Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bosintang]

Rabbit stew! Whenever I tell my students how delicious rabbit stew is, they either think I'm a bloody savage or they think I'm pulling their leg. Surely no decent human being would ever eat a poor cute, little rabbit....

(actually, it's been so long since I've eaten the stuff I forgot what it tastes like, but it's still good for shock value!)

[noelinkorea]

I don't think it's quite true that Koreans don't like cinnamon - go to a restaurant during the summer and they probably serve you ����, but they might also just serve you ������ a sweet, and nasty-strong but refreshing cinnamon drink (not sure whether to call it a tea). Reading some of the posts, I think that sometimes it's not about taste but about association that people are affected by. I've heard Koreans say how this or that (foreign food) tastes like medicine - especially things like licorice and cinnamon. Mint too maybe goes into this category - it's like toothpaste! I also wonder more and more since being in Korea how things like this may also be culturally-constructed - Koreans learn to know what is "theirs" and therefore "good", and therefore what isn't "theirs" and is therefore too different to be good....another random thought. And where can you get licorce in Seoul...dying for some...

[kangnamdragon]

I agree with the above posts. It also depends on what the flavors are combined with.

[ryleeys]

I was telling a friend about having eaten tripe once... she thought that was pretty nasty. She was a little stunned that I'd also eaten rattlesnake.

[schwa]

Medicinal associations the other way round -- have any of you tried the cans of pinebud drink in many store coolers? My first taste conjured nasty childhood memories but I've grown to quite like the stuff, its refreshing.

I think an almost unanimous food turn-off to Koreans is non-sticky rice. They'll eat it in a pinch but consider it bad.

[tommynomad]

Amen on the non-sticky rice. I've seen a few Koreans turn their noses up in disgust at the sight of my fluffy, delicious basmati.

This week one of my 'funnier' students gave me a raw persimmon to take a bite out of. Knowing exactly what I was in for but not giving a *moop*, I took a bite. When my face didn't combust, the class was stunned. I deadpanned that once you've eaten guinea pig--
"Teacher, what?"
"Giant hamster."
--nothing else really shocks your mouth anymore.

Maybe they're afraid of me now. Think I'm the chupacabra.

[Thunndarr]

I haven't yet found a food that my gf will turn her nose up at. Thank God.