Sujeonggwa

Sujeonggwa is a Korean traditional cinnamon punch. Dark reddish brown in color, it is made from gotgam (dried persimmon) and ginger and is often garnished with pine nuts.[1] The punch is made by brewing first the cinnamon and ginger at a slow boil. The solids are then removed for clarification and the remaining liquid is boiled again after adding either honey or brown sugar. The dried persimmons are cut into portions and are added to soak and soften after the brew has completely cooled. This is usually done several hours before serving, as extensive soaking of the fruit may thicken the clear liquid to a murky appearance.[1][2]

Sujeonggwa
Korean name
Hangul	수정과
Hanja	水正果
Revised Romanization	sujeonggwa
McCune–Reischauer	sujŏnggwa

Sujeonggwa is served cold and commonly as a dessert, much like sikhye, due to its sweet taste. It is also widely available in canned form.

History

The earliest mention of sujeonggwa dates back to 1849 in the book Dongguksesigi (동국세시기, 東國歲時記),[3] a book of seasonal customs written by scholar Hong Seok Mo (홍석모). The sujeonggwa recipe mentioned in the book is a dried persimmon brew with added ginger and pine nuts.

In the book Haedongjukji (해동죽지, 海東竹枝) written in 1921, sujeonggwa is known to have been prepared in the Goryeo era by palace women on New Year's Day. Then they were boiling ginger and adding persimmons to the brew. Its former name was baekjeho (백제호), literally meaning "white milky beverage", and was named after the white appearance of sugar-coated persimmons. Nowadays sujeonggwa is a popular traditional beverage drank year-round.[4]

The recipe of sujeonggwa has changed by time, as seen in records. The recipe of sujeonggwa is first mentioned in Sujaguigwe (수작의궤,受爵儀軌). Ginger was not used in Gunhakoedeung (군학회등, 群學會騰), and cinnamon was first used in The Recipes of Joseon (조선요리법, 朝鮮料理法). Pear was used in The New Making of Joseon Food (조선무쌍신식요리제법, 朝鮮無雙新式料理製法) and liquorice, mandarin peels, whole black pepper was also sometimes added. Honey was originally used for sweetening but it was replaced with sugar after The Recipes of Joseon.

Variants

Geonsisujeonggwa (cinnamon punch with dried persimmon)

Geonsisujeonggwa is an original kind of sujeonggwa. It uses ginger and cinnamon as its main ingredients, and usually adds honey or sugar to taste sweet. Garnish with pine nut or gotgam (dried persimmon) on last.

Galyeonsujeonggwa (lotus cinnamon punch)

Galyeonsujeonggwa uses schisandra as its main ingredients, and adds honey or sugar to keep it sweet and the inside flower petal of lotus in the water. The leaves must be boiled and coated by starch powder.

Jabgwasujeonggwa (cinnamon punch with miscellaneous fruits)

Jabgwasujeonggwa adds chopped citron or pear in the sweet water. It is very similar to Hwachae.

Cinnamon punch with pear

This variant uses pear instead of dried persimmon. In the past, people ate boiled pears (another name of Cinnamon Punch with Pear, in Korean, is Insug) because most high quality pears are so stiff to eat. In order to make it easier to eat pears, they made them into a kind of cinnamon punch.

Cinnamon punch with pumpkin

This variant adds pumpkin to the original. It is usually enjoyed in Gangwon-do.[5][6]

Recipe

Ingredients

Ginger, whole cinnamon, brown sugar, white sugar, dried persimmon (gotgam), walnut, pine nut

Process

1. Put some gingers and pour water in a big pot. Heat it up about 10 minutes on high heat. When it boils, lower to medium heat and boil for an hour. Filter the liquid with cotton cloths.
2. Put some whole cinnamons and pour some water in a pot. Heat it up about 10 minutes on high heat. When it boils, lower to medium heat and boil for an hour. Filter it with cotton cloths.
3. Pour ginger water and cinnamon water in a pot and add brown sugar and white sugar. Boil it on high heat for 11 minutes. As it boils, lower the heat level to medium and boil for 10 minutes. Cool the liquid after boiling.
4. Garnish with dried persimmon ssam and pine nuts before serving.

Time	Process	Heat Control
Preparing Ingredients	Prepare ginger, cinnamon, dried persimmons, walnuts, pine nuts
0 min	Boil ginger in water	High 10 min, Medium 60 min
70 min	Boil cinnamon in water	High 10 min, Medium 60 min
140 min	Boil Sujeonggwa	High 11 min, Medium 10 min
160 min (Few hours before serving)	Garnish with dried persimmon ssam and pine nuts

Tip

• It is recommended to boil ginger and whole cinnamon separately in order to maximize the fragrance and flavor.
• Whole dried persimmon (Gotgam) could be used instead of dried persimmon ssam.[7]

Efficacies

Ginger and cinnamon, the main ingredients of Korean cinnamon punch, are spicy but sweet; they make the drinker feel warm, protects the intestines; and aids digestion if taken after a meal. Gotgam (dried persimmon) is rich in iron and vitamin C; it prevents colds and anemia. Some people put jat(pine nut), which is rich in unsaturated fat such as oleic acid, linoleic acid; it is good for the skin and it is effective for declining cholesterol and preventing hypertension. Additionally, it is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium; it stabilizes the nerves and prevents various heart disease. Also, they are rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene.[8]

Cinnamons

The genus Cinnamomum comprises about 300 species, of which four species are used to obtain the spice 'cinnamon'. 'Ceylon/True' cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylancium) and Chinese Cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum) are the most widely available varieties. Studies have demonstrated many beneficial health effects of cinnamon, such as anti-inflammatory properties, anti-microbial activity, blood glucose control, reducing cardiovascular disease, boosting cognitive function and reducing risk of colonic cancer. Also, there is a study about cinnamon can be a pharmaceutical agent in diabetes.[9]

Ginger

Ginger has been used for medicinal purposes since antiquity. In particular, it has been an important plant for the traditional Chinese and Korean pharmacopoeia. One of its indications has always been the treatment of nausea and vomiting. The aromatic, spasmolytic carminative and absorbent properties of ginger suggest that it has direct effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Ginger may be effective for nausea and vomiting. Animal experiments suggest that ginger has antiemetic activity when nausea is induced by cisplatin or cyclophosphamide. Studies in healthy human volunteers suggest that ginger reduces experimentally induced nausea.[10]

See also

• Gamju
• Jallab (Arab cuisine)
• Korean cuisine
• List of Korea-related topics
• List of Korean beverages

References

1. "수정과 水正果 Sujeonggwa Cinnamon Punch". Encyclopedia of Korean Seasonal Customs. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
2. "Sujeonggwa (Ginger Beverage)". Visit Seoul. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
3. Doosan Encyclopedia (Korean)
4. "한국민속대백과사전 한국세시풍속사전 표제어 수정과". folkency.nfm.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-11-30.
5. "수정과의 종류" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-11-30.
6. "한국민속대백과사전 한국세시풍속사전 표제어 수정과". folkency.nfm.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-11-30.
7. "Korean Food Promotion Institute". www.hansik.org. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
8. "수정과의 영양" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-11-30.
9. "Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting; a systematic review of randomized clinical trials". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
10. "Efficacy and safety of 'true' cinnamon (cinnamomum zeylancium as a pharmaceutical agent in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• Sujeonggwa - Official Seoul City Tourism
• History and Recipe