[K-FOOD]Chik naengmyeon-The Redeemer of Summer ‘Black Pyeongyang naengmyeon’

chik naengmyeon

One of the representative foods of Korea is naengmyeon(cold noodles).

If you have a chance to visit Korea, I recommend you to try it.

Maybe this cold noodle is not your cup of tea.

However, if you want to understand Korea, Koreans, and Korean food, naengmyeon are an essential item to experience.

The most famous naengmyeon is Pyeongyang naengmyeon.

Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea where Kim Jong-un lives.

naengmyeon born in Pyongyang do not mean that Koreans do not eat them.

Rather, the number of bowls of Pyongyang naengmyeon consumed by South Koreans per year may be higher than that of North Koreans.

That's how much Koreans love naengmyeon.

The naengmyeon that I will introduce today, however, is not Pyeongyang naengmyeon.

The opportunity to introduce Pyeongyang naengmyeon will be postponed next time.

Anyone who has seen Pyongyang naengmyeon may be embarrassed by the color of this naengmyeon.

These dark-colored noodles can stimulate the viewer's taste buds or, on the contrary, reduce them.

"Will it taste good?"

The name of this naengmyeon is chik (kudzu) naengmyeon.

Why did this naengmyeon get this name?

It is because chik was used as an ingredient to make this naengmyeon.

chik is a common plant found in mountains in Korea.

It is said that people ate when they had nothing to eat a long time ago.

But now it has become a healthy food.

Children in the countryside used to run around the mountains and pick up and bite chik.

If you chew for a long time, sweet water comes out.

When the sweet water runs out while chewing, spit it out.

You can think of it as a country kid's gum.

chik naengmyeon add chik powder when making noodles.

It is said to be a local food in Namwon, Jeollanam-do, and even Koreans do not know this.

In Jeolla-do, there is Jirisan Mountain, one of the most famous mountains in Korea.

As more and more restaurants make naengmyeon using chik collected from Jirisan Mountain, it became famous nationwide.

Then, how does this chik naengmyeon taste?

chik naengmyeon is characterized by putting crushed ice powder on top of the soup (stock).

On a very hot day, it is really cool to drink stock with the bowl in both hands before eating the noodles of Chic naengmyeon.

I feel like I have a hole in my heart.

Unlike Pyongyang naengmyeon, Chic naengmyeon is recommended with mustard and vinegar.

Stocks with mustard and vinegar harmonize the taste.

Noodles with chik boast a unique chewy texture of naengmyeon.

Unlike Pyeongyang naengmyeon, chik naengmyeon has tough noodles, so it is recommended to cut it before eating it.

Korean restaurants use scissors, not knives, to cut grilled meat or noodles.

Foreigners are often surprised when restaurant workers show up with scissors.

This is also one of the characteristics of Korean restaurants, so it is good to understand and enjoy them.

If you like spicy food, it is also good to add spicy seasoning to chik naengmyeon.

On the table of the chik naengmyeon restaurant, a spicy seasoning container called 'DADAEGI' is placed with mustard and vinegar.

If you put too much DADAEGI, the taste of the stock will change, so don't be greedy.

One of the attractions of chik naengmyeon is that it is cheaper than Pyongyang naengmyeon.

As the popularity of Pyongyang naengmyeon increased, the price of a bowl of Pyongyang naengmyeon rose to 13,000 won to 15,000 won (10 to 12 dollars) in Korea.

However, chik naengmyeon can be eaten at a pretty good restaurant for 7,000 to 9,000 won (5 to 7 dollars).

If chik naengmyeon are not enough, ordering dumplings will suit you well.

Dumplings can be found on the menu of most cold noodle restaurants.

It is not Chinese round dumplings, but North Korean dumplings.

If two people order a plate of dumplings in two bowls of chik naengmyeon, they will be able to spend a very happy hour or two in Korea.