Heatwave during Jungbok... Battle of Health Foods like 'Sansam' and 'Neungi'

Neungi Samgyejuk by Bonjuk and Bonjuk & Bibimbap. Photo by Bonjuk and Bonjuk & Bibimbap

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] As the heatwave advisory expands nationwide, the dining industry has introduced health foods using ingredients such as wild ginseng and Neungi mushrooms ahead of Jungbok.

On the 20th, meal kit company MyChef launched ‘Wild Ginseng Cultured Root Samgyetang & Porridge.’ Wild ginseng cultured root is a health ingredient known for restoring energy and boosting immunity. They also used ‘Siprihyang,’ a premium rice named for its fragrance that can be smelled from ten ri away.

Bonjuk and Bonjuk & Bibimbap recently released new summer energy recovery menus: ‘Neungi Samgyetang Porridge’ and ‘Chadol Jjukkumi Bibimbap.’ Neungi Samgyetang Porridge is a samgyetang porridge simmered with Neungi mushrooms and a whole domestic fresh ginseng root. Neungi mushrooms, rich in vitamins, moisture, and protein, have been traditionally regarded as a ‘summer tonic’ for their blood-purifying effects. Chadol Jjukkumi Bibimbap uses jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) as the main ingredient, which contains a high amount of taurine that helps lower cholesterol levels and aids fatigue recovery.

Byul F&B launched ‘Ginseng Chicken.’ It features fried chicken topped with ginseng tempura as a basic topping, and the cooking water is infused with herbal medicine decoction. The Born Korea company started selling ‘Seolgye-tang,’ a fusion of seolleongtang (ox bone soup) and samgyetang, available for a limited time three days before and after Jungbok. It is made by simmering chicken thigh meat with oyster mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, chives, jujubes, and green onions to extract a deep flavor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.