The leading role in the restaurant is played by herbs, and many of them are said to be beneficial to one's health if a certain amount is taken regularly.

The main dish that comes with each hot pot is a huge bowl of herbs that consists of big chunks of more than ten different herbs, including Chinese toon, a herb said to lower hypertension and blood sugar; heartleaf houttuynia herb, which enhances the upper respiratory tract; centella asiatica, thought to be a great help in fighting diarrhea, hypertension, and hepatitis, etc. Each of the herbs gives off a distinctive aroma. Heartleaf houttuynia herb, in particular, has a smell that might temporarily remind you of salted fish.

The hotpot soup is entirely made of matrimony-vine, a Chinese medicine that is generally believed to improve eyesight. The soup has a refreshing, slightly sweet flavor that distinguishes itself from other shabu shabu hot soups. After sipping the soup, it is time to try the herbs.

Swish the herbs in the boiling soup for 10 to 20 seconds as instructed by waitresses in order to keep the sweetness of the herbs, then dip them in the Chinese toon sauce and chow down.

To be honest, some of the herbs have a distinctly sharp taste and are moderately bitter, but most of them just tease the taste buds. After consuming the huge bowl of herbs you come to the delicious desserts. And if you come at the right time, you can have "lemongrass jelly" that tastes like heaven.

As the number of health conscious people in Taiwan increases, more and more restaurants that pride themselves on making healthy meals or supplying organic food are springing up. But restaurants that take pride in providing Chinese herbs as the main dish are still not the mainstream in Taiwan, which makes "Full Green" a special dining place.

Ho Ming-chin, special assistant to Wu Ching-hai, owner of the "Full Green," says that the herbs provided in the restaurant come from Yuan Sen Applied Botanical Garden in Taitung. According to Ho, all of the medical herbs planted in the garden are completely poison-free. Ho said farmers using natural agriculture methods do not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers throughout the whole cultivation process. At dawn, farmers handpick the fresh leaves of the medical herbs, and the herbs are directly transported to the restaurant in the early morning every day.

"Different environments produce different vegetables," Ho said. Taitung's fresh air and clean water make it a good choice for growing healthy vegetables, he said, adding that the garden is equipped with many greenhouses so that the agricultural produce is not be burned down by the Chinook winds of Taitung.

"Consuming medical herbs is not an idea innovated by modern people. In ancient times our ancestors used herbs, which cured them of their illnesses and boosted their immunity."

The botanic garden also provides herb lovers with fast delivery services. You can find more information at http://www.yuan-sen.com.tw/

Organic food shops

If you think eating in "Full Green" once a month is not adequate to boost your health over a short period of time, consider buying healthy-grown vegetables on a regular basis at one of the many organic shops that have popped up rapidly across the island.

According to an article written by National Chung Hsing University Professor Tung Kuo-chang that was published on the website of Council of Agriculture, as of June 2007 there were 782 shops that claimed they sell organic products. Of the 782 shops, 220 were located in Taipei City, 95 in Taipei County, 47 in Taoyuan and 54 in Kaohsiung City. The majority of the 782 organic food shops are chain stores, with "Yogi House," "EarthlifE," "Li-Ruhn" and "Homemakers' Union Shop" taking the top four spots.

As organic crops are raised without most conventional pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage-based fertilizers, the direct and indirect cost of producing organic food is higher than mass produced food, which explains why organic products are often more expensive than non-organic food.

Chan Yi-ching, president of EarthlifE, which was established in 1994, said although it takes a lot more effort to manage an organic farm, and it takes much more time to make a profit by managing an organic shop, he still believes that organic shops are necessary, because it is very important for Taiwanese people to build a more positive attitude toward the land and the environment.

For Chang, the concept of organic diet not only applies to healthy-produced products, but also suggests an attitude for living.

"The essence of organic industry is 'eco-friendly awareness.' Luring more people to try organic food is aimed at making them healthier. For me, the organic industry is more of an industry that combines science, medical treatment, health and social justice, instead of just a money-making business. The industry should help to bring about a sustainable environment."

Chan recalled that his first experience with organic food was during a business trip to the United States, in which he was introduced to an organic restaurant for dinner.

"I was very impressed that each dish in that meal was uncooked. The next day I went to the restaurant again, and I found that there was an organic market nearby. I began to think that organic industry could be a meaningful industry to society, and it could be an industry that fulfills my dream to open my own business."

EarthlifE not only sells healthy vegetables and fruits that are grown on an organic farm in Hualien County, it also markets a wide range of health products and set meals. It now has more than 20 branches islandwide.

Read before purchasing

However, despite the heaps of "health products" and "organic products" that have appeared in the market in response to the importance attached to healthy diets and a sustainable environment, it is highly advisable to check out the labels on "organic" products before making your purchase.

To date there is no official certifying agency in Taiwan that certifies processed organic foods, meaning that the plums, organic vinegar, or organic cookies that are sold on the market as "organic" products may actually be not as beneficial to human health as claimed by the businessmen.

The four certifiers approved by the government, namely the Mokichi Okada International Association (MOA), Taiwan Organic Production Association (TOPA), Tse-xin Organic Agricultural Foundation (TOAF), and Taiwan Formosa Organic Association (FOA), only certify vegetables, fruits, rice, and tea leaves that their owners claim to be organic. Some farmers who own small-scale farms cannot afford to have their vegetables certified by the four institutes due to the lengthy examination process and examination fees.

So the next time you purchase self-claimed organic products at the local shops, make sure you see one of the four labels on the package plastic bags. If you don't see any of the logos of the four certifiers, you might want to ask the salesclerk where the products come from and how they are made. If time allows, go visit the organic farms and talk to the farmers to learn more about the art of organic agriculture.

(This feature can been seen also at http://www.culture.tw/)