Have you all tried naengmyeon (냉면) before? The name literally means "cold noodles" and is Korean cold noodle soup that many foreigners might be unfamiliar with or dislike. When you think of winter food, you probably think of something warm, but believe it or not, naengmyeon is a winter food in Korea!

Today, let's find out why.

What Is Naengmyeon And Why Is It Eaten In The Winter?

Source: Naver

For those of you who have never eaten naengmyeon before, you may not know what it is. They are cold noodles made of buckwheat or other starches that are usually topped with thinly sliced pear, cucumber, a boiled egg, and white radish kimchi in the winter. The noodles come in cold soup.

Additional vinegar, sugar, or spicy mustard can be added depending on individual preference. It's called naengmyeon, meaning cold noodles, because regardless of if there's ice in the broth, the soup is always cold.

Source: Naver

It's a little sour and foreigners may not be familiar with this flavor. They're also probably not used to eating noodles cold, especially since there's even ice in the soup, so it's probably not everyone's favorite.

But, what's surprising is that in Korea, naengmyeon is actually considered a winter food!

Source: Naver

Now, naengmyeon can be eaten all year round and it's popular in the summer for Koreans. However, according to the Donggukseshigi (동국세시기/A Record of the Seasonal Customs of the Eastern Kingdom) in 1849, naengmyeon is described as a food that can be eaten in November. This is because of the ingredients.

The key ingredient to make the noodles is buckwheat, which makes the noodles chewy. Although it is unclear when buckwheat began to be cultivated in Korea, it was one of the few crops that could be harvested during the winter in Korea back then. 

Because buckwheat was a low-maintenance crop that was able to be harvested well in all seasons, it was an important food source for the people in that time. In fact, people back then didn't eat naengmyeon for the taste, but to survive because there was a shortage of food and not many food options in the winter.

Source: Naver

Since the naengmyeon noodles contain buckwheat, they're very flexible and soft, but the disadvantage is they're not very sturdy. If eaten in hot broth, the noodles would instantly dissolve. In order for the noodles to hold their shape, they must be served with cold broth or with ice. Back then, Koreans didn't have refrigerators like they do today. Therefore, the only time ice could be found would be during the winter.

Now, with advances in technology and agriculture, naengmyeon is available all year round. It's not rule for Koreans that naengmyeon should only be eaten in the winter, and it's now become a classic summer dish for many people.

Once you know the origins of naengmyeon, you can see how it became a winter food. We recommend you try it at least once and let us know if you like it or not!