Now Sandolbae over Hovenia! ... Gyeongbuk Province Declares Sandolbae as a Regional Specialty Forest Product

Final Report Meeting on High-Value-Added Sandolbae Material Development Research Held

Market Entry with High-Value-Added Prototypes Such as Hangover Relief Drinks

The Gyeongbuk Forest Resources Development Institute has developed high value-added products such as Makgeolli and hangover relief drinks based on the health functional benefits of Sandolbae.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Trainee Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongsangbuk-do Forest Resources Development Institute held the final R&D research report meeting on high value-added Sandolbae material development on the afternoon of the 21st.

At the final report meeting, discussions were held to explore ways to secure sustainable income sources for forestry workers along with the achievements so far.

Since 2018, the Forest Resources Development Institute has been conducting joint research with the Department of Food Processing at Keimyung University and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kyungpook National University to evaluate the health functional efficacy of Sandolbae and develop high value-added products.

They filed three patents related to Sandolbae’s improvement effects on alcoholic gastritis, obesity, and fatty liver, and published a paper in the international journal Antioxidants (IF 5.014), scientifically recognizing Sandolbae’s gastritis improvement effects.

The institute plans to utilize high value-added prototypes such as hangover relief drinks and functional Makgeolli as commercialization models.

Sandolbae has firm flesh and a strong sour taste, so it has mainly been sold as simply processed products such as pickled or dried fruit and mixed beverages.

It has been mainly cultivated in Inje, Gangwon Province, and Gwangyang, Jeonnam Province, but since 2016, a Dolbae tree regional specialized forest was established in Mueul-myeon, Gumi, and the main production areas are expected to change after 2024.

The domestic hangover relief drink market has reached a scale of 250 billion KRW and is expected to grow further as it is exported overseas to countries such as China.

The province expects Sandolbae to target the niche market of functional beverages made from Hovenia dulcis fruit and gain popularity by having its efficacy recognized.

Director Jeong Cheolhwa said, “We will accelerate research and development such as consumer-tailored product development and aggressive marketing to establish Sandolbae as a representative local forest product and secure sustainable income sources for forestry workers.”

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