Get to know Soybean sprouts

Bean sprouts are the best hangover cure.

1. Definition

Food that grows soybean sprouts and roots by constantly supplying only moisture in the shade without sunlight

2. Origin

It is estimated that bean sprouts, which have a long history, have existed since before the Bronze Age.

The reason why it has such a long history is that bean sprouts contain very rich nutrients. Currently, bean sprouts are grown not only in Korea but also in Japan, China, and Vietnam, and are enjoyed in a variety of dishes. In Korea, bean sprouts are grown using soybeans, but in China, Japan, and Vietnam, bean sprouts are grown without eating bean sprouts, and bean sprouts using mung beans are grown and used as food ingredients in daily life.

3. The etymology of bean sprouts

1) Korea

It is derived from bean sprouts, a by-product of soybeans.

Kongbireum is one of the Korean dialects that refers to the time when beans grow in spring, and it means that beans go up after being stored. It is derived from soybean sprouts, a by-product produced when soybean products such as soybeans and soybean paste are made.

As bean sprouts are extracted, bean sprouts are formed, so it is called bean sprouts. It is estimated that the first cultivation in Korea was at the end of the Three Kingdoms period or the beginning of the Goryeo period, and it is the first in the world on record. It is said that in 935, when King Taejo Wang Geon founded Goryeo, Taekwang Taesa Bae Hyeon-gyeong ordered the soldiers who were suffering from starvation to soak beans in stream water and soak them to eat bean sprouts. So, since then, it has been widely used as a yellow crop. In the Joseon Dynasty, bean sprouts were called Taechae. The room of poetry, a cookbook of the Joseon Dynasty, records recipes for stir-frying bean sprouts. There is a documented record that it was cultivated in 1392 during the Joseon Dynasty. It was also called sancho namul. However, at the time, it was not edible, but was often used as medicine, and was also supplied as military food. Over time, in the late Joseon Dynasty, bean sprouts could be purchased at a relatively low price, so the poor could consume them in large quantities.

2) China

In China, bean sprouts are called 豆芽 (duae) or 芽菜 (vegetables). 豆芽 (duae) refers to sprouts sprouted from beans, and 芽菜 (vegetables) refers to vegetables that sprout and grow.

In China, bean sprouts have been cultivated since around 2000 BC, and at that time, it was common to use them as medicines. Since then, bean sprouts (host sprouts) have become one of the most important ingredients in Chinese cuisine. Bean sprouts (host sprouts) are also used in 'Mapo Tofu', one of China's representative dishes. In addition, in China, mung beans (beans for host greens) are boiled in summer to make soup or drink, which is said to help overcome the heat by relieving the heat of the body.

3) Japan

In Japan, bean sprouts are called Moyashi or 納豆菜 (natsuchai). もやし (moyashi) refers to sprouts from soybeans and is often used in dishes such as bean sprouts (host sprouts) salads in Japanese cuisine.

納豆菜 (natsuchai) means eating bean sprouts together with natto, a representative Japanese food called natsu.

4) Vietnam

In Vietnam, bean sprouts are called Giá (Ja; Korean pronunciation). Giá (jja; Korean pronunciation) means sprouts sprouted from beans and is often used in salads and stir-fried scallions in Vietnamese cuisine. In addition to bean sprouts, various vegetables are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Among them, bean sprouts are popular because they are inexpensive, tasty and nutritious. In Vietnam, a dish with bean sprouts is called Gỏi giá, which is one of the traditional Vietnamese dishes.

4. Nutrients

1) Relieve hangover

A hangover is a condition in which toxins formed when alcohol is metabolized in the liver remain in the body. Bean sprouts are known to be one of the best foods for relieving hangovers. The effect is related to the amino acids and minerals contained in bean sprouts. In particular, bean sprouts are rich in an amino acid called asparagine, which promotes liver function and helps break down alcohol. And, it contains minerals such as vitamin B1, calcium, iron, and manganese, which are good for the liver.

2) Treasure in bean sprouts

It has a higher content of protein, fat, and B vitamins than other vegetables.

(1) Vitamin C

It also contains 8mg of vitamin C per 100g, which is 9% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C for an adult male. However, if you boil bean sprouts, it will decrease to 3 mg.

(2) Fiber

Fiber, which is easy to lack in modern people, is much more than beans. Isoflavones, which have been proven to prevent cancer and osteoporosis, also remain in significant amounts. It also contains trace amounts of other calcium.

(3) Protein

Bean sprouts contain 5g of vegetable protein per 100g, which is 9% of the recommended daily protein intake for an adult male.

5. The difference between bean sprouts and bean sprouts

1) Soybeans for bean sprouts (beans)

It is a kind of Dolkong (Glycine soja) family and is called white bean, Mejukong(soybean), and soybean sprout in Korea.

The appearance is white and hard. It is the most common soybean with the most uses and the largest cultivation worldwide.

2) Green beans for bean sprouts

It is a type of soybean and is native to India. There is a history that it came to Korea via China and started cultivating it from the Bronze Age. Its shape resembles red beans and contains a lot of starch, so it can be ground into powder to make vermicelli. It is also ground into powder and used to make mung bean Bindaetteok, mung bean porridge, sediment, and rice cake dumplings. Since mung bean powder is known to be effective in skin cleansing and whitening, it is sometimes used as a mung bean pack on the face, and mung bean powder is used for foam cleansing. 3) Types of bean sprouts

(1) Small bean sprouts

It is a bean sprout made by germinating small beans. It is lighter in color than mung bean bean sprouts and has dense small threads. Because of its soft texture, it is often used in seasonings or vegetable dishes.

(2) Bean sprouts and bean sprouts

Bean sprouts made by drying by-products extracted from bean sprouts and are characterized by their chewy texture and sweet taste. It is often used in bean sprouts and miso soup.

(3) Mung bean sprouts

It is a bean sprout made by germinating mung beans and has the color of carrots. Because of the color of mung bean, it is also called mung bean sprouts, and it is often used in kimchi or namul dishes because of its large and dense threads.

(4) Black bean sprouts

It is a bean sprout made by germinating black soybeans and is characterized by a chewy texture and rich nutrients. It has a chewier texture than bean sprouts and has a unique flavor and taste, so it is often used for stir-frying with sesame oil or miso soup.

6. Grow delicious bean sprouts at home

Bean sprouts are one of the easiest vegetables to grow at home. Below are three easy ways to grow bean sprouts at home.

1) How to plant in a pot

(1) Prepare a pot with a size of 30 cm in height and 20 cm in width and make a hole in the bottom to ensure good drainage.

(2) Prepare a space of 5 to 10 cm from the bottom inside the pot. Because, when water is supplied, it is to ensure that it drains well underneath. And lay about 100 beans on the floor.

(3) Check the development of beans every day. If watered too often, the beans tend to rot instead of sprouting.

(4) When germination of sprouts is confirmed, water is supplied twice a day. The amount of water is the size of a naengmyeon bowl and is supplied once or twice.

(5) Sufficient moisture must be supplied to sprout and grow, so put it in a shaded and non-dry state to allow bean sprouts to grow.

2) How to grow on paper towels

(1) Prepare a paper towel and sprinkle a certain amount of bean sprout seeds.

(2) Sprinkle the proper amount of water so that the seeds grow sufficiently.

(3) Store wet paper towels in the refrigerator, and when the bean sprouts sprout, shake them in water and wash thoroughly before eating.

3) How to grow in a garden

(1) Dig up the soil in the garden and add an appropriate amount of fertilizer.

(2) Drill holes at appropriate intervals and plant bean sprout seeds.

(3) Give a sufficient amount of water and place it in a sunny place so that the bean sprouts grow naturally.