The origins and evolution of Korea's 500-year-old tteokbokki (Korean rice cake)
The History and Origins of Korean Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is a national dish in Korea, and it's been around for a long time. It's an important part of Korean cuisine, and its origins and evolution are closely tied to the development of Korean food culture.
The ancient origins of rice cakes and tteokbokki
To discuss the origins of tteokbokki, we'll start with the rice cakes's history. Tteok was an important food in ancient Korea for rituals and ceremonies, Goryeo periodI Joseon DynastyEdo mochi was considered a precious food.
Tteokbokki originated from the ConsiderI Joseon court cuisinein Korea. The culture of eating rice cakes with various sauces has a long tradition, and one of the most common forms is the palace tteokbokki, which was a favorite of the court. Unlike the spicy Tteokbokki that we know today, this dish was made with a Soy sauce, Oil cooked using Soy Sauce Tteokbokkiwas the mainstream.
Court Tteokbokki
During the Joseon Dynasty, rice cakes, meat, and vegetables were stir-fried in oil with the Court Tteokbokkibecame a courtly dish, often flavored with soy sauce and stir-fried with a variety of ingredients to create a mild, savory flavor. It was served at court for feasts and special occasions, Gourmet food with rice cakes, meat, and vegetablesin the past.
Even today, palace tteokbokki is Traditional Korean foodand is recognized in places known for its soy sauce-seasoned tteokbokki. Unlike today's spicy tteokbokki, soy sauce tteokbokki was characterized by high-quality ingredients and mild flavors.
The Birth of Spicy Tteokbokki (1950s)
Today's spicy tteokbokki first appeared in the 1950s. According to legend, the spicy tteokbokki was created by the Grandma Mabok-rim, Sindang-dongwas born by accident, when her grandmother, Mabokrim, told her that the Gochujangto make spicy tteokbokki, but unexpectedly, the spicy flavor became very popular. This led to the evolution of tteokbokki from soy sauce tteokbokki to gochujang-based spicy tteokbokki.
Spicy Tteokbokki The spicy flavor of gochujangand the chewy texture of the rice cake, it quickly became popular. Tteokbokki shops sprang up around Sindang-dong, and the area soon became a mecca for the dish. Tteokbokki in Sindang-dong is more than just a street food, Tteokbokki, an impromptu mealwhich evolved into a new style called
Sindang-dong Tteokbokki's Fame
Sindang-dong Tteokbokki was popularized as an impromptu stew of rice cakes, fish cakes, eggs, and various vegetables. By the 1960s and 70s, the Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Alleywas formed, and many people still visit Sindang-dong to taste tteokbokki.
The evolution and expansion of modern tteokbokki
Since the 1970s, tteokbokki has been known as Typical Korean bunsik foodas an easy-to-find snack on the street, and the popularity of tteokbokki has led to the emergence of tteokbokki with various ingredients and flavors. Especially since the 1990s, tteokbokki has become known as a Fish cakes, Eggs, Ramen and other ingredients, the Instant TteokbokkiI Soup Tteokbokki and more.
Different types of Tteokbokki
In modern times, Tteokbokki has evolved into many different versions, depending on the type of rice cake, the flavor of the sauce, and the combination of ingredients. For example, Tteokbokki can be made with Cheese, Cream Sauce and put Fusion Tteokbokkiin addition to the spicy tteokbokki, and the Jajang Tteokbokki, Cream Tteokbokki, Carbonara Tteokbokki and countless other variations.
Also, the Franchised Tteokbokki restauranthave sprung up, tteokbokki is no longer just a street food, but also a Professional dining menusfor the first time.
Tteokbokki's global popularity
In recent years, Tteokbokki has become known around the world as one of the most iconic foods of Korean cuisine. Hallyu cultureand the growing interest in K-food, tteokbokki has become one of the most popular Korean dishes among foreigners.
Foreign tourists visiting Korea often want to experience Tteokbokki, and there are a growing number of restaurants serving Korean-style Tteokbokki abroad.
Just a decade ago, Tteokbokki was not a favorite food of foreigners. Many people expressed their dislike for its sticky texture, saying that it was like chewing rubber. Despite this unfamiliar texture and spicy flavor, Tteokbokki has become the number one Korean food.
The photo above captures a vivid review posted by a Chinese tourist who visited Jeju King Tteok and had a delicious meal. It is said that when you come to Korea, you must try Tteokbokki, so we can feel the global status of Tteokbokki.
CNN has recognized Tteokbokki, South Korea's signature street food, as "the country's most iconic street food. Tteokbokki and kimbap were named among the 50 best street foods in Asia, and Tteokbokki, which means "fried rice cakes," was described as a comfort food for Koreans. It was also emphasized that Tteokbokki is mainly made with gochujang sauce, but can be varied by adding soy sauce or cheese.
Foreigners' reactions to Tteokbokki and food vlogging content
Recently, the perception of Tteokbokki has been changing among foreigners. On video platform TikTok, foreigners are uploading a variety of Tteokbokki videos, showing how they enjoy the dish in different ways, especially new recipes such as adding lots of cheese and dipping hot dogs in the broth. While foreigners used to think of Tteokbokki as a "strange and spicy food," younger generations are challenging the spiciness and finding it "strange but attractive.
Franchising Tteokbokki and exporting processed food overseas
Tteokbokki is also gaining popularity in international markets. Dookki, an all-you-can-eat instant tteokbokki franchise, operates 170 stores in the United States, Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand, and is very popular in Vietnam and Taiwan. In addition, CJ CheilJedang's Bibigo Room Temperature Tteokbokki's sales increased 2.5 times in the second quarter compared to the first quarter, and the number of exporting countries increased from 29 to 41, indicating that tteokbokki is gaining global recognition. It is analyzed that the exposure of Korean content has influenced this popularity.
The meaning of Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki has been constantly changing from its origins to the modern day, but it has remained the same Korean traditionsand Modern flairtogether. Tteokbokki, which began as a courtly dish, has become a popular meal and is enjoyed by all generations of Koreans. Tteokbokki is also known as the Korean history and cultureand has become an integral part of Korean life.
King Tteok with octopus and short ribs
Finalize
CNN describes Tteokbokki as "comfort food," and there are many different recipes with all sorts of variations. I started with my childhood favorite, Sindang-dong Tteokbokki bamboo shoots, and then added octopus and king ribeye to make King Tteok, an out-of-this-world gourmet dish. Tteokbokki is soul food for Koreans, and for me, it is life and destiny.
