Korean New Year Seollal

WINTER IN KOREA

In Korea, winter starts from late November through early March. We came to Korea during winter time it was late December I remember coming out of the airport it was freezing cold. Although we had prepared ourselves for the winter I still felt cold because I am not a winter person. When we came I stayed indoors through winter my kids were babies only the elder one was going to school by then. Those were the longest months for me because we were new in Korea and we were trying to settle in a new environment. Although I'm not a winter person I have to research what to do during winter where to go and visit with kids what type of food keeps us warm during winter. As ex-pats, we end up buying expensive winter clothes because we don't know there are sales where you can buy them at an affordable amount.

KOREAN WINTER FOOD

Korean food is delicious, unique, and nutritious. In winter we cook dishes that keep our bodies warm. Most of the Korean winter food is found on the streets. Street food as we all know is cheap and readily available. Koreans like taking walks during winter too hence street food to warm their bodies are much needed. Below are some of the winter foods we have tried here in Korea.

Hotteok (Korean sweet pancakes)

Hotteok is sweet and delicious It's a sticky dough filled with cinnamon sweet syrup and some nuts. When eating hotteok one has to be careful because it is very hot.

Roasted sweet potatoes

One can also buy roasted sweet potatoes in the streets . Sweet potatoes are roasted or steamed here in Korea and they taste soo yummy and flavorful. Back home we grew up boiling sweet potato but after eating this one roasted sweet potatoes are now my favorite compared to boiling. Also when eating them be very careful they will be very hot. Unfortunately, my kids don't like sweet potatoes.

Ramyeon (Instant Noodles) Ramen

Ramyeon is the most popular food in Korea. It's popular such that you can get into any convenience store, buy a pack of ramyeon and prepare it in the shop. They offer you boiling water and chopsticks then you just prepare your ramen no hustle at all. Hence you just eat as you go and feel warm. My daughters love ramyeon soo much. We love them a little bit spicy and hot too. During winter you won't go wrong with ramyeon.

Hot dogs (corn dogs)

You can also buy corn dogs in the streets during winter. Corn dogs are coated with batter then deep fried only. You can add sugar, ketchup, and mustard. This is one of my kids' favorite too.

Boiled corn (maize)

You can also keep yourself warm in winter by buying yourself boiled corn in the streets or in the park. Boiled corn is our favorite since where we come from corn is our staple food.

There are many winter foods in Korea . I have only started just a few that we usually buy whenever we are out during winter.

By Brenda Hlatshwayo