More about Chef's Knives
A good chef's knife handles almost every cut in the kitchen: slicing, weighing, chopping and dicing. For this, you need a sturdy blade and a length that suits your hand and chopping board. Taiga stocks Güde chef's knives with blade lengths from 16 to 26 cm, from the classic Alpha range and the Karl-Güde and Franz-Güde lines to the Chai-Dao shape – a broad blade inspired by Chinese chef's knives, designed for preparing vegetables and meat with one tool.
Buying guide: choosing the right blade length and shape
16 cm suits smaller hands and confined work surfaces, while 21 cm is the most versatile all-rounder for most kitchens. At 26 cm, the blade offers more cutting power when working with large quantities or hard ingredients such as pumpkin. The Chai-Dao shape differs from a classic chef's knife blade through its broader, straight edge, which is also useful for lifting chopped vegetables. Handles made from walnut or barrel oak sit securely in the hand and only need occasional oiling rather than dishwasher care.
Brands
For chef's knives, Taiga relies on Güde: a German knife manufacturer with a hand-forging tradition. Its Alpha, Karl-Güde and Franz-Güde lines differ primarily in blade shape and handle wood, not in their quality of workmanship.
What length of chef's knife is best for everyday use?
At 21 cm, the blade offers a good balance of control and cutting power and suits most chopping board sizes. If you regularly work with large quantities or root vegetables, 26 cm is the better choice.
What is a Chai-Dao chef's knife?
Chai Dao refers to a broad blade shape inspired by Chinese chef's knives, with a straight edge – suitable for slicing, chopping and lifting ingredients in a single movement.
For fine cuts without food sticking, take a look at Santoku knives. You can find the full selection under Kitchen knives.
Updated 08/2026