Although Jeju is legendary for its lovely sceneries, it will be remiss of you for not attempting their native delicacies. A great way to understand and higher perceive Jeju’s tradition and historical past is thru its meals.
Learn on to search out out 8 Mouth-watering dishes that it’s important to attempt for the complete Jeju expertise.
Black Pork BBQ (흑돼지)
Black Pig is a pig breed native to Jeju Island. Black Pork is arguably probably the most well-known meals in Jeju Island and a should attempt. There are many dishes which incorporates this extremely touted meat, however the most well-liked approach is to eat it over the grill – KBBQ type!
You could find Black Pork KBBQ locations simply in Jeju, there may be even a Black Pork Avenue in Jeju lined with many Black Pork BBQ Locations. The distinctive chewiness and melty fat of Black Pork makes it a legendary meals of Jeju.
Abalone Porridge (전복죽)
Haenyeo (Jeju Ladies Divers) are a group of girls, some of their 80s, which matches diving underneath the ocean to assemble shellfish, and different seafood for a residing, all with out the assistance of an oxygen masks. They’re outstanding figures in Jeju’s tradition and historical past, a lot so that there’s even a maze constructed after them.
One of many many shellfishes they harvest are abalones. As a result of robust sea currents in Jeju, abalones in Jeju are required to maneuver extensively within the sea. This has brought on the abalones in Jeju to be a lot chewier in texture.
Abalone Porridge is likely one of the most iconic dishes in Jeju. The yellowish bowl of porridge could not appear that fancy, however the wealthy briny style will go away you wanting extra. Since abalone is ample in Jeju, it’s best for those who might get recent abalone. If you happen to’re by the coast, go to a Haenyeo Home for a bowl of abalone porridge with freshly harvested abalone.
Dombe Gogi (돔베고기)
Dombe Gogi is Boiled Pork, served on a wood chopping board. That is one other method to serve black pork in Jeju. Historically, it was reserved for particular events like weddings and funerals, not a dish locals ceaselessly ate previously. Now, it’s a famed native dish that may be discovered comparatively simply.
Dombe Gogi is served with gernerous parts of Ssambap Jeongsik and typically rice. Jeju locals get pleasure from dipping the pork slices in coarse salt or vinegar-mixed soy sauce for the most effective flavours.
Omegi Tteok (오메기떡)
Omegi Tteok is a specialty rice cake from Jeju. As a result of rocky soils of Jeju, the island residents couldn’t plant rice. As an alternative, they grew millet and barley as an alternative. Omegi Tteok was initially not meant to be eaten as a rice cake, and by the way happened throughout the course of of creating liquor, extra particularly Omegiseul (Hulled Glutinous Millet Wine).
‘Tteok’ is rice cake, however Omegi Tteok is just not manufactured from rice however by kneading millet powder. The millet dough is full of pink bean and rolled right into a ball or donut form. It’s then lined in crushed pink beans, bean powder and nuts. You could find this dish at conventional markets in Jeju.
Gogi Guksu (고기국수)
Gogi Guksu will be loosely translated into Pork Noodles. This dish is one other consultant meals of Jeju. The shortage of rice grown in Jeju has subsequently popularised noodle dishes.
Chewy noodles, flavourful but mild broth topped with simmered sliced pork. This dish is just not onerous to search out in Jeju however it’s possible you’ll wish to head all the way down to the famed Noodle Tradition Avenue. Gogi Guksu is native to Jeju Island so you should not miss it if you’re visiting!
Kkwong Memil Kalguksu (꿩메밀칼국수)
One other noodle dish! Kkwong Memil Kalguksu is loosely translated into “Knife-cut Buckwheat Noodle Soup with Pheasant”. One can find many buckwheat dishes in Jeju as it’s the largest producer of buckwheat in Korea. Pheasant is a kind of chicken that’s in the identical household as chickens and turkeys, and may often be present in Asian cuisines. In Jeju, there may be substantial variety of pheasants within the middle-mountain. Thus, the creation of Kkwong Memil Kalguksu.
Knife-cut noodles are often thicker, wider and shorter than regular noodles. Pairing it with a light-weight pheasant broth, you can be pheasant-ly shocked with how properly they pair collectively. This conventional dish is a specialty dish in Jeju that it is best to positively attempt for those who get the prospect to.
Buckwheat Pancake (빙떡)
Buckwheat Pancake is an area conventional dish that has been loved for hundreds of years. It may solely be present in some components of Gangwon-do and Jeju, areas with a abundance of buckwheat manufacturing.
You possibly can form of evaluate it to a popiah, however a more healthy model. The “pores and skin” is constructed from buckwheat powder, and it’s stuffed with salted radish slices. This dish is extraordinarily common amongst the elders and will be present in any conventional markets in Jeju.
Hallabong (한라봉)
Hallabong is just not a dish however a fruit. It’s the most well-liked number of Korean Tangerines on the planet. This fruit is native to Jeju, and have gotten its identify from Hallasan, a famed mountain in Jeju Island that it’s mentioned to resemble. Hallabong are simply recognisable by their protruding stem.
You possibly can in all probability discover many dishes and drinks in Korea that comes with the Hallabong tangerines, even souvenirs at Jeju specialty retailers.
The harvesting season for this fruit is in December – March. In case you are in Jeju then, head all the way down to a Hallabong farm to reap your individual recent Hallabong! A lot of the farms cost you a flat price and provide you with a bucket to fill. You possibly can eat and harvest the fruits on the similar time. If that’s not sufficient for you, order the Hallabong tangerines by the kilo for takeaway!
