"Aren't you open in the evenings, ma'am? How come nobody ever answers the phone?" "We're near the HSR station, ma'am. How do we get to your shop?" As the year end approaches, the phones in the Operation Section of Taichung Women's Prison are ringing off the hook, each call inquiring about ordering and delivery. There are even some "accidental" consumers, with no idea the product enjoying such rave reviews on the Web is "Made In Jail," even saying that they want to take a look around their shop.

"Times have changed. Now we prison administrators are phone operators and sales reps for the inmates. We even have to report our daily sales figures to them," says Qiu Shuyun, head of Taichung Women's Prison's Operation Section, in a self-deprecating manner, yet unable to hide her pride.

Taichung Women's Prison's hand-made chocolates are available in 11 flavors and a palette of different colors. Made of wholesome ingredients, they're sweet but not cloying, each one made by the hands of these assiduous female inmates.

Taichung Women's Prison, a 15-minute cab ride from the Wuri High Speed Rail station, currently holds over 1,100 female inmates, with 67% of them in on drug charges. Violent offenders (robbery, murder, etc.) are few and far between, accounting for about 8%. Perhaps it's for this reason that this place lacks the customary macho, stern, restricted atmosphere of men's prisons. There's much less of the tense authoritarian relationship between guards and inmates; in its place is a kinship more like friends or sisters, through which the guards provide guidance on an emotional basis.

The choice of chocolate as their primary product is the brainchild of the late justice minister Chen Ding-nan. Says Qiu, when he visited the prison, the methodical, solemn-looking Chen took one taste of the baking class's hand-made chocolate, and his usually stony face broke into a wide grin.

"The warm chocolates could melt the iron face of even 'Mr. Clean' himself, giving the inmates more confidence in their product. Only after this did they officially begin mass production of chocolate," Qiu smiles.

Taichung Women's Prison's hand-made chocolates are available in 11 flavors and a palette of different colors. Made of wholesome ingredients, they're sweet but not cloying, each one made by the hands of these assiduous female inmates.

Taichung Women's Prison's classic hand-made chocolates come in 11 flavors, including bittersweet, milk chocolate, white chocolate, yogurt, coffee, cranberry, mint, orange, and raisin milk. The bittersweet chocolate, chock full of almonds, is the most popular among them. The wholesome ingredients, distinct layering, sweet yet not cloying texture, plus the low sales price of NT$5 apiece prompted one die-hard consumer to proclaim, "Anyone who spends a fortune on Ferrero Rocher is a fool!"

At present, Taichung Women's Prison's chocolate factory brings in about NT$5.1 million annually in sales. The seven employees are all baking experts with national class C licenses and who have passed hepatitis A and B and AIDS screening.

The meticulous, caring nature of women can be seen at a glance among these prisoners as they make chocolate. For instance, when placing melted cocoa into the molds, they carefully tap them to shake air bubbles from the chocolate, giving it a firmer texture. And when freezing the melted cocoa in molds, they never forget to control the time to exactly five minutes, because a moment too soon or too late might affect the color of the chocolate.

When orders surge, they even sacrifice their time off by working overtime without complaint. And during the summer low season of July and August, the inmates worry more about sluggish sales than anyone else does. To these factory workers, each glistening black piece of chocolate is not just a crystallization of their effort, but also a promise for their future.

"My dad loves the chocolates we make, and he often buys them for friends and relatives. Even though I let him down in life, he has never given up on me," sobs 27-year-old Ms. Hu, who has worked in the chocolate factory for over a year. Having grown up in a single-parent household and now serving eight years for selling drugs, she misses her dad more than anyone else.

"When I get out, I'll definitely make good use of the skills I learned here. I won't let him down again," she says, her voice trailing off.

The others' eyes start to water when they see her tears. Their sincere regret is packaged in their products, holding boundless meaning for their friends and relatives on the other side of the bars. Perhaps it's because the chocolates made here truly have the power to move people's hearts that they are so popular!

Taichung Women's Prison's hand-made chocolates are available in 11 flavors and a palette of different colors. Made of wholesome ingredients, they're sweet but not cloying, each one made by the hands of these assiduous female inmates.