South Korea has recently introduced a new health staple in the market - white kimchi juice. Made from fermented cabbage and vegetables and sold in juice packets, the new product was launched at convenience stores across South Korea from Thursday (November 18).
Park Yun-kyung, who had to take frequent overseas business trips for her equestrian company SHm, came up with the idea of making pocketable kimchi, a staple Korean cuisine, when she was abroad and missed comfort food from home.
"Sometimes I would really crave for cold kimchi, but it was hard to get, and its smell was also an issue," said Park showing her drinkable kimchi. "So, I started to think of ways of how I can eat kimchi more conveniently."
Instead of the popular style kimchi with red chili pepper and salted fish, Park chose white kimchi to reduce spiciness and smell, which is one of the oldest type of kimchi only made of vegetables and salt.
The drinkable kimchi in 130 ml sized pouch, equivalent to a small side dish of it, went on sale across the chain of 7-Eleven convenience stores in South Korea, according to Park.
"I couldn't imagine how it would taste like. It's quite strange to me at first, but it tasted familiar," 25-year-old university student Im Han told Reuters on Friday (November 19), after having the iced juice. "I think it would pair well with grilled meat."
The packages of newly released juice from lactic acid-fermented cabbage, were displayed in fridge next to simple breakfast menus such as milks, boiled eggs, and yogurts for customers looking for snacks.
Park Soon-ja, 68, another customer who had the juice with spicy cup noodle, said she had made kimchi for decades and making white kimchi looks simple, but it's very hard to make at home.
"I would like to have this with sliced apple, radish and cabbage, it can be really good refreshment. Housewives would welcome it," she said.
In 2020, South Korea has officially designated November 22 as 'kimchi day' to inherit the culture of the traditional dish, according to Ministry of Government Legislation. A year later, California joined the celebration.
Source: Reuters
