DongDongJu... Korean Rice Wine
I recently read two articles about Koreans and Drinking. One theorised about what would happen if alcohol was prohibited in Korea, while the other celebrated the diversity of Korean booze. A Korean man is like a machine. He'll work hard for long hours, and alcohol will provide lubrication for him, the first article says... He'll make business deals and friends over some soju, take out his employees for a beer, or drink DongDongJu after his hike. If he works as a construction worker, he may be seen drinking soju at 8AM on a Sunday before beginning his labour. Basically, the author of the article said Korea would fall apart without booze!
Well, at least they have a lot to choose from, the magazine article states! Despite repressive Japanese control, (they created "mega-breweries" to simplify taxes and control), Korean booze is making a comeback! From my experience, no two rice wines are the same, (this is no good thing, as I have been ill at least twice after a bottle of the local brew!). One of our favourites is MoJu, which we can only find in JeonJu, and nowhere else. This just goes to show the varieties and diversity of Korean liquor.
Of course, getting people to drink your alcoholic offering to the world is no mean feat. Most alcohol adverts concentrate on the usual fare, but one sticks out. One maker of raspberry wine, (BokBunJa), appeals to men alone. The gimmick is this: If you drink our raspberry wine, you'll be able to crack the porcelain when you pee... Make sense of it if you can!~
Makkeoli: Rice Wine, milky in colour and texture, but deceptively strong. Various different forms, but our favourite is Ssal Makkeoli. About 11 percent.
DongDongJu: As above, but more expensive and stronger taste. You can also get fruit DongdongJu, which is lethally strong, but doesn't seem so!!!
MaekJu: Beer!
Soju: Korea local spirit. Ubiquitous, drunk by many at all times of day. I even saw a couple of old dudes sharing a bottle in the local supermarket...it was 10AM!! About 22 percent strength, but the hangovers are legendary!
BaekSeJu: 100 years wine! Slightly sweet flavoured wine, served cold! Delicious. The Koreans say that if you drink this, you'll live to 100 years old, hence the name! Mixed 50-50 with Soju to make...
OShipSeJu: 50 years wine. Again, if you drink this, you'll only live to 50 years old! This stuff gives a seriously bad head in the morning, afternoon AND evening!
BokBunJa: A sweet raspberry wine of about 14 percent strength. Can be cheap, and can be VERY expensive! Delicious though...
MoJu: We've only found this in JeonJu, but wish we could find it elsewhere. A cheap, delicious sweet cinnamon drink.
DuBu GimChi is surprisingly tofu served with fried gimchi, and is Monica's favourite, especially the one served in "our" restaurant in Cheonan!
