Misunderstanding and truth about Boknal

Boknal means the hottest time of the year in Korea. it consists of  Chobok, Jungbok and Malbok.

So Koreans often eat a variety of healthy foods to recharge their energy.
Then, let's find out what koreans eat on Boknal!!

1. Misunderstanding about Boknal

The Bok(伏) of Boknal is written in chinese chracters. Because it consists of 人 (human) and 犬 (dog), many people misunderstand Boknal as eating a dog.  However a dog meat is one of the healthy foods eaten on Boknal in Korea and many koreans also eat other healthy foods on Boknal. It's just a day to pick the hottest time of the year and eat a nourishment to replenish their energy.

2. Truth about Boknal, the healthy foods eaten on Boknal.

On Boknal, the hottest day of the year and the period of growing crops, old Koreans who mainly focused on farming found food to replenish their energy because they had to work in the heat.
Then I will introduce healthy foods that Koreans usually eat on Boknal.

-Samgyetang

Samgyetang is a chicken soup made by mixing glutinous rice, ginseng, jujubes, and sulfur in the chicken's belly. Although a chicken soup made by boling chicken and water was eaten by Koreans in about 1500 years ago, samgyetang in the shape of today made with ginseng originated in japanese colonial era, about 100 years ago. Even today, Samgyetang, a popular Korean food for Koreans, is famous for one of favorite Korean food not only for Koreans but also for foreigners.

-Chueotang

Chueotang has long been one of the favorite healthy food eaten by Koreans, providing calcium and protein to rural people who are tired of summer heat and work. It is a soup dish that is prepared and ground with loach and boiled thickly with soybean paste along with various vegetables. Even today, chueo tang is a healthy food that Koreans eat a lot, and it is known that it contains unsaturated fatty acids that are highly effective in arteriosclerosis, high blood clots, and diabetes, including DHA and EPA.

-Jeonbokjuk (Abalone porridge)

The king of porridge, Jeonbokjuk (abalone porridge) was high-quality food that was served to the king. jeonbokjuk, a combination of white soup and chewy abalone, features a savory and deep flavor. As abalone farming has become more common these days, people eat more than ever, and it is one of  healthy foods eaten when the body feels empty as well as on Boknal.

-Jang-eo gui (Eel roast)

Eel is a high-protein food and is famous for its summer food. So, it is a food that Koreans eat a lot on Boknal, which is the hottest summer day. Also, eels are rich in vitamins A, B, and C, so they are good for skin beauty, fatigue, anti-aging, and strength, so they are one of the health foods that many people find. Eel roasted in charcoal fire after removing bones and intestines of eel and dipping it in a sauce made with red pepper paste, sugar, minced garlic, sesame oil, etc. tastes good. Jang-eo gu-i (Eel roast), the best food that brings back the energy of the summer heat, is a favorite healthy food of Koreans.