Food from South Korea is becoming increasingly popular around the world, thanks to the development of technology and the proliferation of Korean dramas that often feature the country’s specialties. The appearance of delicious dishes on screen has made many people curious about the taste of these foods, driving interest and demand for authentic Korean flavors.
Attractive food displays in Korean dramas often leave viewers mesmerized and wanting to try the appetizing dishes for themselves. The food is presented with a very tempting look, from the colors of the dishes to the artistic way of serving. It is no wonder that this makes the audience feel interested in tasting the delicacy of Korean cuisine.
The distinctive taste of South Korean food is generally dominated by the spicy taste produced by chili powder (gochujang) and the sour taste produced by the fermentation process of vegetables. Gochujang gives a distinctive and appetizing spicy flavor, while the fermentation process in kimchi and other vegetables gives a unique and refreshing sour taste.
Here are some popular Korean food recommendations that can serve as inspiration for retail food flavors:
Beef Bulgogi
Beef Bulgogi is a beef dish marinated with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and onions, then grilled until cooked. The flavor of Beef Bulgogi is very distinctive with a combination of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy from the marinade ingredients used. The meat’s tender texture and rich flavor make it a crowd favorite.
Jajangmyeon
Jajangmyeon is noodles with a rich black soy sauce. The main ingredients consist of noodles, chunjang sauce (black soybean paste), pork or beef, and various vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. The preparation process involves frying the sauce until fragrant before mixing it with the boiled noodles. It is savory, slightly sweet, and rich in umami.
Kimbap
Kimbap is a meal consisting of rice wrapped in seaweed and filled with various ingredients such as meat, eggs, vegetables, and pickles. The process is similar to sushi, but the difference lies in the seasonings and fillings used. The taste of Kimbap varies depending on the filling, but generally has a combination of savory, sweet, and slightly sour flavors from the pickles.
Jjampong
Jjampong is a spicy noodle soup that is rich in the flavors of the sea. The main ingredients include various types of seafood such as squid, prawns, and mussels, as well as vegetables such as cabbage and onions. The preparation process involves simmering the ingredients in a spicy broth made from gochugaru (Korean chili powder) and gochujang. It is spicy, savory, and rich with the aroma of the sea.
Japchae
Japchae is a glass noodle dish stirred with various vegetables, meat, and seasoned with sweet soy sauce and sesame oil. The main ingredients include glass noodles (dangmyeon), spinach, carrots, bell peppers, beef, and mushrooms. It is sweet, savory, and slightly spicy, with a chewy noodle texture and crunchy vegetables.
Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki features rice cakes cooked in a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce. The main ingredients are chewy tteok (rice cakes), gochujang, sugar, and various vegetables such as onions and scallions. It’s spicy, sweet, and very appetizing, with a chewy rice cake texture.
In this modern era, these foods often inspire retail foods packaged in the form of flavors. You can apply flavors inspired by Korean cuisine to various food products, such as:
1. Flavors in Instant Noodles
These flavors give instant noodles an authentic taste of Korean cuisine, such as the distinctive sweetness of Jajangmyeon or the savory and sweetness of Bulgogi.
2. Cup Noodle Flavor
These flavors are specially designed to add flavor to the cup noodles, providing an eating experience similar to authentic Korean cuisine. Flavors can include the spicy taste of Jjampong or the sweet and savory taste of Japchae.
3. Seasoning on Snacks such as Potato and Cassava Chips
This flavor adds a distinctive Korean taste to snacks, giving them a unique and appetizing taste sensation. You can present it in the multi-layered taste of Kimbap or the savory and sweet taste of Bulgogi.
4. Seasoning in Puffy Snack
This flavor is perfect for use in puffy snacks, giving a sweet and spicy taste of South Korea cuisine that makes the snack more delicious and different. You can present it in the spicy and sweet flavors of Tteokbokki or kimbap.
5. Instant Seasoning for Cuisine
These instant seasonings make it easy for consumers to make dishes from South Korea at home quickly and practically, with authentic and delicious flavors. You can present dishes like bulgogi, tteokbokki, jajangmyeon, and even jjampong in the form of instant seasonings.
Retail food companies can work with Falmont to bring South Korea-inspired flavors to life through flavors. Falmont is a flavor company in Asia that can create flavors by utilizing modern technology, R&D team, and reliable flavorists in the production process of its flavors.
Falmont delivers high-quality, intense, and delicious flavors that help retail products stand out in the market. As such, Falmont can be an ideal partner for retail food companies looking to introduce South Korean flavors into their products.