Global Superfood, Korean Garlic

Garlic, which is used as a classic spice and flavoring, is loved by consumers all around the world. It has been already recognized for its potent functions as it was selected as one of the top ten healthiest foods in the world by <Time>, a renowned American news magazine. Now, high-quality Korean garlic is stimulating the appetites of global consumers.

Koreans’ love for garlic is proved by statistics. According to the Korean Rural Economic Institute(KREI), the average consumption of garlic per Korean was estimated as 7.4kg in 2019, which is a staggering amount considering the fact that Americans and Italians consume about 1kg on average per person a year. Koreans consume the vegetable seven times more than consumers in these nations.

Such a huge consumption of garlic in Korea is attributed to Korean foods. Garlic is added to make various kinds of Korean stew or soup and is never excluded when Koreans eat various cuts of meat including pork belly. It is also used as an essential ingredient to make kimchi, adding a deeper flavor to this representative Korean food.

What’s more, garlic is featured in the birth myth of Korea. According to the myth, a bear is reincarnated as a human being after eating only garlic and mugwort and gives birth to a baby boy, and the boy founds the country.

Garlic has always been part of Korean cuisine and culture. So, there are various processed foods made with garlic. To take in good nutrients without the reluctance to eat it raw, various garlic products have been introduced so far. There are garlic extract, garlic slices, and garlic powder, to name a few.

Korean garlic is now shining in the global market. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation(aT), USD 4.4 million worth of Korean peeled garlic was exported to the United States as of late May this year. This is an exponential increase compared to the export equivalent to USD 8,000 made during the same period last year. It is also exported to other countries in addition to the USA. It sells well in Taiwan. Although USD 1,600 worth of Korean garlic was exported to Taiwan last year, the export increased to USD 550,000 as of late May this year.

Korean garlic owes its prosperity in the overseas markets through quality control and high marketability. Korean peeled garlic is exported after passing through the thorough process of cleaning and being packed individually. Despite all this arduous procedure, the garlic can be easily spoiled when the temperature is not controlled properly during the distribution. Korean peeled garlic to be exported needs to be dried and pass through a low-temperature process, and then sorted out again. Then, it can be finally exported while being stored in containers equipped with cold storage systems. Only when it passes through all these, the garlic can remain fresh and highly marketable even in local markets in foreign countries.

Brian Kang, CEO of Chang Shin Agricultural CO., LTD. which exports peeled garlic to the USA, said, “We cannot even meet the demand because we are inundated with so many requests from foreign buyers. And, I am actually feeling the growing recognition of Korean garlic in the global market.”

In addition to the efforts made by Korean exporters of garlic to maintain the high marketability, the Korean government is also pitching in. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs(MAFRA) and aT established a garlic export association to expand the export of Korean garlic, and support member companies with distribution costs. They are planning to hold various promotional events in some potential countries in addition to the United States, to export Korean garlic more. They are also planning to support various promotional activities and create videos featuring recipes for foods using Korean garlic in cooperation with famous local chefs and influencers to improve further the awareness of the benefits of Korean garlic.

An official from aT said, “Korean garlic exporting companies have improved their packaging systems and transportation methods of their own. So, the shelf life and the quality of Korean garlic have increased as a whole. Korean garlic is receiving a favorable response from local markets. We expect that the export of Korean garlic will grow further in the global market.”