Palermo: Taiwanese gelato maker Sylvia Chao from Changhua County, central Taiwan, has won first prize at the Sherbeth International Artisan Gelato Festival in Italy, organizers announced on Facebook Tuesday. Chao took the top honor with her creation “Luce d’Oolong” (Light of Oolong), a blend inspired by Taiwan’s oolong tea, at the annual festival held in Palermo, Sicily, from Nov. 7-10.

According to Focus Taiwan, which ran the headline “The world’s best gelato? It’s made by a Taiwanese artisan,” Chao’s win is both a milestone for Taiwan and a reflection of the festival’s growing international reach. It marks the first time the award has gone to Taiwan, with the Italian newspaper describing Chao’s gelato as “a balance of floral and mineral notes that impressed both the judges and the public.”

Currently in its 17th edition, the Sherbeth competition attracted 50 gelato artisans from around the world who showcased innovative flavors and high-quality artisanal techniques. Chao, who runs Mountain in Blue Gelato on Lukang’s historic old street in Changhua, is known for using local ingredients to create distinctive flavors. Her gelato was also featured at Taiwan’s 2023 National Day reception and served to foreign dignitaries.