Korean temple cuisine that resembles elements of nature is largely based on fresh natural ingredients in season. In temple cuisine, neither animal food products nor synthetic flavors are used. Condiment herbs such as green onions, garlics, chives and mustards are also avoided. Korean temple cuisine boosts the immune system and cleanses one＊s body and soul. Here are two Buddhist temples in Chungnam that are famous for temple cuisine.

▲ Rice cakes.

Sudosa Temple famous for flowers and rice cakes  (Seosan City)

Sudosa Temple located at the foot of Dobisan Mountain is well-known not only for beautiful flowers but also for rice cakes (ddeok). The temple has more than 100 recipes only for rice cakes. Rev. Sujin, the head monk of the temple, describes characteristics of rice cakes from different regions of Korea by saying, ※rick cakes from North Korea are large, rice cakes from Gangwon Province are simple, rice cakes from Gyeongsang Province are thick, and rice cakes from Chungcheong and Jeolla Provinces are various in style.§

There is a variety of rice cakes. Songpyeon, a colorful half-moon shaped rice cake, Jeungpyeon, a steamed rice ball garnished with dates, mushrooms and chestnuts in a flower shape, Nokdupyeon, a mung bean rice cake with layers of white and green, and Yaksik, a simple but delicious brown rice cake mixed with various nuts and dates. Rice cakes made by traditional recipes have subtlety and depth in taste. They are simple, not too sweet and leave a pleasant aftertaste.

Various types of Hangwa, traditional Korean confectionaries, are also special in Sudosa Temple. Despite the great taste, Hangwa such as balloon flower roots boiled down in grain syrup and sweetened ginger and carrot slices, are hardly made home because of the laborious cooking processes. Having delicious rice cakes and Hangwa with tea in Sudosa Temple will become an unforgettable experience for many visitors who want to enjoy the taste of Korea.
 
Sudosa Temple in Seosan, Chungnam
Phone : 041-662-3825
Address : 135-11 Dobisan-1-gil, Buseok-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungnam Province

▲ Charmed by the flavor of lotus tea

Charmed by the flavor of lotus tea and taste of bean paste in Yeongpyeongsa Temple (Sejong City)

Put tea leaves contained in a silk bag into a lotus flower bud at dusk. Then, the tea leaves will absorb the vital force of nature throughout the night along with early morning dew. Take out the silk bag and brew it, then you will have a subtly-flavored lotus flower tea.§ This tale, which is considered the origin of lotus flower tea, describes how a wise woman named Un made lotus flower tea for her husband Simbok, a petty official of the Chinese Qing Dynasty .

Nowadays, to make a lotus flower tea, a bag of tea leaves is put into a lotus flower bud and left for one day, after which the whole flower bud is picked, sealed and frozen. Once steeped in water at the right temperature, the flower bud prepared with elaboration and waiting blossoms in the tea cup. Rev. Hwanseong of the temple serves the best lotus flower tea made in a traditional way. 

Yeongpyeongsa Temple is also well-known for its soybean paste (doenjang). More than 250 shiny crocks of sauces and condiments are lined up in the sun. The bean paste made in the temple is fermented so intensely that it looks almost black in color. As it gained popularity from people who had tasted it, the temple established a food company to sell traditional sauces such as soy sauce, soybean paste and red pepper paste. The temple also built facilities to manufacture bamboo salt to be used as a main ingredient of the traditional sauces.

Various types of bamboo salt from bamboo salt backed two to three times to purple bamboo salt baked nine times in a bamboo tube are produced there. The surrounding scenery is also a big plus for visitors. White lotus flowers in summer and chrysanthemums in autumn are charming. The temple also runs a temple stay program. 
 
 
Yeongpyeongsa Temple in Sejong Self-governing City
Phone : 044-857-1854,
Address : 441 Sanhak-ri, Janggun-myeon, Sejong Self-governing City