Tteokbokki Start-Up
Whether at home or on the go, tteokbokki is a comfort food to many Koreans. The pillowy rice cakes are smothered in sauces of various colors and textures that offer bold flavors that are at once sweet, savory and spicy. They can be eaten as a snack or as a full meal with the addition of eomuk (fish cakes), boiled eggs and diagonally sliced scallions. In restaurants or pojangmacha tents (street stalls on wheels) across Korea, tteokbokki is served steaming hot and enjoyed by groups of friends after a few glasses of soju.
Despite its humble origin, tteokbokki has become a beloved food that represents the current culture of Koreans. It is even a part of the national cuisine, being considered a dish that reflects not only the country’s history but also its hardships as a nation through years of war and struggle. As such, the popularity of tteokbokki has led to the rise of many start-ups dedicated to the production of different versions of the dish and its ingredients. 떡볶이 창업 추천
The start-ups aim to provide tteokbokki that can suit anyone’s tastes. Currently, there are over 200 companies producing a wide variety of tteokbokki. The tteokbokki market is growing rapidly thanks to the popularity of the dish as a snack or even a whole meal. It is expected to continue growing, especially in the global market as it is gaining recognition as an excellent ingredient that can be used to create other foods such as noodles and soups.
One of the latest starts-ups, Dongwon F&B, started a production line for its own tteokbokki rice cakes in May and will start exporting them internationally. The company previously used tteokbokki rice cakes produced by a smaller enterprise for its home meal replacements (HMRs), but began to produce them itself after the ministry’s recommendation in 2014 that the industry is suitable only for small and medium-sized enterprises expired.
As demand for tteokbokki has grown globally, many companies have started to use it as an ingredient in HMRs and other products such as noodles, soups and sweets. However, it is not without controversy as the ministry has warned that tteokbokki can increase obesity and blood pressure due to its high salt content.
Regardless of the controversy, the popularity of tteokbokki will continue to grow as it has become an essential part of the Korean food culture and is a favorite among young people who value fast cooking times. The trend has gained traction in the United States as pre-packaged tteokbokki has begun to appear at wholesalers such as Costco and online sales have been skyrocketing. It has also been endorsed by celebrities such as BTS member Jimin, who helped the dish gain a wider audience through social media and became its ambassador to the U.S.. It is also a comfort staple to millions of people in Korea and has been called the “ultimate comfort food.” The popularity of tteokbokki shows no sign of slowing down as it is becoming a part of the global food landscape.
