Introducing the outstanding brand that features two award-winning sauces, a must-have for every food lover's kitchen...Taishon!

Today, we’re diving into the world of a remarkable brand that has not one, but two award-winning sauces that are essential for every foodie’s kitchen. Enter ‘Taishon Flavours of the Far East,’ a brand that’s ready to share the secrets behind their versatile products and how they can transform any dish into a culinary masterpiece. Stick around as we unveil how their products can elevate your cooking game and reveal the magic behind their success. Get ready to unleash your inner chef!...

Hello, and a big welcome to the blog!

Great to meet you and thank you for the invitation!

Let’s start at the beginning: what sparked the creation of Taishon and set you on this flavourful adventure? 

Taishon started its life as a Pan Asian Takeaway which Leigh (my wife) and I set up as a side hustle during the COVID lockdown. Our business at the time was dependent on several core clients located in the Far and Middle East, and with the ban on international travel, it became impossible to continue to provide the on-hands service we had previously delivered. So, tied into a lengthy commercial lease we channelled our energies into repurposing the office space by designing, building and installing a professional commercial kitchen. What previously for us was just a keen amateur passion for food, quickly developed into our main career!

What an exciting moment! It's clear that the products you've created are a huge part of that success story. Both of your sauces have received high praise from our CEO, being labelled as premium and perfected! If you could encapsulate their taste in just three words, which ones would best express their deliciousness? 

With just three words, well the flavour profiles of the two sauces are quite different so I guess Korean is ‘Sweet Spicy and Deep’ and Peking ‘ Sweet Savoury and Zingy’  however to be more generic, I guess Authentic,  Intense and Moreish.

Fantastic! That sums them up perfectly! 

Now, if you were to select a signature recipe for each sauce that really exemplifies its excellence, what would you advise our readers to whip up? 

Any of the recipes on the website are equally good and suitable, just make sure to remove or switch out any animal based products with a vegan substitute. However another great way to use the Korean is to knock up some vegan tacos - no need for peeling and chopping onions or garlic, literally just fry off 500g of vegan mince until browned then if you like, chuck in peppers and mushrooms, finally pour in a tablespoon (or more if you like it spicier) of Taishons Korean Sauce and ,mix - then serve in vegan taco shells and top with fresh salad. I like to add fresh coriander, and thinly sliced red chillies on mine. Super easy and ready in well under 10 minutes!  For the Peking, take a shop bought or homemade cooked vegan pizza then whilst its still piping hot, drizzle over some Peking sauce - it’s a total game changer!

Wow, drooling! Can't wait to whip up that taco recipe - thanks for passing it along!

Tricky question for you to ponder now…among your fantastic selection of sauces, which one do you personally love the most and find yourself using all the time? 

Ooh that’s a difficult one, for me personally it depends on the dish. The Peking broth is definitely up there, but the Korean noodles are mind blowing. Speed is of essence as well, especially mid week so either sauce is particularly good for making a speedy stir fry, rice or noodle dish.

Yes, that is a huge reason we love them so much, another being the exceptional quality your brand is renowned for. What do you think is the key to maintaining such high standards in your sauces? 

Sticking to our guns. It would have been easy to replace core ingredients for lesser quality substitutes and dilute to achieve a more favourable price point, but for us, quality and flavour always has to come first. 

It clearly shows in the end result, so we're glad you stayed true to your principles! Moving on…What has been the most rewarding aspect of building your own brand and the journey that comes with it? 

We were always keen foodies, but never imagined that one day we would end up launching our own brand of gourmet sauces. Having spent over 25 years as design and marking consultants to other brands across a variety of sectors including retail, food and hospitality, to finally build a product and brand for ourselves, drawing on the knowledge we have learned and seeing the bottles flying off the production line, (something which would never of  happened if COVID hadn’t occurred) - this was hugely emotional and rewarding. A new start and a product as a result of our determination to evolve. Then of course to receive the Vegan Choice Award for not one but both sauces - that’s the cherry on the top!

It's fantastic to see your unwavering determination pay off, resulting in two sauces we just can't imagine living without!...On the flip side, what has been the most challenging part of this entrepreneurial ride? 

I guess the most challenging part has been the product development. Being able to maintain the stubborn determination to get the flavour right in large scale production took in excess of 14 months of multiple tests. The complexities of food production at scale has most definitely been learning and will continue no doubt to do so for many years to come!

On that note…looking to the future, what thrilling new products or innovations can we anticipate from Taishon? 

We hope to by the end of the year to launch at least one more sauce to market. We have not yet decided which one as our repertoire has several lined up to go, it could be our Taiwaneese Hot Chilli sauce, or one of a unique gourmet curry sauces, time will tell!

We have our fingers crossed and can’t wait to witness the brand's expansion. Based on your success, what valuable lessons would you pass on to aspiring entrepreneurs eager to carve out their own niche in the market? 

It most probably won’t be as easy as you expect it to be - but then if it was, everyone would be doing it, so accept each challenge you face and overcome, as a step nearer success. 

Great advice! And, for those who can’t wait to taste your scrumptious sauces, where can they track them down?

They are currently available from www.taishon.co.uk and to help us celebrate our win of the Vegan Choice Award we are giving 20% off for all purchases made over £10 until the end of May when you enter the discount code VCAWIN

What fantastic news, everyone! There you have it - don’t miss your chance to snag these incredible products while the discount is still up for grabs. We want you to experience the greatness and not be left on the sidelines. 

Thanks for tuning in!