It may be raining constantly here in Taipei, but thanks to the arid and rain-free climate in Xinpu Township, the land of the persimmons, the fruit is always sweet. The persimmon cakes are one of the specialties of the region, and now local businesses are going outside the box, to develop other persimmon related products.

To promote local industries, Xinpu Persimmon Dye Association has worked with Council of Labor Affairs on the project to promote local persimmon dyes.

Six years ago, some people opened a class with the persimmon cake makers, and their persimmon dye artifacts had impressed many tourists.

In order to make it easier for the local artists to create more persimmon dye works, the association has rented the old nursery home and innovated it into an exhibition hall for the persimmon dye works.

Tasty Xinpu persimmon cakes are famous for the first-rate quality and texture, and the association chairman, Liu Li-chien, who is also a persimmon cake maker himself, tells us the stories behind the development of persimmon dye.

Every persimmon dye work is unique and with a little creativity, the dyed cloth can be made into cloths or handbags.

With their effort in promoting the dye, persimmon dye work has become the latest new Cultural and Creative products of the region.

The association's next step is to work with local paper master, Liu Shin-shin, to develop persimmon-dyed paper lanterns.