Ganghwa Specialty Products Guide: Turnip, Ginseng, Sweet Potato, Salted Shrimp, and Island Rice

The specialty products of Ganghwa-do (강화도) boast unique flavors and aromas thanks to the island's unique geographical conditions and long history of cultivation. Understanding the characteristics of items such as turnips, ginseng, sweet potatoes, salted shrimp, and island rice will enrich your shopping and tasting experiences during your trip.

Representative Agricultural Products of Ganghwa and Their History

Ganghwa Turnip (Ganghwa Sunmu, 강화순무) is round like a radish, grayish-white or reddish-white in color, and is widely used as a kimchi ingredient. In particular, Ganghwa Turnip Kimchi (Sunmu-kimchi, 순무김치) gains a deep flavor by adding saury salted seafood (Baendae-ji-jeot, 밴댕이젓) and salted shrimp (Saeu-jeot, 새우젓). Ganghwa Ginseng (Ganghwa Insam, 강화인삼) has a tradition dating back to 1232; it became a representative specialty of Ganghwa-gun (강화군) after refugees from Kaesong began full-scale cultivation in 1953. It is sold as fresh ginseng (Susam, 수삼) or processed into red ginseng (Hongsam, 홍삼) or white ginseng (Baeksam, 백삼).

Unique Sweet Potatoes and Rice

Ganghwa Soknorang Sweet Potato (Ganghwa Soknorang Goguma, 강화속노랑고구마) is characterized by its deep yellow flesh and high sugar content. The name was officially formalized as a brand in 1998 and completed trademark registration in 2001. Ganghwa Island Rice (Ganghwa Seomsal, 강화섬쌀) is produced against the backdrop of Ganghwa's natural environment, including reclaimed land soil, sea breezes, and large daily temperature fluctuations. As one of the representative specialties introduced by Ganghwa-gun, it is a great food item to purchase during your travels, alongside the Soknorang sweet potato.

Salted Shrimp and Fermented Seafood Culture

Ganghwa Salted Shrimp (Ganghwa Saeu-jeot, 강화새우젓) uses shrimp with thin shells as its main ingredient. There is an active culture of purchasing it during the kimchi-making season, and a wide variety can be found at the Oepo-hang Salted Seafood Market (Oepo-hang Jeotgal Susan Sijang, 외포항 젓갈수산시장). Salted shrimp is generally classified into types such as O-jeot (오젓), Yuk-jeot (육젓), and Chu-jeot (추젓). Every autumn, the Ganghwa-do Salted Shrimp Festival (Ganghwa-do Saeu-jeot Chukje, 강화도 새우젓축제) is held at Oepo-hang. Since the festival is an autumn event, it is recommended to check the official announcement for the current year before visiting.

Traditional Crafts and Souvenirs

Ganghwa Hwamunseok (Ganghwa Hwamunseok, 강화화문석) is a traditional craft made by weaving patterns into sedge (Wanggol, 왕골), a tradition that has continued since the Goryeo Dynasty. Kkot-samhap (꽃삼합) is a craft set consisting of three containers of different sizes, and Hwabangseok (화방석) is a cushion woven from sedge. You can experience exhibitions and production demonstrations at the Ganghwa Hwamunseok Culture Center (Ganghwa Hwamunseok Munhwa-gwan, 강화화문석문화관). Ganghwa Sochang (Ganghwa Sochang, 강화소창) is a plain-weave fabric used to make daily necessities such as handkerchiefs and dishcloths. At the Ganghwa Sochang Experience Center (Ganghwa Sochang Cheheom-gwan, 강화소창체험관), you can watch weaving demonstrations and participate in a stamp experience.

Where to Buy and Precautions

You can purchase specialty products at Ganghwa Pungmul Market (Ganghwa Pungmul Sijang, 강화풍물시장), the Ginseng Center (Insam Center, 인삼센터), and the Oepo-hang Salted Seafood Market (Oepo-hang Jeotgal Susan Sijang, 외포항 젓갈수산시장). Ganghwa Pungmul Market was newly built in 2007 through a modernization project and features agricultural product stalls, raw fish centers, restaurants, and Hwamunseok shops. The traditional five-day market is held on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of every month. The "Goin-dol Bread" (Goin-dolppang, 고인돌빵), a Ganghwa sweet potato baked snack being prepared by the site administrator, is not yet available for sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When was the trademark for Ganghwa Soknorang Sweet Potato registered? A: The trademark registration was completed in 2001.

Q: Where is the Ganghwa-do Salted Shrimp Festival held? A: It is held at Oepo-hang (외포항).

Q: When did the full-scale cultivation of Ganghwa Ginseng begin? A: Full-scale cultivation began in 1953 by refugees from Kaesong.