제주 재래종 감귤원 - Jeju Native Tangerines

여러분 안녕하세요!

제주 귤의 사진을 있어요! ㅋㅋㅋ

짠~

So I discovered that I do actually have pictures of tangerine trees from Jeju--from 한림공원 Hallim Park actually. Not quite out in the road, but it will have to do.

제주 재래종 감귤원

Japan 在来種 柑橘園

China 济州 传统 桔子园 

(濟州 傳統 桔子園)

US Jeju Native Tangerines

"제주 재래종 감귤원은 과거 고려시대와 조선시대에는 중요한 진상품이었습니다. 근래에는 대량의 개량된 감귤 (온주밀감, 한라봉 등) 재배로 인하여 재래종감귤은 찾아보기 어렵게 되었습니다. 한림공원 재래종 감귤원에는 오랜 엿날에 제주도에서 재배하던 재래종 감귤 12종 (당유자, 동정귤, 빈귤 병귤, 사두감, 삼보감, 유자, 지각, 진귤, 청귤, 편귤, 홍귤)을 소중히 보존하여 관리하고 있습니다. 또한 열매가 작은 금감, 열매가 큰 마두문단, 여름에도 열매를 볼 수 있는 하귤 등 다양한 열매 형태의 감귤 나무를 전시하고 있습니다.

Jeju native tangerines were considered to be one of the royal foods for the king during the Koryo and Chosun dynasty. Nowadays, it is difficult to find the native tangerines due to cross-breeding of tangerine plantation (Onjumilgam, Hallabong). Jeju Native Tangerine Garden shows twelve different native tangerines (Dangyuja, Dongjeonggyul, Bingyul, Byeonggyul, Sadugam, Sambogam, Yuja, ㅓJigak, Jinggyul, Cheonggyul, Pyeongyul, Honggyul) which have been grown in Jeju Island a long time ago. Also, there are another species of tangerine with different shapes and sizes."

ㅋㅋㅋ Until next time~~

한라산의 한라봉 - Hallasan's Hallabong

오랜 만이에요 여러분! 잘 지냈어요?? ㅋㅋㅋ

As usually seems to be the case...it has been awhile hasn't it? ^^;; My sincerest apologies for that, but hopefully this post will placate you.

So last weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to spend a weekend at 제주도--Jeju Island!

The view from our hotel room--you wouldn't believe how intense those waves were!

Now Jeju Island is supposedly known for three things--roaring winds (I was almost blown over at one point!), magnificent rocks (most definitely), and women (해녀!). Food-wise however, Jeju Island is known for its green tea, chocolate, and tangerines. The green tea and chocolate I did not know about, but the tangerines I did, and there were literally rows upon rows of tangerine trees growing everywhere, and I mean everywhere. It was pretty amazing and I wish I had gotten a picture of the multitude of trees with their vivid orange tangerines gleaming brightly under the sunlight--I repeat, it was pretty amazing and I really should have gotten a picture of at least one tangerine tree.

But, as you can tell from the post title, today's entry is not about tangerines but about the 한라봉 (Hallabong). Now what, you might be asking, is a 한라봉?

This, folks (on the left), is a 한라봉 (with our oh-so-familiar tangerine on the right):

Common Name: Dekopan (デコポン)

Native to: Japan

(Actually developed in Japan in 1972, it is a hybrid between the Kiyomi and ponkan)

In other languages: 한라봉 (hallabong)

Distinctive traits: Protruding bump at the top, large size, sweet taste

Usually picked: November-December

Source of information: Official Site of Korea Tourism, Wikipedia

As mentioned above, the 한라봉 is actually native to Japan (does it count as being native to a place if it was developed??), but for our purposes we shall be referring to its Korean name. 

The 한라봉 got its Korean name from the 한라산 Hallasan Mountain (the tallest mountain in all of South Korea) from which it is mainly grown. However, throughout our tour of Jeju, we actually saw a lot of 할머니 (or 할망 in the Jeju dialect, meaning grandmother) selling them and our professor was kind (and awesome) enough to get some for us to try. True to word, they were actually quite sweet (and tasty)!

If you recall, tangerines are one of three foods that Jeju is known for, another being chocolate! Along with all the tangerines and 한라봉, chocolates were also being sold. And not milk chocolate or dark chocolate, but tangerine chocolate, green tea (the last of the three famous foods) chocolate, cactus chocolate (that's right--cactus), and of course, 한라봉 chocolate. Many places were selling 5 or 6 boxes (with about 15 chocolates per box) for ₩10000 (approximately US$10) and there were usually free samples too. Living up to their reputation, the chocolates were delicious and I really regret not buying any boxes of chocolates, if not for myself then at least for my friends and family. ㅠㅠ

So what is the takeaway message? If you are ever in Jeju Island, make sure to try the chocolates, try the 한라봉, and don't forget to buy some to take back with you!

잘 가요! Until next time~~