All Kinds of Rocks, Fossils

Gems Min

Who Moved My Kimchi Smell?

Kimchi is not only one of the most important Korean side dishes which is also used in Korean stews and main entrees, but many, many of us love it's one of a kind smell!  I love my Kimchi and fried rice, and yes, the smell of frying kimchi is half the treat.  I can't imagine preparing and then starring at a dish of kimchi fried rice that imparts NO SMELL of kimchi.  What sort of  culinary nightmare is this?

Now, 56 year old Kim Soon-ja (named First Kimchi Master by the South Korean Food Ministry in 2007) has created a Kimchi that has no smell.  She has run her own factory since 1986 and now holds a patent on the odorless kimchi.  Her creation  is a new type of freeze-dried pickled cabbage that doesn't smell even after water is added.  [1]

The Seoul-based Corea Image Communication Institute, surveyed that Korean food's unique smell is the biggest obstacle to culinary globalization.  Granted, the fermentation of cabbage, garlic, red pepper flakes, anchovy, fish sauce, and ginger greatly improves your chance of having kimchi breath but that’s what brushing and breath mints are for!

Also consider that if such odorless kimchi brings itself and Korean cuisine, in general, closer to the desired culinary globalization, what are we to do with the 3,000 year old recipes and approaches to kimchi when asked about it?  What do we say to those requesting REAL kimchi at restaurants?  Shall we maybe provide separate seating as we did with smokers?  I'm being a bit extreme of course, but I guess we can provide a pseudo kimchi for those not willing to risk being around the smell of a healthy fermenting food.  For the vendor, it might even be an extra source of revenue and probably sell for more than the real stuff.  One of the few requirements for ridiculous pricing is the novelty factor and a odorless kimchi will certainly have that. People are funny that way don't you know.

With the smell removed, what does the odorless kimchi taste like?  Well, I personally haven't had the opportunity to try it but am extremely doubtful and pessimistic that I would enjoy it as I do naturally fermented and freshly served kimchi with all it's glorious smell. However, I will remain open minded enough to say I've yet to try it and until I do so, will have to hold my tongue just a little and, without effort, nose on the matter - remember it's odorless.

The creator of the odorless 'just add water' brand of kimchi speaks better of it saying, "When it soaks in water either hot or cold for a few minutes, it will become just like ordinary kimchi," says Kim, the owner of Han Sung Food in suburban Seoul.

It sounded like and reminded me of the sterilized and irradiated kimchi that was developed for space travel when Astronaut Ko San went into orbit April '08.

I'm sure the odorless brainchild's creator has nothing but great things to say about the Kimchi but I want the pungent smell as its part of the experience for many of us. For kimchi mongers like myself, this odorless variety would be like smoked B-B-Q without a trace of smokey beef in the air or a pastry kitchen with no sweet effect on the nose.

A food science professor at Kyung Hee University said "Some people who like freshness could dislike" dried kimchi”.  

I would also be concerned about missing any of the true health benefits of traditional kimchi versus it’s odorless counterpart. I enjoy the smell of my kimchi as its served and I indulge myself.  Not withstanding the lack of it's natural smell, I can't help but wonder if the health benefits of odorless kimchi remain intact to include the anti-toxins, anti-allergens, and anti-biotics.

From Wikipedia: (Regarding REAL Kimchi)

"The magazine Health named kimchi in its list of top five "World's Healthiest Foods" for being rich in vitamins, aiding digestion, and even possibly reducing cancer growth.

A study by Seoul National University claimed that chickens infected with the H5N1 virus, also called avian flu, recovered after eating food containing the same bacteria found in kimchi. However, the veracity of these results has been questioned due to the very small sample size of only a handful of chickens and the fact that no subsequent research supported the claims. During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia, many people even believed that kimchi could protect against infection, although there was no scientific evidence to support this belief.

However, in May 2009, the Korea Food Research Institute, Korea’s state food research organization, said they had conducted a larger study on 200 chickens, which supported the efficacy of kimchi in fighting off avian flu." [2]

Among factual health benefits of Kimchi are improved intestinal maintenance, omega-6 fatty acids,  fights unhealthy cholesterol levels, high levels of garlic contributing high levels of Allicin - a natural source of Selenium and artery cleaner, and high chili pepper content with it's vitamin C content.  [3]

I suppose, my future dinning experiences may require a call ahead to specify and insure I'm served the traditional stinky kimchi following my preference between the city's finest tap or mineral water. So if a serving of this odorless kimchi makes it to my table, it will for my tastes be only half the experience.  

That would undoubtedly be a table and restaurant I would have to avoid.  I mean Kimchi has been traditionally served fresh or slightly aged with all it's natural flavors and fermented smell just as it was made as early as 2600–3000 years ago.  It's hard to part with such an old habit you know.

I must admit that opening a jar of kimchi will release a strong and lingering smell that most would find very noticeable and maybe offensive.  If traveling and unable to to go where it is served as a standard, having to eat from a hotel room or another's home, I'd be more than happy to venture into the customary grub of the region.  I mean, when in Rome, you don't bust out your tupperware full of kimchi.  And even then, I know in many parts of the world, I can acquire enough kimchi locally to satisfy my needs.  This isn't like requesting $750 a pound white truffles while on expedition in the Amazon. 

I've contacted Kim Soon-ja for a sample of her Kimchi as I would like to review her product at my site www.Love That Kimchi.com.  Just as I sampled Granny Choe's traditional Kimchi (complete with the wonderful smell of fermenting cabbage and age-old ingredients) and now recommend it at my site, I would offer a completely fair and unbiased review of the odorless kimchi for both the traditionalist and those who've stayed away from this gem because of the smell.  Despite having my strong preference, I can offer a fair review on merits of taste alone. This despite a strong connection between sense of smell and taste - at least mine. It might be like judging a sizzlin' steak, before the eyes,  with no beefy smell but it would be the taste, after all, that is being judged.  I've had to do worse.

Until then, with all due respect, and I mean that, I believe 'odorless kimchi' will be tolerated among true lovers of Korean cuisine as much as zirconia diamonds are among precious stone collectors.

In the meantime, I'm grateful to keep and wherever acceptable revert to my smelly kimchi.  

I enjoy every whif of the fermenting perfectly balanced flavors of cabbage and ingredients that make this strong smelling food one of the five healthiest foods in the world according to Health Magazine.  But then again, what do those shmuks know about this stuff right?

Finally, for those not willing to settle, remember, if it looks like kimchi, SMELLS like kimchi, is served like kimchi, then its probably REAL kimchi.

In the meantime, don't make me ask who moved my kimchi smell.  

Randy Stewart is owner and webmaster of www.Love That Kimchi.com

(1). Park, Ju-Min.  ‘South Korean creates kimchi that won’t smell’, Los Angeles Times

(2). Wikipedia

(3). Armstrong, Eric. What Makes Kimchi So Healthy

About the Author

Owner/Webmaster of two culinary sites:

www.LoveThatKimchi.com

and

www.BringMeMySushi.com

Vedic Astrology Iii

Vedic Astrology Lesson 3

The real path of the earth around the Sun is called the Ecliptic.

9 degrees to either side of the Ecliptic is a belt of the Heavens known as
the Zodiac. ( Dante called it the Oblique Line that beareth all planets).

First 30 degrees of the Zodiac constitute the sign of Aries. The next 30
degrees Taurus and so on. The Zodiac counted from the first degree of
Aries to the 360th degree of Pisces is called the Tropical Zodiac.

The Limbs of the Tropical Zodiac

Sign Degrees

Aries 00 - 30
Taurus 30 - 60
Gemini 60 - 90
Cancer 90 - 120
Leo 120 -150
Virgo 150 -180
Libra 180 -210
Scorpio 210 -240
Sagittarius 240 -270
Capricorn 270- 300
Aquarius 300 -330
Pisces 330 -360

These 12 signs are the limbs of the Cosmic Man or Time Eternal
( Kalapurusha- The Almighty Self as Time )

Aries is His head, Taurus His face, Gemini His neck, Cancer His heart,
Leo the place beneath, Virgo His belly, Libra His generative organs, Scorpio
the place beneath, Sagittarius His upper thigh, Capricorn his lower thigh,
Aquarius His leg and Pisces His feet !

The Zodiac is tenanted by 27 constellations each of them spread over an arc
of 13 degrees 20 minutes. The Zodiac counted from the first degree of Beta
Arietis ( Aswini) to the 360th degree of Zeta Piscium ( Revathi) is known
as the Sidereal Zodiac.

Western Astrology is based on the Tropical Zodiac and the Vedic on the
Sidereal.

The Limbs of the Sidereal Zodiac

Name of Constellation Deg Min Deg Min

1. Beta Arietis ( Aswini ) 00 00 13 20
2. 41 Arietis ( Bharani ) 13 20 26 40
3. Eta Tauri ( Karthika ) 26 40 40 00
4. Alpha Tauri ( Rohini ) 40 00 53 20
5. Lamda Orionis ( Mrigasira ) 53 20 66 40
6. Alpha Orionis ( Aridra ) 66 40 80 00
7. Beta Geminorum ( Punarvasu ) 80 00 93 20
8. Delta Cancri ( Pushya ) 93 20 106 40
9. Alpha Cancri ( Aslesha ) 106 40 120 00
10. Alpha Leonis ( Magha ) 120 00 133 20
11. Delta Leonis ( Pubba ) 133 20 146 40
12. Beta Leonis ( Uttara ) 146 40 160 00
13. Delta Corvi ( Hasta ) 160 00 173 20
14. Alpha Virginis ( Chitra ) 173 20 186 40
15. Alpha Bootis ( Chothi ) 186 40 200 00
16. Beta Librae ( Vishakam) 200 00 213 20
17. Delta Scorpi ( Anuradha) 213 20 226 40
18. Alpha Scorpi ( Jyeshta ) 226 40 240 00
19. Lamda Scorpi ( Moola ) 240 00 253 20
20. Delta Sagittari ( Poorvashad ) 253 20 266 40
21. Delta Sagittari ( Uthrashad ) 266 40 280 00
22. Alpha Aquilae ( Sravana ) 280 00 293 20
23. Alpha Delphini ( Dhanishta ) 293 20 306 40
24. Lamda Aquari ( Satabhisha) 306 40 320 00
25. Alpha Pegasi ( Poorvabhadra) 320 00 333 20
26. Alpha Andromeda ( Uttrarabhadra) 333 20 346 40
27. Zeta Piscium ( Revathi ) 346 40 360 00

The Portfolios of Planets

In the celestial Government of the Almighty, the Sun is the King and Moon
is the Queen! Mars, the Defense Minister, Mercury, the Prince, Venus &
Jupiter the Ministers and Saturn is the messenger!

The Sun represents the Soul of the Cosmic Man
The Moon Mind
Mars Physical Strength
Mercury Speech
Jupiter Happiness Learning & Wisdom
Venus The Libido
Saturn Sorrow

English Literature & Astrology

Homer referred to the mighty Orion. Cicero assigned divinity to the stars.
The great philosopher Origen believed that the stars and the
constellations were signs through which the Omnipotent Divine exerted His
malevolent or benevolent Will. Dante was an astrologer like Newton, Bacon,
Nostradamus, Companus, Paracelsus and others. To Dante, Astrology was
the noblest of all sciences. Dante drew a parallel between the seven liberal
arts and the seven planets in his Convivio. He gave grammar to the Moon
& Dialectic to Mercury. Shakespeare referred to the "operations of the orbs
by whom we doth exist and cease to be ". Christopher Marlowe referred to
the place where " Mars did mate the Carthiginians"!

Count Louis Hamon ( Cheiro ) declared that the message boldly
blazoned across the heavens ( the positions of the planets )
represented the Universal Will & that the precession of the Equinoxes
( 25,920 years - 360 degrees ) was so beautifully calculated by the
Great Geometrician of the Universe & that all biological processes
obey the divine order of the celestial bodies and this is expressed in
the prayer we were taught long ago " Thy Will be done, as in Heaven,
so on earth".!

More quality information about Vedic Astrology & an Astrological
Analysis can be had from http://www.astrologiavedica.com/html/vedichoroscope.htm

When Pythagorus discoverd the Correspondence between the Nine revolving
heavens and the nine numbers, Astro-Numerology was born.

More quality information about Astro-Numerology and a free Astro-
Numerological Report can be had from http://www.astrologiavedica.com/html/numerology.htm

Also Free Astro-Numerology Ebook from zodiac20@vsnl.com mailto:zodiac20@vsnl.com

When the Indian Seers discovered the Correspondence between the Nine gems
and the Nine planets, Astro_Gemology was born.

More information about Planetary Gemology & a FREE Gem Prescription
Report can be had from http://www.astrologiavedica.com/html/planetarygemology.htm

Astrology as related to Yoga.

Correspondences - In Dante's Cosmology

The Seven cardinal virtues were represented by the seven planets in
Dante's Divina Commedia.

Jupiter Justitia Justice
Saturn Temperantia Temperance
Mars Fortitudo Fortitude
Sun Prudentia Prudence
Venus Gnosis Knowledge
Mercury Sophia Wisdom
Moon Understanding

More information about Transcendental Philosophy & Yoga can be
had from http://www.eastrovedica.com/html/yoga.htm

Correspondences - In Integral Yoga and the Supramental Dialectic

Life Sun
Mind Moon
Matter Mars
Supermind Venus
Being Jupiter
Knowledge Saturn
Bliss Mercury

Article by G Kumar, Astrologer, writer & programmer of www.eastrovedica.com. Recently he was awarded a Certificate by the Planetary Gemologists Association Global ( www.p-g-a.org ) as a Planetary Gem Advisor. He has 25 years psychic research experience in the esoteric arts. To subscribe to his free informative Ezine, the Z Files mailto:info@eastrovedica.com?subject=SubscribeZF. His Astro blog is up at http://www.zodiacastrology.blogspot.com & his Philosophy blog is http://transcendentalphilosophy.blogspot.com Mobile 091 9388556053

About the Author

G Kumar, Astrologer, writer & programmer of www.eastrovedica.com. Recently he was awarded a Certificate by the Planetary Gemologists Association Global ( www.p-g-a.org ) as a Planetary Gem Advisor. He has 25 years psychic research experience in the esoteric arts. To subscribe to his free informative Ezine, the Z Files mailto:info@eastrovedica.com?subject=SubscribeZF. His Astro blog is up at http://www.zodiacastrology.blogspot.com & his Philosophy blog is http://transcendentalphilosophy.blogspot.com Mobile 091 9388556053