• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.441-443
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• 2014

Korean traditional fermented milk, Tarak, came down from the Koryo dynasty according to Korean ancient cookbook SoowoonJaabaang, which was written by Taakjunggong, Yoo Kim around AD 1500. Tarak is generally refers to milk or dairy products. Three theories on 'Tarak' revealed in this study are as follows: 1) it has been derived from Dolgwol language, tarak, 2) it has originated in Mongolian language, Topar(tarague), meaning horse's milk and 3) it originated in Tarak mountain located in Hanyang, which was capital of Chosun. In Mongolia, fermented milk has been called as Tarak and it has been called as tar by Yakuts tribe who are nomads in Sakha. The common part, tar, of these words is said to be the term representing the origin of the fermented milk coming from the central Asia. Therefore, Korean Tarak seems to be part of the central Asian culture that flowed into the Korean peninsula. The manufacturing method of Mogolian Topar(tarague) is similar to those of Tarak found in the SoowoonJaabaang. This research revealed that Korean traditional fermented milk, Tarak, is thought to be affected by the central Asia, especially Mongolia.