Noh
Bursting the Alma bubble
Green, yellow and black food boom make Koreans Popeye
Staff Writer
If you go into the Starbucks in Korea, you can see an item on the menu, which you cannot find in the US. It’s called “Green Tea Frappucino”. Green tea is thought to protect people from catching cold, prevent cancer, lower cholesterol, has 5~8 times as many vitamins as lemon, etc. Koreans are beginning to realize the good effects of green tea and what is known as the “green tea boom” has sprung up. Recently, many people (especially the young generation) are interested in so-called “well-being food,” and are consuming more and more everyday.
“Well-being” is the search for inner beauty. In Korea, not only appearance, but health is also becoming important these days. As the “well-being” phenomenon became popular, this influenced the food industry. These days, there are more and more demands for “well-being” food among Koreans. Broadly, there are three big booms: “green tea boom,” “sweet potato boom” and “black boom”.
Walking around campus, you can see many university students with a green tea can in their hands. Also, 25% of sale at Starbucks is “Green Tea Frappucino.” Furthermore, green tea is all around in people’s lives and there are many things that are add green tea, such as green tea pork, green tea noodles, green tea milk and etc. There are lots of green tea cafes which sell green tea shakes, ice creams, cakes, cookies and so on.
Sweet potatoes are also known to lower cholesterol, have large amounts of vitamins and are good for those who are on a diet. Recently, Pizza Hut in Korea invented “Rich Gold pizza,” which adds sweet potatoes. It was presented in May but the sales have been so super that it has sold more than 3 million pans already. 80% of customers eat “Jacket Sweet Potato” at the Outback Steakhouse, and KFC has made sweet potato salad, which is also a big seller.
“Black boom” is a short name for the “black bean boom.” Black beans have similar effects as green tea and sweet potatoes. Over half a million bottles of black bean milk have been sold in one day and there are also various kinds of food made of black beans such as black bean sauce, noodles, cookies, diet food and so on.
There are two big reasons why these kinds of “well-being foods” are so popular in Korea. As the economic wealth grew in Korea, Koreans began to think about their health more than they used to. The “well-being boom” has led people to find healthy food and consume those more. Also, the taste of “well-being food has been improved as the demand rose. The foods are not only good for people’s health, but also have very delicious tastes.
The future prospect of “well-being food” in Korea is very hopeful. With the development of new “well-being food” products in Korea, Koreans are making new menus and exporting them to many countries. “Rich Gold Pizza” at Pizza Hut, will be exported to Japan, China, etc. Also, the “Jacket Sweet Potato” at the Outback steak house will be sold in the US, England, Southeast Asia and Japan very soon.
These days many people realize that without health they can’t do anything. Food habit is considered an important way of maintaining health. Koreans have developed healthy food in their own way and to their own tastes. These are not only popular among Koreans but also are gaining recognitions from foreigners. I hope you have a chance to experience the Korean “well-being food”.
In the January 27, 2004 issue of The Almanian, Young-Bi Jang was misspelled. We apologize for the error.
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