Tag: Korean remedies

The South Korean market for hangover remedies reached approximately 350 billion won in 2024, showing the immense popularity of these functional foods. Often sold in small, bottled forms, the question of what is in a Korean hangover drink is a common one for both locals and visitors alike.

The intensely fragrant yuzu, a citrus fruit that originated in China and was introduced to the Korean peninsula during the Tang dynasty, is deeply embedded in Korean culture and cuisine. But do Koreans use yuzu? Yes, absolutely, and they refer to it as 'yuja' (유자), a treasured ingredient particularly famous for its role in traditional Korean citron tea.

With the ingrained philosophy that food and medicine are one and the same (sik-eui-dong-won), the question of what food do Koreans eat when they're sick is answered with restorative and comforting dishes. Traditional Korean remedies focus on warm, nutritious, and easily digestible meals to aid the body's recovery process.

Traditionally, Koreans have turned to food and herbal remedies to soothe and relieve coughs, utilizing ingredients found in the pantry to create comforting and effective treatments. The practice, deeply rooted in centuries of traditional Korean medicine, emphasizes a holistic approach to health, using ingredients like Asian pears, ginger, and jujubes to strengthen the body and alleviate symptoms.