Today I read a news about a seventy something elder made traditional steamer in Chiayi, Taiwan where is my hometown and the person I’ve visited when I was in university.
http://www.lsgreatthing.com.tw/sale/steamer.html
My hometown is in southern west of Taiwan, and most of population are elder and children. This county is low developing county so most of young generation are working in capital city as in Taipei or Kaohsiung and so am I. There are many craftsmen in my hometown and most of them are the last generation, there is no young people to take it.
Mr. Hung is the first born child in his family, his two brothers and him learned handmade steamer from their father. He made the bamboo steamer from purchase raw material, cut slice and weave into a steamer. All of the process are made by himself from his childhood till met his wife Mrs. Hung who is his best assistant. I’ve asked him if his child would like to success in this studio what will he say? His wife and him told me, it’s a difficult job and makes less money so they don’t want their child to learn it but they don’t want the skills disappearing what is they concerning. I can’t agree them more…
It’s great to hear the local government hosting activities to help people experience handmade steamer and learn about the history, people might think it’s an activity only but I believe the craftsman is very happy to see more people participating it.
Although Iron steamer is more cheaper and convenient, bamboo steamer is the role to give steamed foods soul. most of people like the bamboo smell with steamed foods. To them, it’s the memory for some traditional steamed foods and that’s the reason why some restaurants using bamboo steamers instead of iron steamers.