[K-Food] "Yi-yeol-chi-yeol" – Beat the July Heat with Hot Ginseng Chicken Soup! 🍗🔥

Hello to all our future guests dreaming of a Korean homestay!

July in Korea is incredibly hot and humid. While you might want to stay under the AC all day, Koreans have a very special (and 'hot') secret to beating the heat. It’s called "Yi-yeol-chi-yeol" (Fighting heat with heat)! As July rolls around, your Korean friends might start asking: "It’s Bok-nal this week, shall we go grab some Sam-gye-tang?" Why on earth would they eat boiling hot soup on a scorching day? Let me introduce you to this mysterious yet healthy Korean summer tradition!

1. "Bok-nal" – The Hottest Days Call for the Hottest Food! ☀️🍲

In Korea, the three hottest days of summer are collectively called 'Bok-nal.' They are divided into Chobok, Jungbok, and Malbok, making July the 'hottest' month filled with these special days.

On these days, Koreans wait in long lines in front of restaurants to eat hot "stamina food" while sweating it out. The most iconic dish is Sam-gye-tang (Ginseng Chicken Soup)—a nutritious soup made by simmering a whole young chicken stuffed with ginseng, jujubes, garlic, and sticky rice.

2. "Yi-yeol-chi-yeol" – Warm Your Body, Sweat Out the Heat! 🔥💧

Why eat hot food on a hot day? It’s all about the traditional Korean wisdom of 'Yi-yeol-chi-yeol.' In summer, even though it’s hot outside, our inner bodies tend to get cold because we consume so many cold drinks and foods.

Eating warm Sam-gye-tang helps heat up your core and induces sweating, which actually helps release trapped body heat. After finishing a hot bowl and breaking a sweat, you’ll surprisingly feel lighter and refreshed, as if the heat has been washed away!

3. A "Summer-only Sam-gye-tang Party" with Host Friends 🏠🍗

On Bok-nal, head to a famous local restaurant with your host friends or host a Sam-gye-tang party at home! Young Koreans also make sure to eat stamina foods on Bok-nal to stay healthy. Try suggesting this to your host first:

"It's Bok-nal today! Shall we go for some 'Yi-yeol-chi-yeol' with Sam-gye-tang?" Blowing on the hot soup and sweating together will quickly break the ice, making you feel like true besties. Recharge your energy and experience the warm heart of Korea with a bowl of Sam-gye-tang! 😉

✅ Tip for Success

After finishing your meal, wipe your sweat and say this to your host: "Wow, this is so ‘Siwon-hada’ (refreshing)! I really did 'Yi-yeol-chi-yeol' today!" Hearing you say "Siwon-hada" (which usually means cold/refreshing) while eating something hot will make your host give you a big thumbs up and say, "You’re basically Korean now!"