Hangang River Ramen: A Must-Try K-Culture Experience in Seoul!
Hangang River Ramen: A Must-Try K-Culture Experience in Seoul!
Just imagine: You're by the wide, beautiful Hangang River, feeling the gentle breeze. You've just cooked up a piping hot bowl of ramen, steam rising from it, and you're slurping it down like a character in a movie! Thanks to the instant ramen machines you'll find in convenience stores all along the river, anyone can become a ramen chef. On weekends, thousands of ramen packs are sold, making Hangang Ramen a must-do photo op for your Seoul trip.
You might have seen it in K-dramas like "Goblin," where characters enjoy ramen by the river, leaving a lasting impression on international fans. Or maybe you saw K-pop stars like aespa's Karina having fun with Hangang Ramen on TV, sparking a huge trend among fans worldwide. Even at Korean culture expos in places like New York and Tokyo, Hangang Ramen booths have been incredibly popular. This shows how Hangang Ramen has become a cultural icon, deeply linked with K-dramas, K-pop, and Korean variety shows.
πΆ️ Warning! Hangang Ramen: Get Ready for a Spicy Kick! πΆ️
But don't worry! To make sure you don't get lost in the "spicy abyss" and can pick the perfect ramen for your taste, I'm going to share a secret weapon with you. It's called the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU), and it measures how spicy a ramen is!
Your Guide to Korean Ramen Spice Levels with the Scoville Scale!
The Scoville Heat Unit was developed in 1912 by an American pharmacist named Wilbur Scoville. He and his team would dilute chili extracts with water until no spiciness could be tasted. Imagine how much their stomachs must have suffered! π
Now, to protect your taste buds, here's a list of Korean ramen with their Scoville ratings! Use this table to find your perfect spice level.
π A Scoville Scale Secret! Stir-fry ramen can feel even hotter!
You might wonder, "Why does some ramen with a lower Scoville rating feel spicier?" The Scoville scale measures the capsaicin in the chili itself, so it can be a bit different from how spicy the actual ramen tastes. Especially with stir-fry ramen (without broth), you eat the sauce more directly, which can make it feel much spicier even if its SHU is lower than a soupy ramen. That's why Buldak Bokkeummyun can feel much spicier than Yeol Ramen, even with a lower Scoville rating!
π‘ Spicy Ramen Survival Tips!
Don't worry if you're not a big fan of super spicy food! You can grab a triangle kimbap, cheese, or milk at the convenience store. Try adding cheese to your ramen to melt it in, or drink some milk – it'll really help calm down the heat! Or, if you're really cautious, you can start with a mild ramen with a Scoville rating under 1000 SHU.
Spicy Food: A Stress Reliever? But Enjoy in Moderation!
Spicy isn't like sweet, sour, bitter, or salty; it's actually perceived as pain. But when you eat something spicy, your brain releases "happy hormones" like endorphins, which can help relieve stress. That's why many people, tired from their busy lives, turn to spicy food as an affordable and easy way to comfort themselves.
Of course, too much spice isn't good for your stomach or intestines, so it's always important to choose a spice level that's right for you! Enjoying spicy food in moderation can definitely add a spark to your life.
Now, armed with your Scoville scale guide, ready to head to the Hangang River? Find your "life ramen" and make some delicious memories! Which ramen will you dare to try on your next trip to Korea? Share your experiences with #HangangRamen #ScovilleScale! π
