[한의신문=주혜지 기자] Recently, a historical drama based on the Yuyao war between Goryeo and Khitan recorded a viewership rate of about 10%, increasing interest in the history of the Goryeo dynasty. Furthermore, the food culture of the time was already widespread in our society. This is “Gaeseongjuak”, one of MZ’s representative snacks that is leading the grandma trend (grandma + millennials). Snacks from the Gaeseong region during the Goryeo Dynasty have become popular again after centuries.
In fact, according to statistics from an online food sales company, Kaesong Juak’s sales during the last Chuseok doubled compared to the previous month, and Gaeseong Juak’s specialty stores are setting up shop in department stores and convenience stores, enjoying great popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. generation. Furthermore, the famous Kaesong Juak specialty store in Korea is said to sell more than 1,000 Juaks per day.
In this way, Kaesong Juak is captivating the taste buds of the MZ generation with its “crispy on the outside and moist on the inside” charm of chewy glutinous rice dough and crunchy cereal syrup coating. Nowadays, the landscape of food culture is changing, focusing on the tastes of the MZ generation, such as bagels, yakgwa and Tanghulu. Let’s learn about the effectiveness of Gaeseong Juak oriental medicine, which has reached its heyday beyond the times, and how to enjoy it healthily with the help of director Lee Nam-woo of Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital.
Gaeseong Juak is a local snack from the Gaeseong region during the Goryeo Dynasty and was also called “Gaeseong Umegi” or “Joak (造岳)”. It looks similar to the glutinous rice donuts commonly found in the market and the method of preparing it is also similar. First, mix glutinous rice flour with makgeolli, sugar, etc., knead it into a round shape and fry it in oil. The fried dough soaked in cereal syrup is then allowed to completely absorb the cereal syrup and then dried until crispy.
Jocheong, responsible for the first taste and aroma of Gaeseong Juak, is a combination of “joeul (造)” and “cheong (淸)”, meaning light honey. It is a sweetener made by fermenting grains in malt to resemble honey. in a period when honey was scarce. Since ancient times, cereal syrup has been used as a medicinal herb in oriental medicine and has been called ‘Gyoi (膠飴)’, ‘Idang (飴糖)’, etc. Donguibogam explains that Jocheong is “used to strengthen the weak body and increase energy, as well as to remove phlegm and stop coughing.” In fact, cereal syrup is rich in beta-carotene, an ingredient that has anti-fatigue properties and antioxidant effects.
Additionally, the chewy and flavorful glutinous rice plays a key role in allowing you to savor the sweetness of the cereal syrup more deeply in your mouth. Unlike non-glutinous rice, which is used for cooking rice, glutinous rice is very sticky, so it is mainly used as an ingredient in rice cakes and sikhye. It is also a cereal suitable for the production of alcohol due to its hot nature. In particular, in the oriental medicine book Herbal Medicine, we read that it ‘warms the stomach and stops diarrhea’. In fact, glutinous rice contains a large amount of amylopectin, which protects the stomach and improves digestive function. Furthermore, the beneficial bacteria contained in the makgeolli used in the dough not only enrich the glutinous rice dough, but also support intestinal health.
Director Lee Nam-woo (pictured) said: “Sweet Kaesong Juak is effective for relieving daily stress and improving digestion, but because it’s coated in cereal syrup, it has a high sugar content, so if you’re managing your health with high blood pressure or high blood sugar, you need to be careful with your intake.” “Especially because it is a food fried in oil, the calories cannot be ignored,” he said.
Gaeseongjuak, which has once again reached its heyday after the passage of centuries, is varied freely to suit individual tastes, using toppings such as butter, chocolate, whipped cream and fruits in line with the changes of the times. Recently, various influencers, including celebrities, have uploaded various types of Gaeseongjuak review videos on their SNS, gaining great popularity, and the trend of Gaeseongjuak is developing day by day.
Originally, nuts were placed above Gaeseongjuak. A representative example is pumpkin seeds: pumpkin seeds, also called “Nam-gwa-in” in oriental medicine, are known to be rich in antioxidants such as magnesium, zinc and fatty acids. It helps maintain heart health and prevent blood sugar-related diseases such as diabetes and is considered a well-balanced condiment with high-sugar Gaeseong Juak. However, depending on the seasonings added, the calories and nutritional content of juak vary greatly. Specifically, the average number of calories for Gaeseong Juak is between 50 and 100 kcal, but the representative topping, chocolate jam, is about 80 kcal per tablespoon, which is equivalent to the calories of the Juak itself.
Director Lee Nam-woo said: “Continuing a diet focused on the three highs (high sugar, high calorie and high fat) can not only cause obesity but also musculoskeletal diseases such as accelerated joint degeneration,” adding: “The trend to reconsider traditional snacks is interesting, but it is important to consume them. He advised: “Paying attention to your health by monitoring your daily calories is an important habit regardless of the era.”
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