Goryeo Ginseng


While six or seven types of ginseng are known worldwide, the most common types are the Asian Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) grown in Korea and North-East Asia, the American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) grown in the U.S. and Canada, and the Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosis) grown in China. The Asian ginseng root, whose shape resembles the human body, is categorized as a different species from the American or Siberian types. To distinguish it from other ginseng grown in the world, all of the ginseng cultivated in Korea is referred to as Goryeo ginseng.
Goryeo ginseng is a perennial, shade loving plant, and as mentioned, the root forms “legs” and a “trunk” like a human body. A cultivated ginseng plant can take from four to six years to grow, from selecting the seeds to harvesting, and the more attention given to cultivation, the greater its medicinal effect. Korea has the optimal conditions for ginseng, whose cultivation requires the right natural environment. It is particularly sensitive to climate, to the amount of sunlight, and to soil. Considered a cure for various illnesses even in modern times, Goryeo ginseng has more effectiveness than any other type of ginseng and is effective towards prevention and treatment of most diseases. Because of this, Goryeo ginseng is more expensive than other kinds of ginseng. Sometimes ginseng produced in other countries is remade into Goryeo ginseng.
Ginseng Varieties
In Korea, ginseng can be classified according to its cultivation method called jaebaesam is field-cultivated ginseng, while sansam ginseng grows naturally in the mountains, and jangnoesam ginseng is grown by humans, but left to grow naturally in the mountains. The plant can also be classified according to the processing method called baeksam, susam, or hongsam. Susam is ginseng from the fields. While it is used for freshness in various dishes, it is not suitable for long-term storage because of its high moisture content. Baeksam, which is four-years-old sun-dried ginseng, is usually used as a medicinal herb.
Hongsam is four-to six-year-old ginseng, which has undergone a process of repeated steaming and drying, which gives it a blackish-red color. Because the moisture has been eliminated, hongsam can be stored for years and provides eight additional beneficial ingredients. It is a good choice for those who cannot tolerate susam. Compared to western medicine, which targets specific parts of the body or problems, hongsam is beneficial to one’s whole body system.
Sansam has the same medicinal properties as Insam but is much more effective than the other ginseng. Sansam is grown naturally in the mountains and is called ‘Bullocho (herb of immortality)’. Because of this, Sansam costs from millions of won to hundreds of millions of won and is very rare to find. A person who finds this rare sansam is called as ‘Simmani’ in Korea. .Simmanies normally do their excavating work in a 4 to 8 person group in the remote mountains. It has been said that only a person chosen by god can dig sansam. Also, there are some Korean superstitions about Simmani such as Simmanies must not drink alcohol and eat meat or fish prior to visiting the mountains. Simmanies prohibit killing animals or doing bad behaviors that may incur the god’s anger for a few days before they visit the mountains.
Best Medicinal Herb and its Efficacy
Believed to increase longevity if taken for a long time, ginseng not only protects the heart, liver, and the lungs, but also prevents cancer and fights infections. It helps prevent fatigue and increases energy, as well as promotes blood circulation to prevent anemia. Those who are recovering from major illness or surgery, or are overworked can benefit from the effects of ginseng.
Because ginseng can help enhance immunity and rapidly combat inflammation, it is recommended for patients with cancer, rheumatism tuberculosis, or senile anemia. Ginseng is also effective in controlling blood pressure, both high and low (However, a person with high blood pressure or a serious illness should be cautious). The list of beneficial effects goes on and on: it is effective in treating gynecological and pediatric diseases and is thought to protect the body from radiation. For many centuries it has been known as the elixir of life, and is still considered as the best of the Oriental herbal medicines.
Effective and Delicious Ways to Eat Ginseng
The best way to consume susam ginseng is to chew it raw after a meal. Normally, it is better digested if taken after a simple, non-fatty meal. For adults, a six-year-old susam ginseng root can be split in two, and eaten in two servings a day. For ginseng less than six years old (three to five years), a whole ginseng is recommended for each serving.
If you find the taste of ginseng too bitter, try it with honey. Thinly slice the ginseng, soak it in honey, take a spoonful to taste it or drink it as a tea. For easier consumption, grind it with milk or yogurt, or mix it in a salad or soup. You can also simmer hongsam or misam (tiny ginseng) on low heat for several hours. Drink this infusion in the morning and evening. Some people also use ginseng in kimchi or other dishes.
However, the most typical Korean ginseng cuisine is the tasty and healthy samgyetang. This rice-stuffed chicken dish actually doubles the efficacy of ginseng thanks to the highly nutritious glutinous rice, chestnuts, and jujubes. For those lacking energy, the bitter taste of ginseng can stimulate one’s appetite. No wonder samgyetang is one of the most popular foods in Korea.
Choosing Good Ginseng
When choosing susam, look for roots that are fairly straight, with lots of thinner roots firmly attached to the “body” or the main root. The ginseng must be free of bruises and discoloration. Choose ginseng roots with a smooth texture and a big, strong head. After finding the right shape, origin and age are most important (the age of ginseng is particularly important, and most ginsengs on sale are between four to six years of age). When buying susam, purchase it from a store that will supply a proof of origin and a certificate of age. While the price varies greatly according to size, a high price does not necessarily guarantee high quality.
When choosing hongsam (red ginseng), hold the ‘legs’ up to the light: a good hongsam will be transparent and reddish. Also, this type of ginseng should reveal sufficient redness when sliced. Make sure you get a receipt for your goods when purchasing.
Ginseng Products

Made of rigorously selected susam, which are then steamed, dried, and compressed, hongsam products can be stored for as long as ten years. Products come in many forms, including extract (after hours of simmering); easy-to-swallow capsules or pills; health products that combine the extract with vitamins; uniquely-flavored hongsam tea; hongsam preserved in fresh honey collected on Mt. Jirisan; jellied ginseng slices that can be conveniently carried around; and hongsam chocolates, candies, and drinks. Meanwhile, there are also beauty products such as soap, cleansing foam, and facial masks.
Insam chocolates, insam candies and insam tea are good choices to taste the flavor of insam but they contain only a little bit of ginseng component, which won’t have a high efficacy. If you want it to be effective or store the ginseng more conveniently, 100% of Insam concentration liquor and Insam concentration powder are recommended. It is enough to mix 1-2 spoons of Insam liquor or powder with water to try them. Buy Insamju (ginseng rice wine) for yourself or as a gift for an elderly person. Aged with a whole ginseng root inside, a bottle of insamju will not only be great to look at, but will make a very tasty drink.
→ Click here for Column on Ginseng and related Foods
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_....jsp?cid=256576 Ginseng Shopping

Susam is available in the market after the fall harvest, so the best time to purchase this is after September. The saponin level in susam begins to accumulate after the first three years, reaching its peak between its fourth and sixth year. Thus, the age of ginseng is insignificant in terms of medicinal efficacy. Most six-year-old susams that are used to make red ginseng are quite expensive. For household consumption on the other hand, it is more economical to buy the four- or five-year-old susam ginsengs rather than the older ones. A fresh susam will begin to rot about two weeks from the date of purchase, so buy only as much as you need and can consume within two weeks. When storing susam at home, keep it in a dry, cool place or in the refrigerator.
Currently, Chinese ginseng is sometimes remade into Korean ginseng, which is not easy to distinguish between Chinese ginseng and Korean (Goryeo) ginseng even for Koreans. So it is recommended to buy ginseng products made by the Korea Ginseng Corporation and Nonghyup in shops such as department stores, duty free shops and official Cheong Kwan Jang stores. Korean susam has a big and burly head and 2-3 numbers of strong root-like legs are stuck on its body. Also it has a unique flavor. But Chinese susam has a slim and long body and 1-2 numbers of thin root-like legs are stuck on it.
Korean hongsam has a liver colored body and relatively light reddish brown colored root-like legs. When its body is cut, its annual ring is clear and obvious. On the other hand, Chinese hongsam has no flavor and smells like grass roots. It has a dark brown colored body and roots. When you cut its body, there is no clear annual ring.
Not only do department stores, duty free shops as well as Cheong Kwan Jang carry susam, the most popular places to purchase susam are ginseng markets in Geumsan or Punggi, which are major ginseng production centers in Korea. To get there, you can take a bus for Geumsan or Yeongju at the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or Gangnam Express Bus Terminal.
The Gyeongdong Market in Seoul is also a great place to shop for ginseng. Ginseng from across the nation is brought here to the many ginseng wholesalers. The market also offers great shopping in the huge Oriental medicine mall. To visit the Gyeongdong Market, take Subway Line 1 and get off at Jegi station.
If you plan to take ginseng back to your home country as a gift, hongsam would be a better choice than susam considering the issues of storage, transportation, and packaging. Hongsam products are usually very expensive, but there are also less expensive options like hongsam candies and chocolates.
Cheong Kwan Jang
Cheong Kwan Jang is a brand name for six-year-old red ginseng products manufactured by the Korea Ginseng Corporation and exported to more than 40 countries around the world. A national monopoly from 1899 to 1996, Cheong Kwan Jang is the best-known red ginseng product in the world and the single, leading brand in terms of quality. The company offers various products including ginseng candy, drinks and red ginseng roots.

The prices range from 5,000 won to 10,000 won for a box of candy or from 100,000 won for red ginseng root products to millions of won for the most expensive, highest-quality products. The products are distributed only through department stores and official Cheong Kwan Jang stores in Seoul, Incheon, Gangwon, Busan, and Jeju. There are also shops in major duty-free shops and airport duty-free shops for the convenience of travelers.
For more information on retail locations or products, please visit the Cheong Kwan Jang website at
http://www.kgc.or.kr/new_eng/→ Go to Geumsan Best Tourist Sites
→ Go to Geumsan Ginseng Market
→ Go to Seoul Gyeongdong Market
Ginseng Festival
Known as the major ginseng production centers in Korea, Geumsan and Punggi both host annual ginseng festivals. During the festival period, visitors can view and sample a variety of ginseng products and purchase them for less than the usual market prices. You can also combine your trip to the ginseng festival with a visit to nearby tourist attractions.
Geumsan Ginseng Festival
The city of Geumsan becomes a huge ginseng theme park, with a ginseng shopping mall featuring a ginseng exhibition pavilion, a susam center, and an international market, as well as an international ginseng distribution center. At the ginseng festival, visitors can take part in various cooking programs including making red ginseng ice cream and cookies, making insamju rice wine, and cooking ginseng cuisine dishes. Geumsan is also famous as a film location for the TV drama Jewel in the Palace (Daejanggeum) so visitors can combine their visit to the festival with a trip to this nearby film location.
→ Go to Geumsan Ginseng Festival

Punggi Ginseng Festival
Known for its especially strong-flavored ginseng, Punggi also holds a ginseng festival every fall. The festival offers numerous hands-on programs where visitors can dig for ginseng, cut ginseng, and take part in a ginseng auction. In addition, there is a ginseng cooking contest, a star-studded festival show and an orchestra performance. Combine your visit with a trip to Punggi Hot Springs and the Punggi Ginseng Market.
→ Go to Punggi Ginseng Festival