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Editor’s Picks for Autumn Seasonal Food!

[Taiwan] Chen’s Pick

If sweet potatoes are a winter seasonal food, then what would be the sweet potato equivalent in autumn? Perhaps you guessed it. It's persimmon! After spending some time in Korea, the plush orange color of a ripe persimmon naturally comes to mind in the fall. In Taiwan, we often enjoy eating persimmons, but not to the extent of variation that exists in Korea. Persimmons are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help with cold prevention and recovery from fatigue. However, as with any good thing, excess consumption may lead to a decrease in functioning of the digestive system, so be sure not to overdo it! I've tried a lot of different ways to enjoy persimmons during my time here, but I would like to most recommend dried persimmons that are simply prepared using an oven or air fryer. It's a wonderful snack made bite size that's popular with children, too! So, take full advantage of one of the best autumn seasonal foods and have some scrumptious autumn persimmons with me!

Various kinds of persimmon-based Korean snacks & food

Persimmon Smoothie

Persimmon & Cinnamon Punch

Persimmon Latte

Ripened Persimmon

Dried Persimmon

Persimmon Vinegar

#AutumnSeasonalFood #Persimmon #DriedPersimmon #RipenedPersimmon #SoftPersimmon

[Russia] Olga’s Pick

Russia is so vast in size that there are regions where crabs are rarely heard of and those where it's common food to eat. In Moscow, where I had previously lived, I never had a chance to eat crab, so Korea was my first experience with it. And as soon as I took my first bite of crab marinated in soy sauce, I fell completely head over heels! From then on, I would constantly be anticipating the autumn season rolling around again. I can confidently vouch that anyone out there, regardless of nationality, will fall for the tasty flavor of the soy sauce marinade with the meaty crab meat just as I did! This dish, in fact, is one of the big autumn seasonal foods in Korea and is considered to be a premium cuisine. If eating out is a little pricey for you, why not try making this delectable fall dish at home?! It's very easy to make and I just know you're going to love it.

Soy Sauce Marinated Crab Recipe

1. Prepare 5 crabs and remove the sharp ends with scissors before rinsing clean and cutting into pieces.

2. Prepare the sauce ingredients in a pan and boil before letting cool. (Sauce ingredients include: 3 cups of soy sauce, 3.5 cups of water, some apple  , some cheongyang chili pepper  , some red pepper powder, 3 tablespoons of cheongju rice wine, and some ginger powder)

3. Place the pieces of crab into a container, strain the cooled sauce and pour into the container together with the crab, and place in a refrigerator for 3 days to allow time for fermentation and enjoy!

#SoySauceMarinatedCrab #Bapdoduk #RiceChief #AutumnFood

[U.S.] Rocky’s Pick

There are tons of notable proverbs about autumn gizzard shad in Korea, which only makes you wonder just how good does the taste have to be to draw up such inspiration. Just as in the saying, "The head of an autumn gizzard shad is like that of three measures of sesame," the seasonal fish offers that much savory flavor.  In fact, even for me, after all my years here in Korea, whenever autumn arrives, I find myself naturally drawn to the Noryangjin Fisheries Market in search of the autumn seasonal fish. It's generally eaten grilled or as sashimi, but the sashimi version of it demands a bit of an acquired taste in that it is eaten with the bones and all. This may be a dealbreaker for some, but I personally enjoy the chewiness of it. It provides this sense of relief from worry and stress that is simply freeing. If sashimi is too much, then grilled gizzard shad is the next best way to go! According to proverb lore, it's even said to be so tasty that the aroma is sure to "lure the runaway daughter-in-law back home." Be sure to get your fill of this spectacular seasonal food this autumn season!

#AutumnGizzardShad #GizzardShadSashimi #Jeoneo #NoryangjinFishMarket #NoryangjinFisheriesWholesaleMarket

[Japan] Erika’s Pick

Every fall, the ocean waters grow restless alongside the changing colors or the mountainside and grassy fields. And all I can think of is the savory taste of cutlassfish, sometimes also called hairtail! There are two reasons why I recommend this autumn seasonal food. One is that the month of October is when these tasty fish are at their peak and are most plump! Second, Namdaemun Market is home to an alley devoted entirely to galchi jorim, or braised cutlassfish, a succulent traditional Korean cuisine. Having gradually sprung to life in the late 1980s, becoming what you see today, the alley, in and of itself, is also a fun maze-like adventure to get lost in. The dish contains not only braised fish, but also braised radish, crunchy laver, soft eggs, and more, for a combination of flavors that encapsulates the depth of Korean cuisine. Stop by the Namdaemun Market hairtail alley for a great meal you're sure to fall in love with!

#NamdaemunMarketHairtailAlley #AutumnCutlassfish #AutumnHairtail #GalchiJorim

[China] Ariel’s Pick

October is the time of year when the summer heat finally subsides and the autumn weather sneaks in, gradually bringing the winter cold in hand. It makes it all too easy to get sick and catch a cold! And it's no easy time for those suffering from hay fever either! For me, once I'm sick, I get stuck with a sore throat and coughing for days, or even weeks on end, making for many sleepless nights tossing and turning. And every time I always enjoyed some warm Asian pear and honey tea. After coming to Korea, ginger tea with Asian pear, dates, and honey became a similar go-to for me. To think, it's already been ten years! I could probably even brew a cup with my eyes closed now!  Ginger is said to promote blood circulation to keep the body warm while reducing coughing and the accumulation of phlegm. The tea recipe even has another autumn seasonal food favorite, Korean dates! Dates provide a nice immunity boost and help fight against colds, while being beneficial for the lungs and airways. Asian pears are said to produce similar health benefits for the lungs, making this tea concoction one in a million! While the pandemic has you stuck at home most of the time, why not make the best of it and try a hand at this tasty tea recipe.

Ginger Tea Recipe

1. Place 3 thinly-sliced pears in a container.

2. Place 500 g of sliced ginger and 20 sliced dates into a pot and boil for 10 minutes.

3. Let the ginger and dates cool and place in the container together with the pears.

4. Add honey to the container and mix, place in a refrigerator for 1 week to ferment, and then add hot water and enjoy!

#AsianPear #Ginger #KoreanDates #Dates #WellBeingTea