How kimchi became so popular
Kimchi is everywhere. Of course, the Korean dish has existed for centuries, but all of a sudden kimchi seemed to become known all over the world. Across Europe and America, you come across this pickled cabbage dish, and these three events contributed to that.
Michelle Obama
Well, when the (former) First Lady tweets a photo of her fridge filled with homemade kimchi, you naturally start Googling what exactly it is. When Michelle Obama tweeted the photo in 2013, people went crazy. The photo went viral, Korea was proud and, all of a sudden, a great many people had heard of the then still unknown dish.
Healthy superfood-foods
These days, a dish or product can only become truly big when someone has declared it a healthy superfood. Just look at the chia seeds, avocados and goji berries of the world: fit before fame.
Koreans have known for centuries that kimchi is good for your health; it is said to help give you clearer skin and keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. But most importantly: it tastes good, and delicious food makes us all happy, right?
Say cheese!
A picture says more than a thousand words. Nothing is better branding than mentioning the dish when taking a photo. “Say cheese” is known worldwide. Except in Korea. There, people say “Say kimchi” when you have to smile for the camera. With the dish’s rapid rise to fame in the Netherlands, it could well be that in a few years we will also be saying “Say kimchi.”
Also read:
- Recipe: steamed buns with pork belly and kimchi
- Buldak: your new favorite snack
- How to stock your Korean pantry
