[Food] Gamgyul (Seedless Mandarine, 감귤)

 [Food]

[Food] Gamgyul (Mandarine, 감귤)

Gamgyul (Seedless mandarin, 감귤) is one of the most typical and popular fruits in Korea with a sour and sweet taste and as large as the size of half a fist :)

Korea's Jeju Island is the biggest production site of gamgyul because the temperature in Jeju Island does not fall under freezing, even in winter, providing the best climate for gamgyul to thrive in a warm climate. Jeju Island has produced gamgyul for the last 1000 years, but today's gamgyul crop originates from Japan and has been farmed for 1000 years.

Doctors say that gamgyul's vitamin P content enhances vascular health, which also gives beautiful skin. Gamgyul is also helpful for the maintenance of one's memory and cognition, and for the prevention of constipation :)

However, too much gamgyul can turn one's skin color yellow and also increase blood sugar levels. You have been warned :) Its sweetness is addictive. 

In any case, owing to the mass production of gamgyul on Jeju Island, it is a very cheap fruit that can be found in any market in Korea :) It's usually harvested in the autumn, so people usually eat gamgyul in the winter as a snack or a dessert. There is one special feature about Korean mandarin, compared to mandarins anywhere else - the Korean mandarin does not have a hard seed :) This makes it very convenient to eat.

The popularity of gamgyul in Korea has ignited the invention of many gamgyul products such as tart, chocolate, jelly, juice, makgeolli (Korean rice wine) and even whisky :)

Visit any Korean friend in the winter and I'm certain you'll both be eating gamgyul with them as you chatter away :)

Bon Appétit!

 [Food]

[Food] Gogiguksu (고기국수, Meat Noodles)

Koreans served noodles with anchovy stock to guests to celebrate marriage or birthday or any good occasion because long noodle meant 'long live'. Meanwhile in Jeju Island, which is the most famous Korean tourist land in far south of Korea, people served steamed pork instead of noodles. However they served steamed pork with noodles since 1910~1920 A.D. when they started to produce noodles.

As beautiful as the scenery of Jeju Island is, Jeju Island's pork his of very high quality (and even today) without the gamey and foul smell, so they proudly serve noodles with high-quality pork. Today this noodle is called Gogiguksu (고기국수, Meat Noodles) and is a typical Jeju Island gourmet, followed by Jeju Island's half-dried tile fish and tangerine.

Gogiguksu is a very simple yet delicious dish. Put cooked noodles into thick and savory pork stock, and slice thick steamed pork to be topped on noodles. Savory, meaty and stodgy noodle with soft pork.

If you are a meat lover, how about trying gogiguksu when you visit Korea? Although you may not be a big fan of noodle soup, I'm sure that you will like it :)

Bon Appétit!