Samgyetang is a traditional Korean chicken and ginseng soup made with a whole young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, garlic, and jujube, then simmered in a clean, herbal broth. It’s the nourishing soup Koreans turn to on the hottest summer days, but it tastes comforting and restorative any time of year.
I grew up in Korea, where eating samgyetang (삼계탕) in the summer was a yearly tradition in our home. As a teenager, I never understood the appeal. Why eat boiling soup on the hottest day of the year? I’d rather have a popsicle.
But now, I get it. Samgyetang is believed to restore your strength to fight the hot weather.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate why Koreans turn to this herbal soup when the heat drains your energy. It’s not just food—it’s comfort, tradition, and a healing ritual.
The good news? Homemade samgyetang is easier than you think.
