Kimchi is probably the most well-known Korean food out there. Whether or not someone has actually tried it, many people still know the red and spicy cabbage version. Although they know this kind, they may not realize that there are about 200 documented types of kimchi! So if someone thinks kimchi is just cabbage, they might be surprised to find out that there is a lot more to it than first meets the eye or the tastebud!
1. There are about 200 documented types of kimchi
As mentioned above, kimchi actually comes in a ton of different varieties. There are kimchis made out of cucumbers, ones made from radishes, and others that use cabbage. There are white kimchis, non-spicy kimchis, and spicier varieties. There are so many types of kimchi that if you tried every a new kind of kimchi every day you would spend about half a year doing so!
2. Food experts have been working on engineering the smell out of kimchi
Kimchi can be weirdly scary for foreigners thanks to its strong smell. So food experts have been working on a way to get the pungent smells out of kimchi altogether. It’s not an easy task since it contains a lot of ginger and garlic and taking away the smell could drastically alter the flavor, but experts are trying to figure out a freeze-dried version that offers all the taste and none of the smell.
3. The average Korean eats an astonishing amount of kimchi
After watching so many K-Dramas you’ll realize that no meal is complete without kimchi. So just how much kimchi does the average Korean eat? According to the World Institute of Kimchi on Kimchi, Koreans eat about 57 pounds of kimchi a year!
4. Kimchi can actually last up to 3 years
That’s right! If the kimchi is kept at the optimal temperature and is stored in the correct way, kimchi can actually last 3 years! But seriously, who could wait 3 years before cracking open a jar of the tasty stuff?
5. Kimchi is really good for you
By now we all know that kimchi comes with some health benefits but its probably better than you realize! Kimchi is full of antioxidants, vitamins A, B, and C, and on top of that contains healthy probiotic bacteria. In fact, some research suggests that it contains more of that good bacteria than yogurt! And if you’re still not fully convinced that its super healthy, other research suggests it can help prevent heart disease and diabetes as well as boost resistance to some strains of the flu!
6. There is a time and place for each type of kimchi
Koreans consume different types of kimchi throughout the year since different foods are in season at different times of the year. Additionally, some kimchis are reserved for special occasions and others are often thought to pair better with certain foods!
8. 2010 marked the kimchi crisis
In 2010, bad weather contributed to a very low napa cabbage crop. This, in turn, caused the price of the cabbages to rise by about 6 times their normal cost. Things were so bad that the government had to step in and subsidize the cabbage for citizens!
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