Food10 min
Ramyeon: Korea's Instant Noodle Culture
Ramyeon (라면) is not Japanese ramen: almost always instant and fiery. From Samyang in 1963 to the global Shin Ramyun and the ram-don of Parasite.
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The Kotoba Interactive journal.
Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.
24 articles
Food14 min
Kimchi Varieties: Korea's Edible Atlas
There is not one kimchi but nearly two hundred. Cabbage, radish, cucumber, scallion: the detailed guide to the great kimchi families, region by region.
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Food14 min
Wagashi: Japan's Traditional Confectionery, Explained
History, ingredients and types of wagashi, Japan's tea confections. Nerikiri, yokan, daifuku, dorayaki: a complete, sensory guide to Japanese sweets.
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Food13 min
Japanese Tea: Sencha, Gyokuro, Hojicha, Genmaicha
Japanese tea is not just matcha: sencha, gyokuro, hojicha, genmaicha. Origins, terroirs, brewing temperatures and the vocabulary to understand it all.
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Food11 min
Chimaek: Fried Chicken and Beer, Korea's National Religion
Crisp fried chicken and cold beer: how chimaek became a ritual of Korean sociability and a cultural export of the country.
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Food10 min
Patbingsu: The Mountain of Shaved Ice That Cools Korea
From royal ice-storage dessert to Instagrammable chains: a journey through patbingsu, the mountain of shaved ice that cools the Korean summer.
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Food11 min
Coffee versus Tea: The Drink War That Divides Asia
Ancestral tea against imported coffee: how China, Japan and Korea arbitrate between tradition, ceremony and urban modernity in their cups.
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Food8 min
Hotteok, Gyeranppang: A Guide to Korean Street Food
Molten hotteok, egg-filled gyeranppang, spicy tteokbokki, winter bungeoppang: a hungry guide to Korea's street snacks and how to order them.
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Food7 min
Naicha: how bubble tea became a generational obsession in China
From Taiwanese milk tea to the naicha phenomenon in mainland China: Heytea, Nayuki, three-hour queues and the sociology of a drink turned lifestyle.
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Food11 min
Ramune: the marble soda of Japan
The full history of ramune, Japan's iconic marble soda. Victorian origins, the Codd bottle, flavours, the opening ritual, and its enduring place in Japanese pop culture.
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Food7 min
Chinese tea: a journey through the six families
Guide to Chinese tea and its six great families: green, white, yellow, oolong, red and dark. Gongfu cha, terroirs, preparation and the culture of tea in China.
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Food6 min
Pojangmacha: under Korea's orange street food tents
Discovering Korean pojangmacha: history, atmosphere, signature dishes (tteokbokki, odeng, somaek) and their place in popular culture and K-dramas.
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Food6 min
Dim sum: the Cantonese art of touching the heart
Discovering dim sum and Cantonese yum cha: the origin of tea houses, the iconic bites, the ritual of the trolleys and the culture of the Chinese brunch.
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Food7 min
Chopsticks: Etiquette and Differences in Japan, Korea and China
The chopstick guide for Asia: Chinese origin, Japanese shapes, Korean metal, table manners and taboos to know in Japan, Korea and China.
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Food7 min
Chinese Tea and Gongfu Cha: The Ancient Art of Brewing
The history of Chinese tea and gongfu cha: the legend of Shennong, Lu Yu's Classic of Tea, the six great families, the Yixing teapot and the art of infusion.
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Food5 min
Korean barbecue: the convivial art of gogi-gui
History and codes of Korean barbecue (gogi-gui): the table-top grill, samgyeopsal, galbi, bulgogi, the art of ssam and the conviviality of the Korean table.
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Food6 min
Soju: The History and Etiquette of Korea's National Spirit
The history of soju, Korea's national spirit: its Mongol origins, the rice ban, the Jinro brand, the etiquette of the glass and soju's place in Korean culture.
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Food5 min
Baijiu: the national spirit of China
History and secrets of baijiu, China's clear grain spirit: sorghum distillation, qū ferment, Moutai aromas, the culture of ganbei and the banquet, drink of diplomacy.
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Food5 min
Makgeolli: Korea's milky rice wine
History and secrets of makgeolli, Korea's cloudy, fizzy rice wine: nuruk fermentation, the farmers' drink, rainy-day pajeon pairing, and trendy revival.
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Food18 min
Matcha: History and Secrets of Japanese Green Tea
From the emerald powder of Zen monks to the global matcha latte, a deep dive into the history, production, and secrets of Japan's most iconic tea.
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Food18 min
Chinese Hotpot: The Bubbling Feast That Unites China
From fiery Sichuan broth to delicate Cantonese stock, Chinese hotpot is far more than a meal. Explore the history and traditions of China's ultimate communal feast.
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Food11 min
Sushi: A Complete Guide to Every Type and Their History
From ancient fermented narezushi to Edo-style nigiri, explore every sushi type, their thousand-year history, and the art of itamae masters.
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