Fruits in season, also known as 제철과일 or jeh-cheol-gwa-il in Korean is a popular term in Korea because that’s when certain fruits taste the best. They also tend to be cheaper when in season! When in Korea, make sure to taste these iconic fruits that define each season.
Spring
With cherry blossoms blooming and the weather getting warmer, Spring in Korea is a beautiful time. A fruit that goes well with the romantic season is Strawberries, which are in season from Jan all the way to May. During the months of March and April, strawberries can be seen in supermarkets and strawberry picking is a fun activity to explore.
- Check out where to do strawberry picking in Korea here.
- Learn more about the different varieties of strawberries in Korea here.
Summer
Sun’s out, school’s out! Summer is a youthful season in Korea associated with water activities, sports, and travel. During this time, Koreans visit places like Gapyeong, or places near the countryside where there are streams. In Seoul, you can visit the Cheonggyecheon stream and dip your feet to cool off the summer heat.
Hence, the fruits that represent Summer in Korea tend to be refreshing and cooling, such as Korean melons and Watermelons! We’re sure you’ve come across the different games using watermelons on variety shows during the summer.
Towards the peak of summer, around August, fruits like Peaches and Nectarines are in season. They are extremely juicy and can easily be bought from fruit trucks or in supermarkets.
One last fruit you must try is Campbell Grapes. These dark purple grapes come in the size of Shine Muscats. You can choose to eat them with the skin on or give a small bite and suck the flesh out. Extremely sweet and addictive!
Autumn
As the leaves start to turn yellow, you know that autumn is just around the corner! During Fall, one of the most well-known fruits to be in season are Pears. As you all know by now, pears in Korea are huge and round, as compared to Western pears. They are crisp, sweet, and juicy and are quite commonly used as gifts.
Make sure to try some Apples because they’re also in season in Autumn. If you like crisp, juicy apples, the ones in Korea will definitely be up your alley.
One of the more unique fruits in season during Fall is Persimmons. The bright coloured orange fruit can be spotted on trees in Korea and can be eaten both ripe and dried. Don’t be surprised to see people drying persimmons outside their houses during fall!
Winter
Winter in Korea can be extremely cold and dry. However, the fruits in season during winter are nothing close to the weather! Hallabong from Jeju is one of the must-eats during winter. With its strong citrusy flavour and juicy flesh, the fruit can be enjoyed on its own or in different forms like juice or jam.
If you can’t find Hallabong, mandarin oranges from Jeju are also in season during winter.
Around Nov/Dec, the infamous Shine Muscat is in season. These bright-green grapes are huge in size, crisp, sweet, and sometimes with a mango-like sweetness even. While they are well-known for being delicious, they tend to be on the pricier side.
Fruits in Korea
Even if you’re not someone who seeks out fruits when overseas, these seasonal fruits in Korea are too good to be missed! Keep in mind these fruits when visiting a traditional market in Korea and grab some to snack on back in your hotel room.
You can also find out more about the representative fruits from each region of South Korea, in this article. We hope you enjoyed learning more about the fruits of Korea with us over the past month!
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For more information about travelling in Korea, go to https://english.visitkorea.or.kr
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