The foods described in this article are very different from Korean royal court cuisine, which is, to this day, widely enjoyed by the Korean masses.
Korean cuisine is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes (banchan) that accompany the ubiquitous steam-cooked short-grain rice and soup. Every meal is accompanied by numerous banchan.
Kimchi is a fermented, spicy vegetable dish usually made of baechu, radish, or cucumber. At least one type of kimchi is served as banchan at virtually every meal, year-round. It is also a common ingredient in other Korean recipes.
Korean food is usually seasoned with sesame oil, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger and gochujang (red chili paste). Korea is the largest consumer of garlic, ahead of the rest of Asia (particularly China and Thailand, excluding Japan) and the Northern Mediterranean (mainly Spain, Italy, and Greece).
Korean cuisine varies seasonally. During winter, traditional food usually relies on kimchi and other pickled vegetables preserved in big ceramic containers stored underground in outdoor courtyards. Preparation of Korean food is generally very labor-intensive.
Korean royal cuisine, once only enjoyed by the royal court of the Joseon period, takes hours to days to prepare. It must harmonize contrasting characteristics such as warm and cold, hot and mild, rough and soft, solid and liquid, and a balance of presentation colors. It is often served on hand-forged bronzeware or bangjjaa. The foods are served in a specific arrangement of small dishes alternating to highlight the shape and color of the ingredients.
Some of these traditional royal cuisines, which can cost as much as ₩240,000 (US$265) per person excluding drinks, include service by exclusive waiters. Restaurants that serve traditional royal cuisine can be found in select locations within the city of Seoul. Imperial cuisine has received a recent boost in popularity due to Dae Jang Geum, a widespread, popular Korean television drama about a humble girl becoming the royal head chef during the Joseon period. There is also a Korean tea ceremony.
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