Drinks Archives - Kimchimari

Ultimate Guide to Makgeolli – Tastes and Content

JinJoo — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:38:08 +0000

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine that was traditionally home brewed. The complex and robust flavors of this drink pairs wonderfully with all Korean foods but most wonderfully with flavorful foods like Kimchi and Korean BBQs.

[caption id="attachment_11790" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Makgeolli (Korean Rice Wine) Tasting[/caption]

What is Makgeolli?

Makgeolli (막걸리) or Makkolli is a traditional Korean alcoholic beverage brewed from rice and a fermentation starter called nuruk 누룩. It is traditionally an 'fast' or 'emergency brew' which can be ready in 7-10 days and is made in a single step fermentation (Danyangju 단양주). Traditionally this rice wine was brewed in each home and served as everyday drink as well as for special occasions like weddings.

What does Makgeolli taste like?

This Korean rice wine is a milky and often fizzy drink having a complex flavor profile that also has sweet, sour, with even a little bit of bitter tastes. It can also have a fruity, dusty, floral aroma with a bit of chalky texture. It is a great filling drink that tastes great on its own but even better with Korean food.

History of Makgeolli

This is the oldest alcoholic drink in Korean cuisine that dates back to Goryeo (고려) Dynasty (918-1320) and some say there are traces of this wine even back to the Three Kingdoms era (57 BC to 668 AD). Makgeolli is a brewed rice wine, traditionally made of just 3 ingredients: rice, water and nuruk. Nuruk is a unique fermentation starter that contains yeast and bacteria that break down the rice to produce alcohol - making this rice wine an alcoholic drink.

Makgeolli was considered a "farmer's wine (Nongju 농주)" because of the high nutritional content and carbonation, it was a great refreshing energy drink for farmers. When I was a child, I distinctly remember seeing farmers and construction workers drinking this white colored drink in a shallow bowl (사발) every afternoon during their break. Farmers or other labor workers (like for construction) would get quite upset 😝 if they didn't get this drink during their snack time. I remember my mom hearing an earful from a construction worker one time when she brought them some red bean pastry and milk for snack --

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Soju Mojito Cocktail

JinJoo — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 22:44:51 +0000

Soju Mojito is a wonderfully refreshing cocktail that will go perfectly well with any Korean food but especially with savory pancakes like Pajeon and Korean BBQ dinners! Soju Mojito Cocktail This is my first soju cocktail recipe!! Well.. actually my husband helped me with it. 😝 He wanted to make a Koreanish cocktail drink for
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15 Korean Bar Foods (Anju) for your next party!

JinJoo — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 01:36:55 +0000

A list of 15 popular Anju (안주) or Korean bar foods that pair well with Korean bar drinks. Great for parties where liquor is involved or not! About Korean Bar Foods (Anju 안주) Traditionally and typically before the main meal, Koreans enjoy eating certain dishes called Anju 안주 or Bar Foods that pair well with
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14 Everyday Korean Teas

JinJoo — Mon, 29 May 2023 21:25:10 +0000

14 everyday Korean teas that are commonly enjoyed with or without meals. The flavors of each tea are discussed with information regarding how it is grown, made and enjoyed. Tea is a staple element in Korean culture. It is often drank at home, and served in restaurants in place of water. Korean teas make use
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Korean Steamed Pear (Baesuk) – My favorite home cough remedy

JinJoo — Wed, 17 May 2023 21:42:58 +0000

Baesuk or Korean steamed pear is a traditional Korean herbal drink to help with coughs – especially for those lingering coughs after a cold and other minor throat irritations. What is Baesuk 배숙? Baesuk 배숙 literally means ‘pear = bae’ + ‘cooked = suk 熟’. So if you searched for it, you may see 2
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9 Korean Summer Drinks and Desserts to Keep Cool!

JinJoo — Thu, 11 May 2023 00:05:21 +0000

9 Korean Summer Drinks and Desserts you can make during the HOT sweltering months of summer. Stay cool with these icy beverages and sweet snacks! Summer is fast approaching, and the weather is really starting to warm up in California (FINALLY!!). I have been saying that it feels like we went straight from winter to
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How to make Dalgona Coffee (Whipped Coffee)

JinJoo — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 22:35:07 +0000

Dalgona Coffee is a cold latte drink that comes with a velvety smooth and sweet coffee foam on top. The combination of cold milk and the bittersweet coffee is simply a match made in heaven. And the best part is that you can make it without any special machines - all you need is some arm muscle and patience.

[caption id="attachment_15541" align="aligncenter" width="924"] Dalgona Coffee with candy[/caption]

Dalgona Coffee is the latest big trend in Korea - especially in these strange times of so many being quarantined at home due to the Coronavirus epidemic. I even watched a video of a Korean grandma trying to make the foam with just a spoon... lol.. and she was not happy because it was taking so looong..

Now, why is it called Dalgona Coffee?? The sweet and bitter taste of the coffee foam has is very similar to Dalgona, and the color too - hence the name. I think it's a perfect drink for people who miss going to coffee shops and also who have some extra time on their hands. Make this and it will definitely put a smile on your face 😊😊because it tastes as good as it looks.

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Korean Watermelon Punch (Subak Hwachae 수박화채)

JinJoo — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 00:19:36 +0000

Korean watermelon punch aka Subak Hwachae is a wonderful way to cool down in the summer! Choose one of my 3 variations to serve as dessert or summer drinks with your Korean meal. Korean Watermelon Punch or Subak Hwachae 수박화채 is a very simple yet refreshing way to enjoy watermelon but with a little extra
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Makgeolli Margarita (aka Mageollita)

JinJoo — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 22:23:41 +0000

Makgeolli Margarita is a fun Korean Mexican fusion drink that is made with Korean rice wine Makgeolli and Tequila. It is really refreshing, milky and mildly sweet. A fabulous drink for the summer! Makgeolli Margarita Makgeolli Margarita is a drink I had several years ago at a famous Korean Mexican fusion restaurant called Vatos in
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My Makgeolli Project with Vino Vargas Winemaker

JinJoo — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:47:50 +0000

Are you ready for something unbelievable?? You know that I always love to improve a recipe and being a scientist in my previous life, I love to nail down things so that the recipe minimizes the chance of failure. So, a dream of mine was to work with a real master in making my current Makgeolli
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