Type Hangwa | ||
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Similar Yumilgwa, Hangwa, Gangjeong, Dasik, Jeonggwa | ||
Yakgwa is a Korean traditional dish. It was originally considered as a dessert and more recently as a confectionery (hangwa), because of its sweet taste and flower biscuit shape. Yakgwa is made mainly from honey, sesame oil, and wheat flour.
Contents
miniature yakgwa
Origin
The origin of yakgwa is not clear, since this food had many different names. However, it seems that Korean people started to eat it during the Unified Shilla era. During the Goryeo Dynasty, yakgwa was known even in China by the name Goryeo mandu. By the Joseon Dynasty era, it was being called yakgwa. It was an essential dessert in the Goryeo royal court.
Literally, yakgwa means the medicinal (藥) confectionery (菓). This name came from the main ingredients it is made of. In Korea, during the Joseon Dynasty era, honey was considered as a medicine good for health. That is why it was called a medicinal confectionery.
Ingredients
Yakgwa is traditionally made of honey, sesame oil, and wheat flour. Recently, Yakgwa has been manufactured by corporations, who add more ingredients in order to improve the taste of the biscuit.
Formation
The Yakgwa gets its shape by being either pressed into wooden molds, or flattened on decorative tiles. Both the pistol and molds must be greased with sesame oil.
