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As you head to Naruo Tribe from Neiwan, after passing Naruo Police Station, remember to roll down your window and take a moment to appreciate the scents around you. Depending on the season, the air in the Fragrant Herb Tribe will be filled with a variety of aromas. You might not be able to identify which herb corresponds to each scent, but you will certainly agree that they all share a common name: happiness. Naruo Tribe is primarily a Tayal tribe, and the indigenous people's understanding of natural crops runs deep in their blood. With their keen minds and deft hands, they have learned to coexist with nature. Under the guidance of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Hsinchu County Government, and the New Society Seedling Improvement Field, Naruo Tribe began to systematically cultivate aromatic medicinal plants, commonly known as herbs, over a decade ago. They also established a production and marketing class, which sparked a trend of herb cultivation nationwide. However, in 2004, Typhoon Aili brought devastating consequences, causing severe landslides that destroyed all the flower fields and dealt a heavy blow to the tribe's residents' confidence. Fortunately, Wu Xiumei, the leader of the production and marketing class, remained optimistic, believing that as people's living standards improved, the demand for herbs would increase. She led her team to research and develop herb processing and applications, enabling Naruo Fragrant Herb Tribe to produce high-value-added herb products in addition to providing raw materials. Over the past decade, they have persevered, using organic cultivation to establish an intimate connection with the herbs. Today, Naruo Fragrant Herb Tribe's herb pure essence not only supplies domestic well-known skincare manufacturers but also catches the attention of German brands, known for their strict quality control, who travel across the ocean to source their products. The tribe's persistence has finally brought them happiness. Wu Xiumei mentioned that although people often associate herbs with Western products, the "Compendium of Materia Medica" actually mentions twenty-eight types of herbs and fragrant flowers, including daffodils. Shennong, the legendary Emperor of China, is said to have "tasted a hundred herbs" to discover medicine. This indicates that herbs are not foreign to Chinese culture and can be found in aspects such as food seasoning, folk remedies, beauty and skincare, essential oil fragrance, and pharmaceutical refinement. Combining Western knowledge of herbs with local cultural characteristics is the key to a suitable and localized herb lifestyle. For example, when it comes to rosemary, people often think of pairing it with roasted meat. However, Wu Xiumei suggests that adding rosemary when stir-frying clams or other shellfish can elevate the flavor. If you're interested in learning more about herb-based cuisine or even making your own skincare products, consider booking a guided tour of the herb fields. Wu Xiumei and the production and marketing class members will lead you into their herb kingdom.