Why do Koreans use chopsticks?

Flat chopsticks, heavy metals make it harder to pick up food. However, Koreans have their own reasons.

Asians have a habit of using chopsticks to pick up foods. This tool is popular in all Eastern countries, especially in Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam. However, in each area, each country, the design of the chopsticks is also somewhat different. In China and Vietnam, chopsticks are usually cylindrical, elongated, cross-sections of the chopsticks square and gradually rounded towards the end of the chopsticks. In Japan, the shape of the chopsticks is similar, only different at the point: the smaller the head and the smaller the point. Material for making chopsticks in these countries is usually wood or plastic.

Particularly in Korea, people here use chopsticks with a completely different shape, which is somewhat more difficult to use. Even, people still "vote" this is the most difficult chopsticks in the world, even for Asians. The chopsticks in the land of kimchi are made of metal, flat and heavy-handed, so it is much harder to grasp than wooden chopsticks or plastic chopsticks.

The difference between Japanese, Korean and Chinese chopsticks.

The reason why Koreans choose metal materials is that they are easy to clean, not easily contaminated with bacteria like wooden chopsticks. Although the iron chopsticks are not sure of hand like wooden chopsticks, they are very hygienic and environmentally friendly. Wood chopsticks are easy to become bacteria hiding places, while metal chopsticks will not produce bacteria, are easy to wash and no poison. The "life expectancy" of the chopsticks is also longer. Korean dishes often eat on pans, hot pots such as steaks, broths, fried chicken cabbage . Wooden chopsticks are very susceptible to fire or deformation under the action of heat. Metal chopsticks avoid this situation.

Koreans also explained that the habit of using metal chopsticks has existed for a long time. In the old days, people used pure silver chopsticks to try to see if the kimchi was buried in the ground with poison, and people with money were often used Silver chopsticks to eat, in order to prevent food.

The chopsticks make it difficult for foreigners.(Photo: carolyntay).

As for the flat shape difficult to pick, the reason is that in ancient times, the Korean feudal woman had to host her three sumptuous meals then had to hold each large plate of small plates on the table. The flat shaped chopsticks can prevent the chopsticks from rolling, or fall when placing many items on the table.

The flat chopsticks are like a scissors used to roll noodles and vermicelli when eating. Except for cold noodles, due to the tough noodles, soaking in cold water, it is difficult to roll, and this special "scissors" can "cut" and remove foods very handy and easier than round square chopsticks.

The use of chopsticks in Korea requires the person to be skillful, careful when picking or putting on their mouths, avoiding the food pieces falling or worse than chopsticks. If you are not familiar, you can practice with the basic steps, in which a chopstick will be fixed by the ring finger and thumb, the middle finger is responsible for pushing the second chopstick to pick up the item. eat.