Staying Cool the Korean Way

 Summer in Korea is extremely hot. In order to overcome this humid sticky summer, in the past Korean people made lots of desserts. For example, familiar desserts to foreigners  are patbingsu, rice punch, and otherthings. However, this might be unfamiliar: misutgaru. Misutgaru isn’t just a drink - it is a cultural symbol of health, simplicity, and seasonal survival.

 So what is misutgaru? Misutgaru is a roasted multi-grain powder drink mixed with cold water or milk,which creates smoothe, nutty drink. Typically it includes barely, brown rice, black beans, sesame seeds, and other things. The combination makes misutgaru rich in nutrients, easy to digest, and surprisingly filling. In the past, it was especially popular for farmers and scholars who needed a lot of energy in hot weather without having a heavy meal. Just adding a few spoon of powder to a cup of cold water or milk could give instant relief, happiness, and nourishment. 

Making misutgaru is obviously simple. To make misutgaru, 2-3 spoons of grain powder into the cold water or milk. Then stir or shake until it is well mixed. Lastly, add some other ingredients, such as honey and almond, if you want to.

  Traditionally, families would grain the grains by themselves and store the powder in their house throughout the summer. The drink was not only practical, but also associated with Korea key value., which is frugality. Nowadays, misutgaru is developing through modern revival. We can find it in every convenience store, health food shops, and trendy cafes. It is upgraded with almond milk, honey, icecream, and other new ingredients that we could not even imagine in the past. It has become the Korean version of “protein shake”, offering both taste and tradition.

 Unlike other fancy summer desserts, misutgaru is quite humble. However, inside the misutgaru, there is wisdom from our ancestors - how they could overcome such a hot summer. This summer, instead of desserts, such as bingsu, try a cup of misutgaru.

Works Cited

집밥먹는깡주부. “미숫가루 맛있게 타는법 /우유 미숫가루라떼 만들기.” 10000reicpe, 30 Aug. 2024, www.10000recipe.com/recipe/7033534?srsltid=AfmBOopDfEJj6XNdbzbUO_DZDJq2SQtrAclGPNgLH9goC0CfAbC0_a73&utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 22 June 2025.

“과거의 지혜가 담긴 전통 음식, 미숫가루.” 사랑해줄개, 18 Jan. 2025, garuyabangasgan.com/entry/%EA%B3%BC%EA%B1%B0%EC%9D%98-%EC%A7%80%ED%98%9C%EA%B0%80-%EB%8B%B4%EA%B8%B4-%EC%A0%84%ED%86%B5-%EC%9D%8C%EC%8B%9D-%EB%AF%B8%EC%88%AB%EA%B0%80%EB%A3%A8. Accessed 22 June 2025.