USAG Yongsan -- It has long been Korea's culture to promote "iyeolchiyeol," or "fight fire with fire" during the summer seasons as hot, rejuvenating and stamina restorative soups like samgyetang are consumed to beat the summer heat.
The monsoon season is already upon us, which means "boknal," or the dog days of Korea's summer, are coming in hot. Boknal covers a time period of one month that traditionally includes the three hottest days in Korea, referred to as "chobok," "jungbok" and "malbok." The respective days for boknal in 2016 are July 17, July 27 and Aug. 16.
The tradition of eating samgyetang on boknal goes way back to Eastern medical history. According to Eastern medicine, blood concentrates near the skin in hot weather to cool the body, which can lead to bad circulation in the stomach and muscles. This is why it is common to lose one's appetite or feel tired during the summer. To offset this effect, Koreans believe in the need to warm the body. The most famous dish to come up in discussions with Koreans on what to eat on these days: samgyetang.
"Samgyetang," or ginseng chicken soup, is mostly famous for its energizing ingredients. When people perspire a lot, they lose much of their body's nutrients. These nutrients must be replenished. Commonly, samgyetang consists of a whole chicken boiled in a broth with Korean ginseng, dried jujube fruits, garlic, ginger and glutinous rice. Ginseng is commonly used for improving overall health, strengthening the immune system and relieving stress. In Korea, ginseng is more famous for treating headaches, diabetes and male erectile dysfunction. Jujube fruits are rich in vitamin C -- in fact 20 times richer than any other citrus fruit. Medical studies show jujube fruits lower your blood pressure, inhibit growth of tumor cells and rejuvenate human skin.
Given how the word spicy is practically synonymous with Korea, samgyetang may also be enjoyed with "gochujang," or red chili pepper paste, which enriches the flavorful broth and satisfies the need for that extra spicy kick. Having both a plethora of nutrients and taste, samgyetang has secured a popular spot on the Korean menu, particularly among tourists. As boknal approaches, it is a great way for those experiencing heavy perspiration to "control heat with heat" and rejuvenate themselves.
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