Month guide

Korean seasonal food in February

12 items are at their peak in Korea in February.

Fruit (2)

Korean strawberries are a winter-to-spring greenhouse fruit, not a summer one. Seolhyang is the...

A large, bump-topped Jeju citrus — sweeter and more aromatic than a regular tangerine, and price...

A flat, open-leafed cabbage that overwinters in the field. Eaten raw in a chili-sesame salad rat...

Winter spinach grows short and thick-leaved, and sweetens in the cold. Blanched and dressed with...

Korea's most common raw-fish choice. Firm, clean-tasting white flesh, sliced thin as hoe with ch...

Korean oysters are small, briny and best from late autumn through winter. Eaten raw with chogoch...

Boseong-area cockles are a winter fixture — briefly boiled, shells twisted open, and dressed wit...

Winter snow crab from the east coast, especially Yeongdeok. Steamed whole; the shell is then use...

Winter cod is used for clear daegu-tang soup rather than frying — the roe and milt are prized as...

Winter bangeo is fat-marbled and rich, at its best from Jeju. Served as thick-cut sashimi; the l...

Samchi is softer and milder than common mackerel, with fat peaking in the cold months. Salt-gril...

One of the first spring greens. Root and leaf are both used — dropped into doenjang stew for a n...

Item	Korean	Category	Peak months
Strawberry	딸기	Fruit	Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Hallabong	한라봉	Fruit	Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Spring Cabbage	봄동	Vegetable	Feb, Mar
Spinach	시금치	Vegetable	Jan, Feb, Dec
Olive Flounder	광어	Seafood	Jan, Feb, Dec
Oyster	굴	Seafood	Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
Cockle	꼬막	Seafood	Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
Snow Crab	대게	Seafood	Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Cod	대구	Seafood	Jan, Feb, Dec
Yellowtail	방어	Seafood	Jan, Feb, Dec
Spanish Mackerel	삼치	Seafood	Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec
Shepherd's Purse	냉이	Greens & Herbs	Feb, Mar, Apr