Kimchi

This article is about the Korean dish. For people with this surname, see Kimhi. For other uses, see kimchi (disambiguation).
Kimchi
Korean name
Hangul 김치
Revised Romanization Gimchi
McCune–Reischauer Kimch'i
A historical depiction of kimchi in a museum in Seoul, South Korea.

Kimchi (Hangul: 김치, Korean: [kimtɕʰi]; English /ˈkɪmtʃi/), also spelled kimchee or gimchi, is a traditional fermented Korean side dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings.[1][2] In traditional preparation, kimchi was stored underground in jars to keep cool during the summer months and unfrozen during the winter months.[3] There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made from napa cabbage, radish, scallion, or cucumber as a main ingredient.[4]

History

The term ji was used until the pre-modern terms chimchae, dimchae, and timchae were adopted in the period of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.[5] The word then was modified into jimchi, and is currently kimchi.

Red chili pepper flakes are now used as the main ingredient for spice and source of heat for many varieties of kimchi. In the twelfth century other spices, creating flavors such as sweet and sour, and colors, such as white and orange, were added.[6]

Kimchi is Korea's national dish. 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;[7] South Korean president Park Chung-hee told U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson that kimchi was "vitally important to the morale of Korean troops".[3] It was also sent to space on board Soyuz TMA-12 with Yi So-yeon after a multimillion-dollar research effort to kill the bacteria and lessen the odor without affecting taste.[7]

Main ingredients

Chili peppers drying for kimchi

Kimchi varieties are determined by the main vegetable ingredients and the mix of seasonings used to flavor the kimchi.

The Kimchi Field Museum in Seoul has documented 187 historic and current varieties of kimchi. Ingredients can be replaced or added depending on the type of kimchi being made. The most common seasonings include brine, scallions, spices, ginger, chopped radish, garlic, saeujeot (새우젓, shrimp sauce), eoriguljeot (어리굴젓, oyster sauce), and aekjeot (액젓, fish sauce).

Varieties

Tongkimchi, gulgimchi (kimchi with additional oyster) and other banchan

Kimchi can be categorized by main ingredients, regions or seasons. Korea's northern and southern sections have a considerable temperature difference.[8] There are over 180 varieties of kimchi.[9] The most common kimchi variations are baechu kimchi (배추김치, napa cabbage kimchi), baechu geotjeori (배추겉절이, unfermented napa cabbage kimchi), bossam kimchi (보쌈김치), baek kimchi (백김치, white kimchi), dongchimi (동치미, water-based kimchi), chonggak kimchi (총각김치, young radish kimchi), kkakdugi (깍두기, daikon kimchi), oisobagi (오이소박이, cucumber kimchi), and pa kimchi (파김치, green onion kimchi).

Kimchi from the northern parts of Korea tend to have less salt and red chilli and usually do 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 (풀). This technique has been falling into disuse for the past forty years.

White kimchi (baek kimchi) is baechu (napa cabbage) seasoned without chili pepper and is neither red in color nor spicy. White radish kimchi (dongchimi) is another example of a kimchi that is not spicy. The watery white kimchi varieties are sometimes used as an ingredient in a number of dishes such as cold noodles in dongchimi brine (dongchimi guksu).

Regions

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.[8]

Kimchi buchimgae, a savoury Korean pancake with kimchi

Seasons

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.[12]

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

Summer 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. They eat it during the summer.

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 (속) 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.[13] "Baechu kimchi" is made with salted baechu filled with thin strips of radish, parsley, pine nuts, pears, chestnuts, shredded red pepper, manna lichen (Hangul: 석이 버섯; RR: seogi beoseot), garlic, and ginger.

Nutrition and health

Kimchi jjigae

South Koreans consume 40 pounds (18 kg) of kimchi per person annually,[14] and many credit their industrious energy as a people, and its impact on their nation's rapid economic growth, in part to eating the dish.[7] Kimchi is made of various vegetables and contains a high concentration of dietary fiber,[15][16] 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 chilli 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,[17][18] and contains lactic acid bacteria, among those the typical species Lactobacillus kimchii.[19][20][21]

During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia many people believed that kimchi could protect against infection and while there was no scientific evidence to support this belief, kimchi sales rose by 40%.[22][14]

Nutritional composition of typical kimchi[23]
Nutrients per 100 g Nutrients per 100 g
Food energy 32 kcal Moisture 88.4 g
Crude protein 2.0 g Crude lipid 0.6 g
Total sugar 1.3 g Crude fiber 1.2 g
Crude ash 0.5 g Calcium 45 mg
Phosphorus 28 mg Vitamin A 492 IU
Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Vitamin B2 0.06 mg
Niacin 2.1 mg Vitamin C 21 mg

Dishes made with kimchi

Kimchijeon

Kimchi can be made with white radishes, mustard greens, scallions, or cucumbers. Kimchi is known to be a traditional side dish as it is almost always served along with other side dishes in most Korean family households and restaurants. Kimchi can be eaten alone or with white rice, but it is also included in recipes of other traditional dishes, including porridges, soups, and rice cakes. (Jung, C.) Kimchi is also the basis for many derivative dishes such as kimchi stew (김치찌개; gimchi jjigae), kimchi pancake (김치전; gimchijeon), kimchi soup (김칫국; gimchiguk), and kimchi fried rice (김치볶음밥; gimchi bokkeumbap).

Recent history

1996 Japanese kimchi dispute

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 but sweet cabbage and it was not better for health than just cabbage). Additionally most ordinary people in Japan agree that kimchi is a Korean traditional food. 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.[14][24] 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.[25]

2010 kimchi ingredient price crisis

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 newspapers described the rise in prices as a national crisis. 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.[13] 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.[26]

2012 effective ban of Korean kimchi exports to China

Since 2012, the Chinese government has effectively banned Korean kimchi exports to China through government regulations. Ignoring the standards of Kimchi outlied by the Codex Alimentarius, China defined kimchi as a derivative of one of its own cuisines, called pao cai.[27] 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.[28] Since 2012, commercial exports of Korean kimchi to China has reached zero, the only minor amounts of exports accounting for Korean kimchi exhibition events held in China.[27]

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

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", also submitted by the Koreas.[29]

Submitted by South Korea (inscribed 2013)

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.[30]

Submitted by North Korea (inscribed 2015)

North Korean kimchi-making was inscribed on the list in December 2015[29] as "Tradition of kimchi-making in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea".[31] North Korean kimchi tends to be less spicy and red than South Korean kimchi.[32]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ kimchi. Encyclopædia Britannica.
  2. ↑ Chin, Mei. "The Art of Kimchi". Saveur. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Kimchi & National Security". Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "A World of Kimchi". Saveur. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  5. ↑ (Korean) 김치의 이름(명칭) from Hankyoreh21
  6. ↑ Kimchi Museum Official Website
  7. 1 2 3 Sang-Hun Choe (24 February 2008). "Starship Kimchi: A Bold Taste Goes Where It Has Never Gone Before". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Kimchi." Yahoo Korean Encyclopedia
  9. ↑ "Kimchi". english.visitkorea.or.kr. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "North Texas Traditional Living" (PDF). Making Kimchi. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  11. ↑ "TreeLight". Ultimate Kimchi. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  12. ↑ "High-tech kimchi refrigerators keep Korea's favorite food crisp". Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 14 March 2002. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  13. 1 2 McDonald, Mark (14 October 2010). "Rising Cost of Kimchi Alarms Koreans". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  14. 1 2 3 Magnier, Mark (17 June 2003). "In an Age of SARS, Koreans Tout Kimchi Cure". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  15. ↑ "Kimchi Nutritional Value". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Kimchi by Nancy Berkoff, RD, EdD, CCE". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Food in Korea". Asianinfo.com. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  18. ↑ "Kimchi". Tour2korea.com. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  19. ↑ http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/50/5/1789.pdf
  20. ↑ Jung-Sook Leea, Gun-Young Heoa, Jun Won Leea, Yun-Jung Oha, Jeong A Parka, Yong-Ha Parka, Yu-Ryang Pyunb and Jong Seog Ahn (15 July 2005). "Analysis of Kimchi Microflora Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis". International Journal of Food Microbiology. Volume 102, Issue 2. pp. 143–150.
  21. ↑ Myungjin Kim; Jongsik Chun (15 August 2005). "Bacterial Community Structure in Kimchi, a Korean Fermented Vegetable Food, as Revealed by 16S rRNA Gene Analysis". International Journal of Food Microbiology. Volume 103, Issue 1. pp. 91–96
  22. ↑ "Korean Dish 'May Cure Bird Flu'". BBC News. 14 March 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  23. ↑ from Korea Food Research Institute
  24. ↑ Sims, Calvin (February 2000) "Cabbage Is Cabbage? Not to Kimchi Lovers; Koreans Take Issue with a Rendition of Their National Dish Made in Japan". The New York Times.
  25. ↑ "Codex standard for kimchi" (PDF). The Codex Alimentarius Commission.
  26. ↑ "South Korea's Kimchi Crisis". The Economist. 7 October 2010.
  27. 1 2 "對중국 수출 ‘0’... 한국 김치가 운다". seoul.co.kr.
  28. ↑ "수입만 하고 수출 못하는 韓·中 '김치무역' 바꿀 것". Hankyung.com. 15 January 2014.
  29. 1 2 "UNESCO Adds N. Korea's Kimchi-Making to Cultural Heritage List". KBS. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  30. ↑ "2003 Convention". UNESCO - Intangible Heritage Section.
  31. ↑ "Tradition of kimchi-making in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Culture Sector - UNESCO. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  32. ↑ North Koreans Want UNESCO Recognition for Their Kimchi Variation. YouTube (Voice of America). 2 December 2015. Event occurs at 1:10. Retrieved 3 December 2015.

Further reading

External links

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on
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