Hot Hot Heat

In Korea, they can use the lunar calendar to predict the three hottest days of summer. Really, they can... ;)

Chobok, Joongbok, and Malbok are the first, middle and last hot days in the summer, respectively. These days fall during the month-long "boknal," the hottest period of the year (and roughly translates to "the dog days of summer"). Boknal comes right after the two-week to one month long rainy period, jangma (and rain it did).

This year's Chobok fell on July 14, just two days ago. On this day it is customary to eat one of two dishes: samgyetang or chueotang, both hot soups. Samgyetang, one of my favorite Korean dishes, is chicken soup made with ginseng and jujube, with the small whole chicken stuffed with rice and other flavors. Chueotang is ground mudfish soup (yes, this sounds terrible but the flavor is actually spectacular!).

Koreans believe that during hot weather, our bodies are weakened so these soups will give our bodies strength. It is also believed that when we sweat our body temperature decreases, which causes damage to the liver and stomach. So, by eating hot soup it prevents the internal damage and replenishes our appetites. Or, as the common saying goes here, "It's good for your health!"

And yes, it is HOT here in the ROK.