Canada is considered a cultural mosaic because of all the different cultures coming together to create one beautiful picture. One of those is the Korean culture, and the recognition for it has been especially increasing in recent years. The food is one of the things that people are developing a great interest in. Everyone loves Korean BBQ, and there isn’t a problem with that, however, there are many other foods that deserve the same amount of appreciation. One of them is kimchi, the spicy red side dish.

Kimchi was first introduced in Korea in the 7th century, but the more familiar version with hot pepper powder came to be in the 18th century. Though there is no exact date when kimchi made its way to Canada, Koreans felt a strong drive to introduce kimchi to the world ever since Korea hosted the Olympics in 1988.

This side dish is usually made from Chinese cabbage, but other types use vegetables such as cucumbers or daikon radish. A paste is created from hot pepper powder, shrimp paste, ginger, and garlic. This paste is spread throughout the cabbage, and then everything is partially fermented.

The Kimchi by Food4U, a Korean company in Canada, is the only brand of kimchi in North America that is certified with GFSI standards and the SQF (Safe Quality Food) Level 2, which is a globally recognized Food Safety Certificate. This company has over 10 years of Kimchi production experience and uses local fresh ingredients. The kimchi made by this company comes from a safe and highly regulated production environment in order to ensure the health benefits of eating the kimchi.

Kimchi is a food that is rich in proteins and vitamins, making it very beneficial to our health. According to a 2002 Toronto Sun article, Toronto residents originally from Korea became resistant to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome because of their daily consumption of kimchi. Also, kimchi is a natural cancer-fighting and weight-loss food, has anti-bacterial effects, improves your physical stamina and immune system, and prevents adult diseases.

Kimchi can be bought at Asian supermarkets (especially Korean ones) or can also be made at home. However, most Koreans prefer to just buy it because the process is exhausting and very time-consuming. Kimchi can be made at any time during the year, but the final product is usually kept for only about a month in order to keep the acidic taste.

In Korea, this dish brings the community together. There often are events where Korean ladies come together to make tons of kimchi to share to their neighbors before the winter season arrives. Neighbors will be fighting one day, then laughing and making kimchi together the next. Kimchi is a part of Korean identity and everyone is familiar with it.

Since kimchi is made throughout the year, it is served as a side dish for almost all meals. Kimchi can also be used in other Korean foods, such as kimchi fried rice, which is also a popular dish among non-Koreans.

Hopefully, this amazing food will start to be recognized more, especially in the GTA where all of the different cultures come together. Food is what brings people together, and kimchi should definitely be a part of that.