Baesuk
Encyclopedia
Baesuk is a variety of hwachae
, Korea
n traditional fruit punch
made with bae
(배: Korean pear), black pepper
corns, ginger
, honey
or sugar, and water. Originally, baesuk was served in Korean royal court cuisine
, so that it was not spread to the public until the mid-20th century. Baesuk is also called isuk, and both terms literally mean "cooked pear" in Korean
. A peeled pear is cut into several pieces easily to be eaten or prepared as a whole and then generally three black pepper
corns are stuck onto the surface of each piece. In case of cooking Korean pear a whole pear without slicing, it is called hyangseolgo (향설고) and sour and hard munbae (문배, Pyrus ussuriensis var.seoulensis) is used.
The pieces are poached
by simmering
with sliced ginger and sugar or honey over low heat until tender. After removing from the heat, gingers are discarded and the mixture is chilled in a cold place. The baesuk is poured into a glass bowl for hwachae and is garnished with ground pine nut
s. It can be served with a dash of yujajeub
(유자즙, yuzu
juice) mixed together. Baesuk is a seasonal food usually drunken cold just like other hwachae varieties but can be served hot.
Baesuk is usually prepared and drunk in the summer or for Chuseok
(Korean Mid-Autumn Festival
).
Together with sujeonggwa
(persimmon
punch), baesuk is considered a representative Korean beverage. Due to the similar recipes of the two beverages, baesuk is sometimes called "baesujeonggwa" (배수정과). Baesuk is usually served as dessert
and also considered a good remedy for the common cold
. The beverage is widely popular in South Korea
because of the moderate sweet flavor and easy recipe.
Hwachae
Hwachae is a general term for Korean traditional punches made with various fruits or edible flower petals soaked in omija or honeyed juice.-Types:...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n traditional fruit punch
Punch (drink)
Punch is the term for a wide assortment of drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, generally containing fruit or fruit juice. The drink was introduced from India to England in the early seventeenth century; from there its use spread to other countries...
made with bae
Pyrus pyrifolia
Pyrus pyrifolia is a pear tree species native to China, Japan, and Korea. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, Chinese pear, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Taiwan pear, and sand pear.....
(배: Korean pear), black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
corns, ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
, honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
or sugar, and water. Originally, baesuk was served in Korean royal court cuisine
Korean royal court cuisine
Korean royal court cuisine was the style of cookery within Korean cuisine traditionally consumed at the court of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. There has been a revival of this cookery style in the 21st century...
, so that it was not spread to the public until the mid-20th century. Baesuk is also called isuk, and both terms literally mean "cooked pear" in Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
. A peeled pear is cut into several pieces easily to be eaten or prepared as a whole and then generally three black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
corns are stuck onto the surface of each piece. In case of cooking Korean pear a whole pear without slicing, it is called hyangseolgo (향설고) and sour and hard munbae (문배, Pyrus ussuriensis var.seoulensis) is used.
The pieces are poached
Poaching (cooking)
Poaching is the process of gently simmering food in liquid, generally milk, stock or wine.-Utilization:Poaching is particularly suitable for delicate food, such as eggs, poultry, fish and fruit, which might easily fall apart or dry out...
by simmering
Simmering
Simmering is a food preparation technique in which foods are cooked in hot liquids kept at or just below the boiling point of water , but higher than poaching temperature...
with sliced ginger and sugar or honey over low heat until tender. After removing from the heat, gingers are discarded and the mixture is chilled in a cold place. The baesuk is poured into a glass bowl for hwachae and is garnished with ground pine nut
Pine nut
Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines . About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of great value as a human food....
s. It can be served with a dash of yujajeub
Yuzu
The yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
(유자즙, yuzu
Yuzu
The yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
juice) mixed together. Baesuk is a seasonal food usually drunken cold just like other hwachae varieties but can be served hot.
Baesuk is usually prepared and drunk in the summer or for Chuseok
Chuseok
Chuseok , originally known as Hangawi , is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Like many other harvest festivals, it is held around the Autumn Equinox...
(Korean Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival , also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival, is a popular lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. A description of the festival first appeared in Rites of Zhou, a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou...
).
Together with sujeonggwa
Sujeonggwa
Sujeonggwa is a Korean traditional fruit punch. Dark reddish brown in color, it is made from dried persimmons, cinnamon, ginger, peppercorn and is often garnished with pine nuts. The punch is made by brewing first the cinnamon, ginger and peppercorn at a slow boil...
(persimmon
Persimmon
A persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
punch), baesuk is considered a representative Korean beverage. Due to the similar recipes of the two beverages, baesuk is sometimes called "baesujeonggwa" (배수정과). Baesuk is usually served as dessert
Dessert
In cultures around the world, dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal, usually consisting of sweet food. The word comes from the French language as dessert and this from Old French desservir, "to clear the table" and "to serve." Common Western desserts include cakes, biscuits,...
and also considered a good remedy for the common cold
Common cold
The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever...
. The beverage is widely popular in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
because of the moderate sweet flavor and easy recipe.
External links
- Baesuk recipe from ChangwonChangwonChangwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that...
City website - Baesuk recipe