Kimchi, I think I can safely say, is the favorite food of Korea. You can't go anywhere, order anything, without getting a side dish of Kimchi. You can't talk to any Korean without them wondering if you like Kimchi. I'm not sure what happens if you tell them you don't like it, but I imagine they may not like you quite as much as they used to. Or, if you do claim to liking Kimchi, everyone decides you must be a good person. I'm not quite sure what it is about this food that makes everyone fanatical (it would be like if we were crazy about pickles), but to Koreans there is no life without Kimchi. (Upon consideration, we have decided they must be addicted to it. Kimchi is spicy and spicy food does release endorphins, which make you happy.)
Kimchi actually covers a wide range of fermented vegetables that have been flavored. We are most often served fermented cabbage with a spicy flavor. Although there are many kinds served in different areas of Korea as well as during different seasons.
I like Kimchi a little bit. I like it enough to be able to eat one piece. I'm hoping to acquire a taste. Jordan of course loves it.
Kimchi is said (by Health magazine, not the Koreans) to be one of the world's healthiest foods. So there's no reason to refuse a little Kimchi.
For more information see wikipedia.
Comments
Addiction
For a bit of fun, ask a Korean who's been oversees for more than a month at one time what it was like living without their 김치 [seriously, I don't know why we even bother Romanizing Korean when the hangeul are so awesome]. Ten to fifteen tear-filled minutes later, pat them on the back and tell them it's OK... they're back in Korea now, and the nightmare is over.
Yum . . .
That seriously looks amazing . . .
But...
It's served cold, and the first time you eat kimchi, you expect it to be warm. It looks like it should be warm... but it's not. (Korean food has a high occurance of "now THAT did not taste like it looked," but usually this is a very good thing.) Now, once you know what to expect it's a totally excellent taste sensation, just be ready for a slight thermic surprise.
Agreed
Most people, I think, need a little bit of time before they adapt to/like the taste of kimchi. When I first tasted it, I wasn't quite sure what to think, but "delicious" was not the first word that came to mind. Several days of eating it later, however, and I am shocked at how quickly I am approaching that obsessive need for the food... I have no doubt that before we leave here I will be thoroughly addicted.