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Vinegar from Korea

Mugukcho (무국초, 無麴醋), vinegar without nuruk무국초방

A Joseon rice vinegar from the Imwon simnyukji (19th century) made without nuruk. Rice is soaked, steamed and left in a jar until mould grows on it, then boiled water is added and it ripens into vinegar. The method is known here only from earlier notes on Lim and Cha (2010).

A short entry: the sources we found record only what is said here about Mugukcho itself.

Short entryVinegar7 days

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedWhat goes in. No source gives amounts for this ferment.
rice
boiled water
Starterspontaneous mould on steamed rice

Total time across the recorded steps: 7 days

Start
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What changes: Rice soaked for 3 days is steamed and put in a jar

Step 1 of 3
Soak rice 3 days, steam well, put in a jar
Time
Not documented
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Moulds

Output: 3 mal of steamed rice.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

Not documented for this step.

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

At a glance

A Joseon rice vinegar from the Imwon simnyukji (19th century) made without nuruk. Rice is soaked, steamed and left in a jar until mould grows on it, then boiled water is added and it ripens into vinegar. The method is known here only from earlier notes on Lim and Cha (2010). Made in 3 steps over 7 days. The longest step, wait for mould, takes 7 days (Lim E.-J 2010).

Key numbers
Main step7 daysReported[s1]Wait for mould

What makes this one different

The starter is whatever mould grows on the steamed rice itself; no nuruk or other starter is added, as the name (無麴, "without nuruk") says.

Safety

Steamed rice is left a week until mould grows, and no source we read says which moulds. WHO says moulds that can make mycotoxins grow on cereals, often in warm, damp conditions, and it lists rice among the crops aflatoxins affect. It also says most mycotoxins survive food processing. Do not copy this at home.

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

Made in spring and autumn only, according to earlier notes on Lim & Cha (2010).

  1. [s1] Lim E.-J., Cha G.-H. 2010, Study on manufacturing of vinegar through literatures of the Joseon Dynasty, Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture 25(6):680–707paper
  2. [who-mycotoxins] World Health Organization, Mycotoxins fact sheetgov