For many Poles, Christmas simply doesn't taste like Christmas without them.
Unfortunately, poppy seeds are impossible to obtain in Taiwan - considered a drug!
Whenever I see photos of makowiec (Polish poppy seed roll) from friends back home, I immediately become nostalgic.
Some foods are so closely connected to childhood memories that they are impossible to replace.
2. Marjoram
Marjoram may seem like a simple herb, but it plays an important role in Polish cooking. It's used in soups, stews, meat dishes, and many traditional recipes. For me, the smell of marjoram instantly reminds me of Polish kitchens.
When I first moved to Taiwan, I assumed finding marjoram would be easy. I was wrong...
Of course, Taiwan offers an incredible selection of herbs and spices used in Chinese cuisine, but the herbs common in Central and Eastern Europe can sometimes be surprisingly difficult to find.
3. Split Peas
Polish pea soup, or grochówka, is one of those comforting foods that many people grow up eating. The key ingredient is dried split peas. Whenever the weather turns cooler, I start thinking about making a big pot of traditional Polish pea soup.
Unfortunately, split peas are not something I regularly see where I live in Taiwan. Every now and then I search for them again, hoping that perhaps some store has started carrying them.
So far, no luck.
4. Sorrel
Sorrel is probably one of the most difficult ingredients to explain to people who didn't grow up in Eastern Europe. As a child, I loved sorrel soup. Its slightly sour taste is unlike almost anything else.
In Poland, sorrel can be found fresh during the season and preserved in jars throughout the year.
In Taiwan, however, I have never come across it. Whenever I mention sorrel soup to Taiwanese friends, they usually have no idea what I'm talking about.
5. Proper Polish Pickles
Now, before anyone gets upset, I know Taiwan has pickled vegetables. But they are not the same.
Polish pickles are usually naturally fermented and have a distinctive sour flavor. They're crunchy, refreshing, and served with countless dishes.
Many of the pickled vegetables available in Taiwan tend to be sweeter than what I'm used to.
Every Polish person probably has their own opinion on what makes the perfect pickle, but for me, it's that strong fermented flavor that I miss.
6. Kefir
If you're Polish, chances are you've had kefir countless times. It's one of those products that you don't fully appreciate until you can't find it anymore.
Kefir is refreshing, slightly sour, and incredibly versatile. You can drink it on its own, use it in baking, or enjoy it during hot summer days.
Taiwan has many excellent dairy products compared to when I first arrived, but kefir remains surprisingly difficult to find. Every time I visit Poland, I end up drinking far more kefir than I probably should.
7. Maślanka
If there's one thing that immediately reminds me of Polish summers, it's maślanka. For those who have never tried it, it's a fermented dairy drink that's light, refreshing, and perfect on a hot day.
Many foreigners don't understand why Poles love it so much until they actually try it.
Like kefir, it's one of those products that seems completely ordinary when you're living in Poland and suddenly becomes impossible to replace abroad.
The Yogurt Situation
One thing that surprised me after moving to Taiwan was how many dairy products are sweetened. When I buy yogurt in Poland, finding plain, unsweetened yogurt is easy. In Taiwan, many yogurts contain added sugar or fruit flavoring.
Things have improved over the years, and there are certainly more options available now than when I first arrived. Still, finding exactly the kind of plain dairy products I want can sometimes feel like a treasure hunt.
As someone who enjoys baking and making Polish desserts, this occasionally creates extra challenges.
Seasonal Fruits I Miss
Poland and Taiwan have very different climates, which means very different fruits. Taiwan has incredible tropical fruits that I never had growing up. Mangoes, wax apples, dragon fruit, and lychees are all things I enjoy here.
At the same time, I sometimes miss the fruits I grew up with in Poland. Fresh currants, gooseberries, sour cherries, and certain varieties of plums immediately bring back childhood memories.
Food isn't only about taste. Sometimes it's about memories.
Beetroot: Sometimes Here, Sometimes Not
As a Pole, I simply can't write an article about missing ingredients without mentioning beetroot. Fortunately, beetroot can sometimes be found in Taiwan, especially in larger cities. However, it's nowhere near as common as it is in Poland. Back home, beetroot is a completely normal vegetable that appears in soups, salads, and countless traditional dishes.
In Taiwan, finding it often requires a bit more planning. As someone who loves making barszcz (beetroot soup), I've learned to buy beetroot whenever I happen to see it.
Living Between Two Food Cultures
One of the beautiful things about living abroad is discovering new foods and new traditions. Over the years, Taiwan has introduced me to countless ingredients that I had never seen in Poland. Some have become regular parts of my cooking.
At the same time, moving abroad makes you appreciate the foods you grew up with. The ingredients on this list aren't expensive or luxurious. Most are simple everyday foods that many people in Poland probably don't think twice about.
But when they're no longer available, you realize how important they were.
Living abroad teaches you that sometimes the ingredient you miss most isn't something expensive - it's a simple herb your grandmother used every day.
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