Tarak-juk

Tarak-juk (Korean: 타락죽), also called uyu-juk (Korean: 우유죽) or milk porridge, is a type of juk (porridge) made with milk and rice (glutinous japonica variety).[1] It was a part of the Korean royal court cuisine and was also patronized by yangban (scholarly-officials).[2]

Tarak-juk
Alternative namesUyu-juk, milk porridge
TypeJuk
Place of originKorea
Associated national cuisineKorean cuisine
Serving temperatureWarm
Main ingredientsMilk, ground rice
Korean name
Hangul
타락죽
Hanja
駝酪粥
Revised Romanizationtarak-juk
McCune–Reischauert'arak-chuk
IPA[tʰa.ɾak̚.t͈ɕuk̚]
Hangul
우유죽
Hanja
牛乳粥
Revised Romanizationuyu-juk
McCune–Reischaueruyu-chuk
IPA[u.ju.dʑuk̚]

Names and etymology

The Korean word tarak-juk (타락죽, [tʰa.ɾak̚.t͈ɕuk̚]) is a compound consisting of tarak (타락, [tʰa.ɾak̚]) meaning "dairy" and juk (죽, [tɕuk̚]) meaning "porridge".

The word tarak is derived from the Korean transliteration of the Mongolian word taraq (ᠲ᠋‍ᠠ‍᠊ᠷ‍ᠠ‍᠊ᠬ) or Old Turkic torak.[3][4][5] Cognates include modern Mongolian tarag (тараг) and Kurdish toraq, both meaning "cheese". As suggested by its etymology, traditional Korean tarak was heavily influenced by the customs of Central Asian—especially Mongolian— fermented milk products.[5] Before the invention of Hangul (Korean alphabet) in the 15th century, the word was transcribed using Hanja (Chinese characters) 駝酪.

The Sino-Korean word juk (죽) is the Korean reading of the Hanja 粥 ("congee").

Since the archaic word tarak isn't readily understandable to most modern Korean speakers, the compound uyu-juk (우유죽, [u.ju.dʑuk̚]) with the Sino-Korean word uyu (우유) meaning "(cow's) milk" is often used along with the old name. U (우, [u]) is the Korean reading of the Hanja 牛 ("cow") and yu (유, [ju]) is the Korean reading of the Hanja 乳 ("milk").

History

The history of tarak-juk dates back to the consumption of milk in Korean history.[2] The Kingdom of Goryeo (918–1392) kept Yuu-so (dairy cow office), and nobles consumed nakso (cheese).[2] However, dairy cattle were rare and usually milk was available only after a cow gave birth.[6] Moreover, the freshness of milk was a vital factor as it could not be delivered over long distances.[6] Therefore, milk was considered a supplementary food for special occasions or a recovery food after illness.[6]

During the Joseon era (1392–1897), the dairy cow office was relocated to a royal court ranch on Mount Naksan east of Seoul. It was renamed Tarak-saek (dairy department). Royal physicians took charge of gathering milk and making tarak-juk to present to the king.[7] From the tenth lunar month to the first month of the next lunar year, they offered tarak-juk to the royal court.[7] The Hall of Senior Officials also offered tarak-juk to elderly officials.[7] Recipes for tarak-juk are recorded in the Joseon books such as Revised and Augmented Farm Management and the Women's Encyclopedia.[2][8][9]

Preparation

Pre-soaked glutinous rice is ground by millstone, sieved, and left to settle. The deposits of ground rice, called muri, are boiled, and milk is added slowly on a gentle simmer over a low flame with constant stirring. Salt is then added, to sweeten the porridge, honey can be added.[1] The ratio between milk and muri recorded in the Women's Encyclopedia is 1:0.8, with adjustments allowed according to taste. However, the book advises the amount of muri should not exceed that of milk.[2][9]

See also

References
  1. "Tarak-juk" 타락죽. Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  2. 윤, 서석. "Tarak-juk" 타락죽. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  3. "Tarak" 타락. Standard Korean Language Dictionary (in Korean). National Institute of Korean Language. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  4. Kasai, N.; Natsagdorj, S. (1998). "Socio-economic development: food and clothing in eastern Iran and Central Asia". In Asimov, M. S.; Bosworth, C. E. (eds.). History of civilizations of Central Asia – Volume IV: The age of achievement: A.D.750 to the end of the fifteenth century – Part One: The historical, social, and economic setting (PDF). Multiple History Series. Paris: UNESCO Publishing. p. 390. ISBN 978-92-3-103467-1. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  5. Osada, Sachiko; Shin, Sun Mi; Kim, Sang Sook; Han, YoungSook (August 2014). "Historical and Cultural Study on Korean Traditional Fermented Milk, Tarak". Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life. 24 (4): 441–443. doi:10.17495/easdl.2014.08.24.4.441.
  6. 명, 준호 (21 November 2008). 왕실에 우유를 공급한 ‘낙산(酪山)’. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  7. "Tarak-jinsang" 타락진상. Doopedia (in Korean). Doosan Corporation. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  8. Yu, Jungrim; Hong, Manseon (1766). Jeungbo sallim gyeongje 증보산림경제(增補山林經濟) [Revised and Augmented Farm Management] (in Literary Chinese). Joseon Korea.
  9. Yi, Bingheogak (1766). Gyuhap chongseo 규합총서(閨閤叢書) [Women's Encyclopedia] (in Literary Chinese). Joseon Korea.
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