Gwamegi facts for kids
| Gwamegi | |
Prepared gwamegi
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Quick facts for kids Korean name |
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| Hangul |
과메기
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| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Gwamegi |
| McCune–Reischauer | kwamegi |
Gwamegi is a special Korean food. It's made from half-dried fish, usually Pacific herring or Pacific saury. People enjoy it a lot during winter. It's most famous in the North Gyeongsang Province of South Korea. Places like Pohang, Uljin, and Yeongdeok are well-known for it. Guryongpo Harbor in Pohang is especially famous for Gwamegi.
Contents
How Gwamegi is Made
Making Gwamegi is a cool process. Fresh herring or saury fish are frozen first. They are kept at a very cold temperature, about -10 degrees Celsius. Then, in December, the fish are placed outdoors. They go through a cycle of freezing at night and thawing during the day. This process continues until the fish loses about 60% of its water. This makes the Gwamegi chewy and flavorful.
A Taste of History
Gwamegi has been around for a long time. Records from the Joseon era mention it. One old document, Ohjuyeonmunjangjeonsango, talks about smoking herring. This was done to stop the fish from rotting. Another book, Gyuhapcheongseo, says that dried herring with clear eyes tasted unusual and good.
People in Pohang's Young-Il Bay used to catch a lot of herring. They needed a way to keep the fish fresh. Someone discovered that hanging herring in a kitchen window worked well. The smoke from the kitchen helped preserve the fish. Also, the cold winter winds would freeze the fish. Then, the warmth from cooking would melt and dry them a little. This made the fish half-dried and very tasty. Later, people started drying herring on the beaches of Guryongpo. The strong sun during the day and cool sea breeze at night were perfect for drying.
Since the 1960s, there have been fewer herring in Young-Il Bay. So, people started making Gwamegi with mackerel pike. This fish was caught in large amounts. It tasted just as good as the herring version. Even today, most Gwamegi is made from mackerel pike.
The Gwamegi Festival
Pohang city holds a fun Gwamegi Festival every year. It helps promote this local specialty food. The festival started in 1997. It helps local businesses and celebrates Gwamegi. It takes place every November. You can find many activities there. These include a special product contest and free tasting events. You can also enjoy traditional Korean music. Some big events are the Gwamegi auction and guessing the weight of a Gwamegi.
Gwamegi Culture Museum
If you want to learn even more, visit the Gwamegi Culture Museum. It's located in Guryongpo. This large museum opened in 2016. It acts as both a research center and a tourist spot. You can learn all about the history of Gwamegi there. It also explains the science behind how it's made. Plus, you can explore the traditions linked to this unique Korean food.
Gallery
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Drying gwamegi
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Prepared gwamegi with ssam
See also
In Spanish: Gwamegi para niños
