Saturday, September 28, 2019

The Effect of Fast

The effect of fast 


Here, in this blog, I introduce Korean foods(K-food), however,  we need to stop eating food sometimes, fasting. It helps our body recover its natural rhythm  and purify itself.  "Fast" means stoping eating. By stoping eating, the body utilizes the excessive nutrition and recovers the hunman natural potential. This potential means the self-healing and immunitive power to eliminate the health problems and diseases. In natural condition, when animals get sick or ill, they naturally stop eating and let their bodies recover its natural rhythm. When you are sick, you lose appitite. It is a nature's way of healing.


Fast is not eating intentionally, and it has been used in many cultures for religious and healthy reasons for thousands of years.  When we eat regularlly, the body expects the food will be supplied as usual, however, when you fast, it tries to absorb the nutrients  from the food stored within body. In this process, the body shows the amazing healing power by increasing the imminity. 

While fasting, we can feel being free from stresses. It was medically demonstrated that the pituitarygland, the control tower of the hormones in the body, releases hormones to  fight against stresses. Fasting also facilitates the excretion of the wastes including harmful chemicals in the body. 

One of the changes occuring in the body while fasting is self-melting. That is, the body makes efforts to find nutrients in the body when the nutritional supply is blocked. Thus, it energizes the nutrients it attracted from the other organs, except the organs which is essential for maintaining life. The body gets into a kind of positive shock while fasting as it is exhausted without nutrients. It does something to survive and recover. 

Fast causes the body to block the influx of poisonous elements and helps the toxins be excreted. It also lowers the fat level of the blood by not eating food. The blood with the low level of fat moves smoothly throughout the body supplying nutrients to the cells of the body.  While the digestion system is resting, the body utilizes all the nutrients to energize and it enhances the power of immunity. 



Saturday, September 21, 2019

The spirit included in K-foods: Doenjang and Ganjang

Harmony with Nature: Fermented Foods


The essence of the Korean traditional fermented foods is Doenjang. Doenjang is a fermented food with soy beans.  Doenjang is used for many Korean foods.  The Korean mentality of implicitness and perseverance has been absorbed into this food and others.  Implicitness and perseverance are the virtues that Koerans lost during the rapid modernization and economic development after Korean War. It is time that we should recover the virtues for the happiness and welling of the people around the globe. Implicitness and perseverance are derived from the process of harmonizing with Nature. You have to wait and interact with patience to be friendly with nature. The spirit is naturally absorbed into every aspect of life. The Korean spirit is contained in the basic food: Doenjang . That is the reason why we should prepare food with care and eat food with gratitude for nature and ancestors.  

Soy Bean

Soy beans are good protein suppliers for Asians who has eaten rice for carbohydrate. Animals find proper food combination naturally for survoval. In Asia, beans have been used in various forms of food, especially in Korea. Koreans made Tofu, Doenjang and some others from soy beans. Doenjang is fermented from soy beans. Doenjang is the basic one of the fermened foods that Koreans enjoy. You might misunderstand that Kimchi is the only Korean food. There are, however, a lot of Korean fermented foods. It is not too much to say that Korean can ferment almost every vegies and fruits, even fish.


Meju: A big dumpling of boiled soy beans. Beneficial microorganisms are cultivated inside meju.

You can see the Korean's wosdom about life. Meju is an example. Meju is a big dumpling of soy beans. When you boil soy beans and then crush, they become a little sticky. We make rectangular parallelepiped mejus with those sticky soy beans. It seems that Koreans knew intuitively knew Microorganisms are cultirvated within the mejus.  You can see in the picture above. They knew that without microscope or other observatory instrument.  Microorganisms are media to harmonize human life and nature. Koreans perceived everything is inter-related and thought that something went wrong when there was a disconnection between life and nature. That is, they thought life persist in harmony and connection with nature.  The idea that things are discrete is an illusion.  The thought trend that divide things: huan and environment, west vs east, material vs spirit, body vs mind, etc , developed from the time of Aristotle and ancienct Greeks has pervaded the globe for the last about 2,500 years. It resulted in many harms and problems globally now. Now we are all in a turning point. We should change our logic. From lineal and divisional to para-logic to trans-logic. 
 I and You are one. You are in me. I am in You. We compose the universe. Korean mentality is sometimes called "Daedong(Big Togetherness)", which means cosmopolitanism. Koreans have lived together in a collective society for thousands of years on the peninsula.  We are all one. I use "cosmopolitanfreedm" as my google ID with this personal belief. This "Daedong" spirit is a virtue, I believe, that can renovate the way of life on the globe, eliminating individualistic and self-based life styles and beliefs.  Koreans use the word "woori" very often and excessive. "Woori" means "we". Eetimologically, "woori" means "fence", a place some like-kind things stay together. Koreas mostly use "we=woori" as the subject of a sentence instead of "I". And "our" for " my". Even they say " our wife" instead of "my wife'. Mentality is manifested in the use of language and food. Anyhow, Koreans have lived a life of togetherenss, Daedong, cosmopolitanism.



Jangdok: Korean traditional container for Doenjang, Ganjang and other foods

Jangdok breathes. The desity of Jangdok is loose so the air moves in and out. SO what? The microorganisms in Doenjang and other fermented food in Jangdok breathe and so live. Koreans enjoy eating living foods. The microorganisms in Doenjang and other fermented foods keep balance of the body biomicrobes, thus keep healthy body. It is very importand point that Jangdok, Jang container, breathes because air, spirit of the essence of life. Air is "Chi", or "spirit". In English, spirit is etimologically air. Lung is a part of respiratory system. Spirit is air, and air is mentality. It can be construed that our mentality is deteriorated as the air is deteriorated on the globe. The level of live is the level of spirit: air. So Jangdok breathes. We should breathe good air to live a good life. For Koreans to know more about 'spirit' and air. Now, you may have understood my intention to spread the Korean mentality of totality, implicitness and togetherness. Doenjang and Ganjang in Jangdok feeds microorganisms breathing through the minute gaps of the wall of Jangdok. How these people could see the holes invisible of the wall? Some sixth sense? Maybe. Life breeds life. Koreans have known it from the ancient.  


*Korean Version


자연과 조화:발효식품

한국 전통 발효식품의 기본이며 정수는 콩을 발효시켜 만든 된장과 간장이다.  모든 음식에 들어간다고 해도 별로 틀린 말은 아니다. 그 속에 들어 있는 우리민족 정신은 은근과 끈기이다. 현대화 과정에서 잃어버린 다시 되찾아할 덕목이다. 평화와 행복을 위해 되살려야할 정신이다. 은근과 끈기는, 곧, 자연과 조화이다.  정신은 삶 속에 배이게 마련이다. 우리 민족의 정신은 우리가 먹는 기본 음식에 담겨있다. 음식을 정성스럽게 만들고 감사하며 먹어야 하는 까닭이다.
메주콩
콩은 탄수화물 중심인 쌀을 주식으로 하는 동양인들이 자연스럽게 단백질을 통해 아미노산을 보충하기 위해 2차 주식으로 섭취하게된 귀중한 곡식이다. 사람을 포함한 동식물은 자연의 일부로 필요한 것을 자연스럽게 자연에서 구한다.

 메주
우리 조상들의 탁월한 지혜는 생명에 대한 이해가 깊다는 점이다. 이 메주가 가장 대표적이다. 메주에 저렇게 미생물이 살고 있다는 것을  현미경으로 보지도 않고 보고 알았다. 자연과 조화를 이루는데 미생물이 매개가 된다. 서양인들과 동양인들의 근본적 차이, 뇌구조의 차이점은 동양인들을 통합적이고 조화를 보는 전체성이고, 서양인들은 분석적이며 단절적이고 부분 지향이라는 점이다. 서양인들의 정신과 문화가 지구를 지배하면서 기술 발달, 환경과 인간 문화를 별개로 보는 인식으로 환경파괴, 식민지화,  배려가 아닌 이기심 만연으로 오늘날 지구의 참혹한 모습을 연출하게 되었다. 우주의 모든 것을 자세히 관찰하면 모두 연결되어 하나를 이루고 있다. 분리된 것은 없다. 나와 남은 하나이다. 우리 조상들을 그렇게 더불어 나누며 어울려 사는 대동의 삶을 살았다. 그래서 우리는 '울타리'를 뜻하는 '우리'라는 말을 너무 많이 쓴다. 심지어 '우리 마누라'라는 사실과 다른 말도 쓴다. 너무 '우리끼리' 뭉쳐서 배타적이고 패거리 문화로 악효과를 내기도 하지만, 더불어 사는 삶은 되찾아야 한다. 




메주 속의 미생물들이 번식하여 효과를 내려면(발효) 긴 시간 기다려야 한다. 은근과 끈기가 없으면 안된다. 명확하고 깔끔한 것을 좋아하는 서양인들이 화학을 발달시켜 세제나 농약, 몸 속 균을 죽이는 약을 개발하였다면우리 조상들은 흐리고 섞이는 것을 좋아하여 비빔밥을 먹고, 탁주를 즐기고, 된장을 즐기며 여백이 있는 동양화를 그리고 좋아하였다. 농약을 쳐서 많은 수확량을 올려 돈을 많이 벌겠다는 욕심과 이기심을 바탕으로 자본주의가 발달한 것은 인류사에서 시행착오의 과정이라 할 수 있다. 지구 긴 역사에서 약 250년 간 진행된 짧은 시행착오의 과정이다. 이제 그 자본주의라는 작은 배가 큰 대양 한 구석에서 침몰하고 있다. 세계 곳곳에서 벌어지고 있는 지금의 상황을 차분히 관찰하면 명확한 사실이다.


장독대

장독은 숨을 쉰다. 숨은 공기, 기, 기운이다. 기운은 곧 정신이다. 자연과 조화를 이루는 것이다.  생명은 곧 공기, 기, 기운이다. 자연과 조화를 이루지 않으면 건강은 불가능하다. 만병의 근원은 기력저하이다. 공기를 받아들이는 능력이 떨어지는 것이다. 성철 스님이 음식을 거의 드시지 않고 정신력이 높으신 것은 그의 기력이다. 즉, 공기를 받아들이는 능력이 높으셨던 것이다. 영어 단어, 정신을 뜻하는 'spirit'도 공기라는 뜻이다. 정신은 공기를 받아들이고 생명을 받아들이는 것이다. 장독 속의 된장이나 간장은 독의 미세한 틈으로 들어오는 기(자연의 생명력)을 받아들이고 내보내며 그 속에서 숨쉬는 수 억 개체의 생명체(미생물)들을 살린다. 된장이나 간장은 살아있는 음식이다. 생명이 생명을 살린다. 오늘날 대부분 공장에서 화학처리를 통해 생산되어 우리가 음식이라고 착각하고 속아서 먹는 것들은 죽은 것이 대부분인 제대로된 자연스러운 음식이 아니라고 할 수 있다. 음식혁명을 통해 의식혁명이 필요한 시점이다.







Kimchi



Kimchi (/ˈkɪm/Korean김치romanizedgimchiIPA: [kim.tɕʰi]), a staple in Korean cuisine, is a famous[1] traditional side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish, made with a widely varying selection of seasonings including gochugaru (chili powder), spring onionsgarlicginger, and jeotgal (salted seafood), etc.[2][3]
There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with different vegetables as the main ingredients.[4][5] Traditionally, kimchi was stored in-ground in large earthenware to prevent the kimchi from being frozen during the winter months. It was the primary way of storing vegetables throughout the seasons. In the summer the in-ground storage kept the kimchi cool enough to slow down the fermentation process.[3] In contemporary times, kimchi refrigerators are more commonly used to store kimchi.



Etymology[edit]

Ji[edit]

The term ji (), which has its origins in archaic Korean dihi (디히), has been used to refer to kimchi since ancient times.[6] The sound change can be roughly described as:[7]
  • dihi (디히) > di () > ji ()
The Middle Korean form dihi is found in several books from Joseon (1392–1897).[8][9] In Modern Korean, the word remains as the suffix -ji in the standard language (as in jjanjiseokbak-ji),[10][11] and as the suffix -ji as well as the noun ji in Gyeongsang and Jeolla dialects.[12] The unpalatalized form di is preserved in P'yŏngan dialect.[13]

Kimchi[edit]

Kimchi (김치) is the accepted word in both North and South Korean standard languages. Earlier forms of the word include timchɑi (팀), a Middle Korean transcription of the Sino-Korean word  (literally "submerged vegetable"). Timchɑi appears in Sohak Eonhae,[14] the 16th century Korean rendition of the Chinese book, Xiaoxue (in Korean, Sohak).[15] Sound changes from Middle Korean to Modern Korean regarding the word can be described as:[16]
  • timchɑi (팀沈菜) > dimchɑi (딤) > jimchɑi (짐) > jimchui (짐츼) > gimchi (김치)
The aspirated first consonant of timchɑi became unaspirated in dimchɑi, then underwent palatalization in jimchɑi. The word then became jimchui with the loss of the vowel ɑ () in Korean language, then Kimchi, with the depalatalized word-initial consonant. In Modern Korean, the hanja characters 沈菜 are pronounced chimchae (침채), and are not used to refer to kimchi, or anything else. The word Kimchi is not considered as a Sino-Korean word.[16] Older forms of the word are retained in many regional dialects: jimchae (Jeolla, Hamgyŏng dialects),[17] jimchi (ChungcheongGangwonGyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Hamgyŏng, Jeolla dialects),[18] and dimchi (P'yŏngan dialect).[19]
The English word "kimchi" perhaps originated from kimch'i, the McCune–Reischauer transcription of the Korean word Kimchi (김치).

History[edit]

The origin of kimchi dates back at least to the early period of the Three Kingdoms (37 BC‒7 AD).[20] Fermented foods were widely available, as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, a Chinese historical text published in 289 AD, mentions that "The Goguryeo people [referring to the Korean people] are skilled in making fermented foods such as wine, soybean paste, and salted and fermented fish" in the section named Dongyi in the Book of Wei.[21][22] Samguk Sagi, a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, also mentions the pickle jar used to ferment vegetables, which indicates that fermented vegetables were commonly eaten during this time.[21][23] During the Silla dynasty (57 BC – AD 935), kimchi became prevalent as Buddhism caught on throughout the nation and fostered a vegetarian lifestyle.[24]
The pickling of vegetables was an ideal method, prior to refrigerators, that helped to preserve the lifespan of foods. In Korea, kimchi was made during the winter by fermenting vegetables, and burying it in the ground in traditional brown ceramic pots called onggi. This labor further allowed a bonding among women within the family.[24] A poem on Korean radish written by Yi Gyubo, a 13th century literatus, shows that radish kimchi was a commonplace in Goryeo (918–1392).[5][25][26]
Pickled radish slices make a good summer side-dish,
Radish preserved in salt is a winter side-dish from start to end.
The roots in the earth grow plumper everyday,
Harvesting after the frost, a slice cut by a knife tastes like a pear.
— Yi Gyubo, Dongguk isanggukjip (translated by Michael J. Pettid, in Korean cuisine: An Illustrated History)
Kimchi has been a staple in Korean culture, but historical versions were not a spicy dish.[27] Early records of kimchi do not mention garlic or chili pepper.[28] Chili peppers, now a standard ingredient in kimchi, had been unknown in Korea until the early seventeenth century due to it being a New World crop.[citation needed] Chili peppers, originally native to the Americas, were introduced to East Asia by Portuguese traders.[28][29][30] The first mention of chili pepper is found in Jibong yuseol, an encyclopedia published in 1614.[21][31] Sallim gyeongje, a 17‒18th century book on farm management, wrote on kimchi with chili peppers.[21][32] However, it was not until the 19th century that the use of chili peppers in kimchi was widespread.[33] The recipes from early 19th century closely resemble today's kimchi.[34][35]
A 1766 book, Jeungbo sallim gyeongje, reports kimchi varieties made with a myriad of ingredients, including chonggak-kimchi (kimchi made with chonggak raddish), oi-sobagi (with cucumber), seokbak-ji (with jogi-jeot), and dongchimi.[21][36] However, napa cabbage was only introduced to Korea at the end of 19th century,[33] and whole-cabbage kimchi similar to its current form is described in Siuijeonseo, a cookbook published around that time.[37]
Kimchi is a national dish of both North and South Korea. During South Korea's involvement in the Vietnam War its government requested American help to ensure that South Korean troops, reportedly "desperate" for the food, could obtain it in the field;[38] South Korean president Park Chung-hee told U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson that kimchi was "vitally important to the morale of Korean troops". It was also sent to space on board Soyuz TMA-12 with South-Korean astronaut Yi So-yeon after a multimillion-dollar research effort to kill the bacteria and lessen the odor without affecting taste.[38] On 22 November 2017 a Google Doodle was used to "Celebrate Kimchi".[39]

Ingredients[edit]


Basic ingredients for kimchi: napa cabbage, radish, carrot, scallion, garlic, chili powder, fish sauce, and salt

Drying chili peppers for kimchi
Kimchi varieties are determined by the main vegetable ingredients and the mix of seasoning used to flavor the kimchi.

Vegetables[edit]

There are many different types of Kimchi dishes, and the most famous meal in this category is the cabbage Kimchi.[40] For many families, this pungent and often spicy meal is a source of pride and recalls the taste of a good home.[40] Cabbages (napa cabbagesbomdongheaded cabbages) and radishes (Korean radishesponytail radishesgegeol radishesyeolmu radishes) are the most commonly used kimchi vegetables.[2][3] Other kimchi vegetables include: asterballoon flower rootsburdock roots, celerychamnamulcilantrocresscrown daisy greenscucumbereggplantgarlic chivesgarlic scapes, gingerKorean angelica-tree shoots, Korean parsleyKorean wild chivelotus rootsmustard greens, onions, perilla leaves, potatoes, pumpkinsradish greensrapeseed leaves, scallionssoybean sproutsspinachsugar beetssweet potato vines, and tomatoes.[41]

Seasonings[edit]

Brining salt (with a larger grain size compared to kitchen salt) is used mainly for initial salting of kimchi vegetables. Being minimally processed, it serves to help develop flavours in fermented foods.[42]
Commonly used seasonings include gochugaru (chili powder), scallionsgarlicginger, and jeotgal (salted seafood)[2][3] Jeotgal can be replaced with raw seafood in colder Northern parts of the Korean peninsula.[43] If used, milder saeu-jeot (salted shrimp) or jogi-jeot (salted croaker) is preferred and the amount of jeotgal is also reduced in Northern and Central regions.[43] In Southern Korea, on the other hand, generous amount of stronger myeolchi-jeot (salted anchovies) and galchi-jeot (salted hairtail) is commonly used.[43] Raw seafood or daegu-agami-jeot (salted cod gills) are used in the East coast areas.[43]
Salt, scallions, garlic, fish sauce, and sugar are commonly added to flavour the kimchi.[44]

Microorganisms present in kimchi[edit]

These microorganisms are present due to the natural microflora provided by utilizing unsterilized food materials in the production of kimchi.[53][54] The step of salting the raw materials inhibits the pathogenic and putrefactive bacteria present in the microflora, allowing the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to flourish and become the dominant microorganism.[53][55] These anaerobic microorganisms steadily increase in number during the middle stages of fermentation, and prefer to be kept at low temperatures of about 10℃, pH of 4.2-4, and remain in the presence of NaCl.[53] Since the raw cruciferous vegetables themselves are the source of LAB required for fermentation, no starter culture is required for the production of kimchi; rather, “spontaneous fermentation” occurs.[56] The total population of microorganisms present at the beginning of processing determine the outcome of fermentation, causing the final product to be highly variable in terms of quality and flavour.[53] Currently, there are no recommended approaches to control the microbial community during fermentation to predict the final outcome.[56]

By-products of microorganism metabolism[edit]

The LAB bacteria produce lactic acidhydrogen peroxide, and carbon dioxide as by-products during metabolism. Lactic acid quickly lowers the pH, creating an acidic environment that is uninhabitable for most other microorganisms that survived salting.[54] This also modifies the flavour of sub-ingredients and can increase the nutritive value of the raw materials, as the microbial community in the fermentation process can synthesize B vitamins and hydrolyze cellulose in plant tissues to free nutrients that are normally indigestible by the human gastrointestinal tract.[54] Hydrogen peroxide is formed by the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and provides an antibiotic to inhibit some undesirable microorganisms.[54] Carbon dioxide functions as a preservative, flushing out oxygen to create an anaerobic environment, as well as creating the desired carbonation in the final product.[54]

Varieties[edit]


Tongkimchigulgimchi (kimchi with additional oyster) and other banchan
Kimchi is one of the most important dishes in Korean cuisine. "Kimchi" is Korean terminology for fermented vegetables, and encompasses salt and seasoned vegetables.[40] Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish consisting of pickled vegetables, which is mainly served as a side dish with every meal, but also can be served as a main dish.[57] Kimchi is mainly recognized as a spicy fermented cabbage dish globally.[24]
Variations are not limited, as Koreans "can make kimchi out of anything edible; a concept which extends toward infinite possibilities..."[58] Variations of kimchi continue to grow, and the taste can vary depending on the region and season.[59] Conventionally, the secret of kimchi preparation was passed down by mothers to their daughters in a bid to make them suitable wives to their husbands.[60] However, with the current technological advancement and increase in social media use, many individuals worldwide can now access the recipe for kimchi preparation. It is highly nutritious and offers deeply-flavored and spicy meals favorable to many classes of people, and illustrates the Korean culture as well.[60]
Kimchi can be categorized by main ingredients, regions or seasons. Korea's northern and southern sections have a considerable temperature difference.[61] There are over 180 recognized varieties of kimchi.[62] The most common kimchi variations are
  • Baechu-kimchi (배추김치) spicy napa cabbage kimchi, made from whole cabbage leaves
  • Baechu-geotjeori (배추겉절이) unfermented napa cabbage kimchi
  • Bossam-kimchi (보쌈김치) wrapped kimchi
  • Baek-kimchi (백김치) white kimchi, made without chili pepper
  • Dongchimi (동치미) a non-spicy watery kimchi
  • Nabak-kimchi (나박김치) a mildly spicy watery kimchi
  • Chonggak-kimchi (총각김치) cubed chonggak "ponytail" radish, a popular spicy kimchi
  • Kkakdugi (깍두기) spicy cubed Korean radish strongly-scented kimchi containing fermented shrimp
  • Oi-sobagi (오이소박이) cucumber kimchi that can be stuffed with seafood and chili paste, and is a popular choice during the spring and summer seasons
  • Pa-kimchi (파김치) spicy green onion kimchi
  • Yeolmu-kimchi (열무김치) is also a popular choice during the spring and summer, and is made with yeolmu radishes, and does not necessarily have to be fermented.
  • Gat-kimchi (갓김치), made with Indian mustard
Kimchi from the northern parts of Korea tends to have less salt and red chili and usually does not include brined seafood for seasoning. Northern kimchi often has a watery consistency. Kimchi made in the southern parts of Korea, such as Jeolla-do and Gyeongsang-do, uses salt, chili peppers and myeolchijeot (멸치젓, brined anchovy allowed to ferment) or saeujeot (새우젓, brined shrimp allowed to ferment), myeolchiaekjeot (멸치액젓), kkanariaekjeot (까나리액젓), liquid anchovy jeot, similar to fish sauce used in Southeast Asia, but thicker.
Saeujeot (새우젓) or myeolchijeot is not added to the kimchi spice-seasoning mixture, but is simmered first to reduce odors, eliminate tannic flavor and fats, and then is mixed with a thickener made of rice or wheat starch (). This technique has been falling into disuse in the past 40 years.

Color[edit]

White kimchi are neither red in color nor spicy. It includes white napa cabbage kimchi and other varieties such as white radish kimchi (dongchimi). Watery white kimchi varieties are sometimes used as an ingredient in a number of dishes such as cold noodles in dongchimi brine (dongchimi-guksu).

Age[edit]

  • Geotjeori (겉절이) are fresh, unfermented kimchi.
  • Mugeun-ji (묵은지), also known as mugeun-kimchi (묵은김치), aged kimchi

Region[edit]


Traditional jars used for storing kimchi, gochujang, doenjang, soy sauce and other pickled banchan
This regional classification dates back to 1960s and contains plenty of historical facts, but the current kimchi-making trends in Korea are generally different from those mentioned below.[61]
  • Pyongan-do (North Korea, outside of Pyongyang) Non-traditional ingredients have been adapted in rural areas due to severe food shortages.
  • Hamgyeong-do (Upper Northeast): Due to its proximity to the ocean, people in this particular region use fresh fish and oysters to season their kimchi.
  • Hwanghae-do (Midwest): The taste of kimchi in Hwanghae-do is not bland but not extremely spicy. Most kimchi from this region has less color since red chili flakes are not used. The typical kimchi for Hwanghae-do is called hobakji (호박지). It is made with pumpkin (bundi).

Kimchi buchimgae, a savoury Korean pancake with kimchi
  • Gyeonggi-do (Lower Midwest of Hwanghae-do)
  • Chungcheong-do (Between Gyeonggi-do and Jeolla-do): Instead of using fermented fish, people in the region rely on salt and fermentation to make savory kimchi. Chungcheong-do has the most varieties of kimchi.
  • Gangwon-do (South Korea)/Kangwon-do (North Korea) (Mideast): In Gangwon-do, kimchi is stored for longer periods. Unlike other coastal regions in Korea, kimchi in this area does not contain much salted fish.
  • Jeolla-do (Lower Southwest): Salted yellow corvina and salted butterfish are used in this region to create different seasonings for kimchi.
  • Gyeongsang-do (Lower Southeast): This region's cuisine is saltier and spicier. The most common seasoning components include myeolchijeot (멸치젓) which produce a briny and savory flavor.
  • Foreign countries: In some places of the world people sometimes make kimchi with western cabbage and many other alternative ingredients such as broccoli.[63][64]

Season[edit]

Different types of kimchi were traditionally made at different times of the year, based on when various vegetables were in season and also to take advantage of hot and cold seasons before the era of refrigeration. Although the advent of modern refrigeration — including kimchi refrigerators specifically designed with precise controls to keep different varieties of kimchi at optimal temperatures at various stages of fermentation — has made this seasonality unnecessary, Koreans continue to consume kimchi according to traditional seasonal preferences.[65]

Dongchimi (동치미) is largely served during winter.
Spring
After a long period of consuming gimjang kimchi (김장김치) during the winter, fresh potherbs and vegetables were used to make kimchi. These kinds of kimchi were not fermented or even stored for long periods of time but were consumed fresh.
Summer

yeolmukimchi
Yeolmu radishes and cucumbers are summer vegetables made into kimchi, yeolmu-kimchi (열무김치) which is eaten in several bites. Brined fish or shellfish can be added, and freshly ground dried chili peppers are often used.
Autumn
Baechu kimchi is prepared by inserting blended stuffing materials, called sok (literally inside), between layers of salted leaves of uncut, whole Napa cabbage. The ingredients of sok () can vary, depending on the different regions and weather conditions. Generally, baechu kimchi used to have a strong salty flavor until the late 1960s, before which a large amount of myeolchijeot or saeujeot had been used.
Gogumasoon Kimchi is made from sweet potato stems.
Winter
Traditionally, the greatest varieties of kimchi were available during the winter. In preparation for the long winter months, many types of kimjang kimchi (김장 김치) were prepared in early winter and stored in the ground in large kimchi pots. Today, many city residents use modern kimchi refrigerators offering precise temperature controls to store kimjang kimchi. November and December are traditionally when people begin to make kimchi; women often gather together in each other's homes to help with winter kimchi preparations.[66] "Baechu kimchi" is made with salted baechu filled with thin strips of radish, parsley, pine nuts, pears, chestnuts, shredded red pepper, manna lichen (Korean석이 버섯RRseogi beoseot), garlic, and ginger.

Korean preference[edit]

A 2004 book about vegetable preservation said that the preference of kimchi preparation in Korean households from the most prepared type of kimchi to less prepared types of kimchi was: baechu kimchi, being the most prepared type of kimchi, then kaktugi, then dongchimi and then chonggak kimchi. The book said that baechu kimchi comprises more than seventy percent of marketed kimchi and radish kimchi comprises about twenty percent of marketed kimchi.[67]

Nutrition and health[edit]

A 2003 article in the Los Angeles Times said that South Koreans consume 18kg (40lbs) of kimchi per person annually.[68] A 2015 book cited a 2011 source that said that adult Koreans eat from 50 grams (0.11 lb) to 200 grams (0.44 lb) of kimchi a day.[69]
Some Koreans believe that kimchi helps them cope with their fast-paced lives.[38] Kimchi is made of various vegetables and contains a high concentration of dietary fiber,[70][71] while being low in calories. One serving also provides over 50% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and carotene. Most types of kimchi contain onions, garlic, ginger, and chili peppers, all of which are salutary. The vegetables used in kimchi also contribute to its overall nutritional value. Kimchi is rich in vitamin A, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), calcium, and iron,[72][73] and contains lactic acid bacteria, among those the typical species Lactobacillus kimchii.[74][75][76]
During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia, many people believed that kimchi could protect against infection. While there was no scientific evidence to support this belief, kimchi sales rose by 40%.[77][68]
However, kimchi may also contribute to stomach cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in South Korea. In 2011, three Korean scientists reported that, "Kimchi, which is allegedly believed to have anti-carcinogenic properties, accounts for approximately 20% of sodium intake [in South Korea]. Case-control studies on the intake level of kimchi and gastric cancer risk generally showed an increased risk among subjects with high or frequent intakes of kimchi."[78]
Despite some of these controversies, kimchi remains a staple in many Korean diets as there is a lot of evidence to support the abundant health functionalities of the product.[79] Among these include cancer prevention, reduction in obesity, improving movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract to aid with constipation and promote colo-rectal health, enhancing the probiotic community in the body, reducing cholesterol, and providing antioxidative and anti-aging properties.[79] Furthermore, it is also found to promote healthy brain function, enhance the immune system, and encourage healthy skin function.[79]
Nutritional composition of typical kimchi[80]
Nutrientsper 100 gNutrientsper 100 g
Food energy32 kcalMoisture88.4 g
Crude protein2.0 gCrude lipid0.6 g
Total sugar1.3 gCrude fiber1.2 g
Crude ash0.5 gCalcium45 mg
Phosphorus28 mgVitamin A492 IU
Vitamin B10.03 mgVitamin B20.06 mg
Niacin2.1 mgVitamin C21 mg

Vitamin Contents of Common Kimchi and Average Vitamin Contents of 4 Different Kimchi During Fermentation at 3–7°C
Fermentation
Time (Week)
Carotene
(μg%)
Vitamin
B1
 (μg%)
Vitamin
B2
 (μg%)
Vitamin
B12
 (μg%)
Niacin
(μg%)
Vitamin C
(mg%)
0
49.5a41.7660.1774028.9
1
44.0 (35.4)b41.6 (40.1)47 (54)0.09 (0.09)781 (747)25.0 (25.3)
2
32.0 (30.4)70.9 (61.9)110 (99)0.19 (0.20)928 (861)27.8 (28.5)
3
26.6 (26.9)79.1 (87.5)230 (157)0.25 (0.33)901 (792)23.6 (22.3)
4
21.0 (25.3)62.7 (70.8)35 (95)0.20 (0.26)591 (525)16.7 (16.0)
5
24.2 (20.1)53.3 (49.1)40 (37)0.10 (0.16)11.16 (11.0)
aNaturally fermented baechu kimchi
bAverage levels of four different kimchis; common kimchi +3 different starter inoculated kimchis
Source: Hui et al. (2005) who cited Lee et al. (1960)[81]

General Components of Kimchi (per 100g of Edible Portion)
ComponentsBaechu
Kimchi
KaktugiGat
Kimchi
Pa
Kimchi
Baek
Kimchi
Yeolmoo
Kimchi
DongchimiNabak
Kimchi
Calorie (kcal)18334152838119
Moisture (%)90.888.483.280.795.784.594.295.1
Crude protein (g)21.63.93.40.73.10.70.8
Crude lipid (g)0.50.30.90.80.10.60.10.1
Crude ash (g)2.82.33.53.31.53.221.5
Carbohydrate (g)3.97.48.511.828.632.5
Dietary fiber (g)32.845.11.43.30.81.5
Source: Tamang (2015) who cited Lee (2006)[69]

Vitamin Content of Kimchi (per 100g of Edible Portion)
VitaminsBaechu
Kimchi
KaktugiGat
Kimchi
Pa
Kimchi
Baek
Kimchi
Yeolmoo
Kimchi
DongchimiNabak
Kimchi
Vitamin A (RE)483839035295951577
Vitamin A
(β-Carotene) (μg)
2902262342210953357388460
Vitamin B1 (mg)0.060.140.150.140.030.150.020.03
Vitamin B2 (mg)0.060.050.140.140.020.290.020.06
Niacin (mg)0.80.51.30.90.30.60.20.5
Vitamin C (mg)141948191028910
Vitamin B6 (mg)0.190.13
Folic acid (μg)43.358.974.8
Vitamin E (mg)0.70.21.3
Not detected: vitamin A (retinol), pantothenic acidvitamin B12vitamin K
Source: Tamang (2015) who cited Lee (2006)[69]

Production[edit]

South Korea consumes 1.85 million metric tons of kimchi annually, or nearly 80 pounds a person. It imports a significant fraction of that, mostly from China, and runs a $47.3 million kimchi trade deficit.[82]

Procedure[edit]

The first step in the making of any kimchi is to slice the cabbage or daikon into smaller, uniform pieces to increase the surface area.[83] The pieces are then coated as a preservative method, as this draws out the water to lower the free water activity. This inhibits the growth of undesirable microorganisms by limiting the water available for them to utilize for growth and metabolism.[83] The salting stage can use 5 to 7% salinity for 12 hours, or 15% for 3 to 7 hours.[54] The excess water is then drained away, and seasoning ingredients are added.[83] The sugar that is sometimes added also acts to bind free water that still remains, further reducing free water activity. Finally, the brined vegetables are placed into an airtight canning jars and left to sit for 24 to 48 hours at room temperature.[83] The ideal salt concentration during the fermentation process is about 3%.[54] Since the fermentation process results in the production of carbon dioxide, the jar should be “burped” daily to release the gas.[83]

Recent history[edit]

1996 Japanese kimchi dispute[edit]

In 1996, Korea protested against Japanese commercial production of kimchi arguing that the Japanese-produced product (kimuchi) was different from kimchi (in particular, Japanese kimuchi was not fermented so it was salted like sweet cabbage). Korea lobbied for an international standard from the Codex Alimentarius, an organization associated with the World Health Organization that defines voluntary standards for food preparation for international trade purposes.[68][85] In 2001, the Codex Alimentarius published a voluntary standard defining kimchi as "a fermented food that uses salted napa cabbages as its main ingredient mixed with seasonings, and goes through a lactic acid production process at a low temperature", but which neither specified a minimum amount of fermentation nor forbade the use of any additives.[86]

1998 to 2007 motherland tours[edit]

South Korea developed programs for adult Korean adoptees to return to South Korea and learn about what it means to be Korean. One of these programs was learning how to make kimchi.[87]

2010 kimchi ingredient price crisis[edit]

Due to heavy rainfall shortening the harvesting time for cabbage and other main ingredients for kimchi in 2010, the price of kimchi ingredients and kimchi itself rose greatly. Korean and international newspapers described the rise in prices as a national crisis.[88] Some restaurants stopped offering kimchi as a free side dish, which The New York Times compared to an American hamburger restaurant no longer offering free ketchup.[66] In response to the kimchi price crisis, the South Korean government announced the temporary reduction of tariffs on imported cabbage to coincide with the Kimjang season.[89]

2012 effective ban of Korean kimchi exports to China[edit]

Since 2012, the Chinese government has effectively banned Korean kimchi exports to China through government regulations. Ignoring the standards of Kimchi outlined by the Codex Alimentarius, China defined kimchi as a derivative of one of its own cuisines, called pao cai.[90] However, due to significantly different preparation techniques from pao cai, kimchi has significantly more lactic acid bacteria through its fermentation process, which exceeds China's regulations.[91] Since 2012, commercial exports of Korean kimchi to China has reached zero, the only minor amounts of exports accounting for Korean kimchi are exhibition events held in China.[90]

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity[edit]

Kimchi-related items have been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by both South and North Korea. This makes kimchi the second intangible heritage that was submitted by two different countries, the other one being the folk song "Arirang" which was also submitted by both the Koreas.[92]

Submitted by South Korea (inscribed 2013)[edit]

Kimjang, the tradition of making and sharing of kimchi that usually takes place in late autumn, was added to the list as "Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea". The practice of Kimjang reaffirms Korean identity and strengthens family cooperation. Kimjang is also an important reminder for many Koreans that human communities need to live in harmony with nature.[93]

Submitted by North Korea (inscribed 2015)[edit]

North Korean kimchi-making was inscribed on the list in December 2015[92] as "Tradition of kimchi-making in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea".[94] North Korean kimchi tends to be less spicy and red than South Korean kimchi.[95]

2014 kimchi-making class for Vietnamese brides[edit]

A 2014 article in Tuổi Trẻ said that around 40 Vietnamese brides who had already married or who were going to marry Korean men spent two hours in a class in 2014 to make kimchi and kimbap at the Kim & Kim Company’s factory in the Tân Bình Industrial Zone of Ho Chi Minh City. The event was arranged by the Kim & Kim Company and the Korean Language Education Center in Ho Chi Minh City. The class is a free class that has been taught to 30 to 35 women once a month. Han Ji-sook, the director of the Korean Language Education Center in Ho Chi Minh City, said, "Kimchi is important for Korean people, so anyone who visits the country will experience kimchi or kimchi-making. Especially for the wives of Korean men, it's important to know how to make kimchi." Kim Tae-kon, director of the Kim & Kim Company, said, "All of these Vietnamese women who are going to live in Korea must eat kimchi every day, three meals a day. I'm pleased to give them the chance to learn how to make kimchi."[96]

Boycott in China[edit]

A 2017 article in The New York Times said that anti-Korean sentiment in China has risen after South Korea's acceptance of the deployment of THAAD in South Korea, Government-run Chinese news media has encouraged the boycott of South Korean goods, and Chinese nationalists have vowed to not eat kimchi.[97]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

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