F Magazine – Issue No.12 Kimchi

Kimchi is a millennia-old, preserved food of Korea, and kimjang, the making and sharing of kimchi to be eaten over winter months, was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. Napa cabbages and Korean radishes are salted, coated in red pepper powder, garlic, and other savoury ingredients, and then left to ferment. As each family developed their own recipe, kimchi became more diverse with each passing generation. Kimchidok crocks kept in the ground have been replaced by refrigerators in the home specifically for kimchi storage—evincing the everlasting symbolism of kimchi on the Korean table. Today, fermentation is a major trend in gastronomy culture, and this naturally fermented, probiotic-rich food is revered worldwide.