Korean traditional snacks and 'yakgwa(藥果)'
Yakgwa is one of Korea's traditional snacks, mainly made and eaten during holidays and special days.
The main ingredients of yakgwa are flour, honey, and various nuts.
This snack is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and features a traditional flavor by adding sweetness with honey and sugar.
In yakgwa, 'yak'(약) means medicine, and 'gwa'(과) means snacks.
As the name suggests, it has been called 'yakgwa' because it has been considered good for the body since ancient times.
Characteristics of Yakgwa
Yakgwa is a traditional Korean snack that features a sweet yet chewy texture.
This luxurious snack is made with honey, flour, and sesame oil as the main ingredients and fried in oil.
In modern times, it is gaining huge popularity even among the younger generation, and it is being reborn as a variety of fusion desserts. It is also rapidly being introduced around the world through social media.
I will introduce yakgwa, a traditional Korean snack food, and teach you how to enjoy it deliciously.
What is a yakgwa?
Yakgwa is a type of 'Yumilgwa' (油蜜果_oil-and-honey pastry), which has been considered a high-end style since the Goryeo Dynasty.
This snack was made using high-quality ingredients and was enjoyed as a snack for aristocrats in the past.
It is made by mixing honey and sesame oil with flour, the main ingredient, and frying it in oil, and then immersing it in honey or grain syrup again to make it sweeter.
The history of yakgwa
Yakgwa is a precious snack that started from the Goryeo Dynasty, and during the Joseon Dynasty, it became a beloved snack not only among the court but also among the common people.
At the time when honey was considered a 'medicine', people regarded yakgwa as a 'medicine-like snack' that was beneficial to the body.
Honey, which is used in yakgwa, is a healthy ingredient in itself, so that honey is recorded as the "best of 100 medicinal herbs" in the Joseon Dynasty's cultural encyclopedia "Jibong Yuseol."
The health effects of yakgwa
Yakgwa goes beyond just delicious snacks, and it also offers a variety of health benefits.
In oriental medicine, honey's warm properties help ease the stomach, raising immunity and improving digestion.
Flour has the effect of replenishing energy and promoting the function of the five intestines.
What to Watch Out for When Enjoying Yakgwa
However, it is recommended to avoid excessive intake considering that it is fried in high-temperature oil and has high calories from yakgwa.
Also, after enjoying yakgwa, it is recommended to take care of your oral health by brushing your teeth thoroughly.
How to Enjoy Yakgwa and Deliciously
It is usually enjoyed in the same way as Western desserts. And it is also a great gift to share with your loved ones around you.
🌸With Tea: Yakgwa tastes much better when enjoyed with tea. Especially when consumed with green tea or ginseng tea, which is a traditional Korean tea, the sweet yakgwa and the bitter taste of the tea harmonize to boost your appetite. It is also great to enjoy with coffee, of course.
🌸Enjoy With Various Toppings: Recently, fusion yakgwa with various toppings or cakes, such as ice cream or whipped cream, is also popular. You can have a different experience by adding a modern touch to the traditional taste.
🌸Sharing by Gift: Yakgwa is a great gift-giving snack, too. The yakgwa in luxurious packaging can convey a special heart to the recipient.
🥣 Types of yakgwa and how to make it
There are various types of yakgwa, which are divided into large yakgwa, small yakgwa, and soft ones.
It is called 'moyakgwa' that has sharp edges and is made large.
It is a food (snack) that always appears in Korean feasts and ceremonies.
Since Goryeo, Korea's ancient kingdom, it has played an important role in rituals, such as rituals, and has traditionally modeled or shaped fruits into animals.
The traditional way to make it is
Add salt, pepper, and sesame oil to the flour and mix well, then add honey, ginger juice, and rice wine (alcohol) here, mix them thickly, and press them tightly onto the yakgwa board.
<Yakgwa boards are often used with flower-shaped wooden frames and have slightly different forms depending on the region.>
Through this process, the appearance and shape of the yakgwa are created.
When the oil boils, add the yakgwa, fry it until it is cooked, thicken it to a fine earthy hue, and dip it in grain syrup or honey with cinnamon powder.
Take it out, put it in a bowl, and sprinkle pine nuts to complete it.
In modern times, cooking oil or other oils are used instead of sesame oil.
The finished yakgwa is a snack loved by many people for its soft, chewy texture and sweet taste.
Also, the younger generation enjoys dessert by applying yakgwa and various ingredients together.
We are making new desserts by putting yakgwa on the cake or mixing Eastern and Western ingredients such as sesame, black sesame, banala, mugwort, hazelnut chocolate, and earl gray.
It is a popular snack that reviews of yakgwa are posted and shared on SNS not only in Korea but also in many countries.
Along with yakgwa, there are various Korean traditional snacks such as red bean porridge, dumplings, and rice cake snacks, and enjoying these traditional snacks during special times such as the Chuseok holiday is a precious traditional culture in Korea.
Traditional snacks are a means of learning the taste and taste of traditional Korean food. If you have a chance, please try yakgwa, a traditional Korean snack, and give it a lot of love.
🔎 Where can I buy Korean yakgwa?
If you want to buy and taste yakgwa in Korea, traditional bakeries, bakeries, and cafes sell handmade yakgwa, and you can easily buy yakgwa made by food companies at nearby marts and convenience stores.
The size and taste of yakgwa vary so much from region to region, like chocolate.
Fall in love with sweet and chewy yakgwa in various regions and places.
Let me briefly introduce a place where you can taste recent unique yakgwa.
📍성심당 옛맛솜씨 (seongsimdang yesmassomssi)
It is operated by Sungsimdang, the most famous and traditional bakery in Korea.
It is a traditional Korean bakery filled with the nostalgic sensibility of traditional Sungsimdang in the 70s
주소 대전 중구 대종로480번길 14
Address 14, Daejong-ro 480beon-gil, Jung-gu, Daejeon
📍골든피스(goldenpiece)
We've reinvented traditional yakgwa and made it luxurious. There's a store in Hannam-dong.
There are a variety of menus, from hazelnut chocolate glutinous rice sweets with hazelnut praline and dark ganache to sweets made of vanilla, black sesame, earl grey, sesame, and mugwort.
The packaging is also luxurious, making it perfect for gifts.
주소 서울 용산구 한남대로27길 25
Address Hannam-daero 27-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
📍장인더(janginthe)
It is a place where various menus with yakgwa are presented.
Yakgwa Whinangshie, Yakgwa Bread, Apocato made of yakgwa, and Semo Yakgwa are truly yakgwa heaven.
Among them, the best is "the paji-yakgwa".
This rough-looking yakgwa is a light-tasting yakgwa that does not get sticky on your hands and has a moderate sweetness.
It is also available for purchase online.
주소 제주 제주시 구좌읍 구좌해안로 140
Address 140, Gujwa Coastal-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-si
📍버들골(beodeulgol)
Budulgol has been making yakgwa for three generations in Chuncheon.
Unlike conventional chewy medicines, it is sweet and crispy.
It is an attractive yakgwa with a soft and crisp texture like pastry with the know-how of willow valley that has passed down generations.
It doesn't stick to your teeth, so you can eat it pleasantly.
It is made into a bite-sized square shape and mixed with grain syrup to add flavor to this sweet yakgwa with a subtle ginger scent.
주소 강원 춘천시 서부대성로 12 1층 대로변상가 44호
Address No. 44, Boulevard Street, 121 Seobu Daeseong-ro, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do
