By Honorary Reporter Putri Siswanto from Indonesia

Photo = Putri Siswanto

Makgeolli (milky rice wine) is my favorite alcoholic beverage from Korea. Its sweet and light milky flavor is quite appealing to me, and its alcohol content is not as high as that of soju or other booze. When consumed in moderation, makgeolli is a healthier alternative to other alcoholic drinks. 

I recently brought my family to a Korean restaurant in our city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to try the combination of makgeolli and pork barbecue. My family had never tried the wine as they normally don't drink high-alcohol beverages. Thus I consider makgeolli an excellent choice for spending quality time with family. 

Drinking makgeolli without a meal is not complete. The main course was yangnyeom dwaeji galbi (marinated grilled spareribs), which was followed by bibimbap (mixed rice with meat and vegetables) and side dishes such as kimchi. We drank makgeolli using traditional metal bowls while eating the meat.

The makgeolli we consumed was not homemade but directly from Korea and packed in bottles. Though I prefer homemade makgeolli like the ones I tried in Korea, my family loved the bottled kind at the restaurant, especially with barbecue, as the wine helped balance the taste of the meat. This drink goes great with many Korean foods but especially flavorful dishes like kimchi and barbecue.

Interestingly, a traditional Indonesian dessert drink tastes almost similar to makgeolli: tape ketan. Also called tapai, this dish has the same basic ingredients as those of makgeolli and its manufacturing process also uses fermentation. Due to the similar taste of these two beverages, my family and I will try making makgeolli at home, though buying Korean liquor in Indonesia has gotten fairly easy in recent years. But I suggest making your own makgeolli at home because the basic ingredients are simple, though it takes a long time to ferment. 

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.