Kimchi is one of Korea's most renowned products. Delicious, healthy and unique, it has grown in popularity in other countries recently. It has even begun to be used in fusion dishes such as the Korean taco (or Kimchi taco). It is also an important part of Korean culture.
The tradition of making Kimchi at home, however, seems to be in decline. Older generations of women would carefully prepare the ingredients, allowing for it to ferment for just the right amount of time. Many Koreans will tell you that their grandmother's kimchi was the most delicious they've ever had and perhaps that's partly to do with fewer young people following suit.
One factor may be time. Women are part of the workforce and fixing elaborate dishes is a lot more difficult than it used to be. Being a traditional country, the majority of men aren't picking up the slack by helping their spouses out. Then there's the fact that Chinese kimchi is cheaper and it's readily available from grocery stores and on restaurant tables. It's possible that Korea's national dish may not be homemade for much longer.
Vocabulary:
✓ renowned: well-known; famous
✓ ingredients: foods and other substances used for cooking
✓ follow suit: to follow others
✓ elaborate: something that may be difficult and detailed
✓ pick up the slack: to help out if another individual is struggling
Discussion Questions:
- How often do you have kimchi? Are there any other foods you eat as often?
- What is the best kimchi you've ever had? Why do (or did) you like it so much?
- Have you ever made or helped make a batch of kimchi? If not, would like to try someday?
- Is there some way to help reverse this trend so that homemade kimchi will become more common again?
- Do you like to cook? What kinds of dishes are you able to make? Are there any meals that you would like to be able to prepare yourself?
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