Going Green? TinaG’s Quick Sniffs with Portia

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Post by TinaG

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Hi APJ!

Last week I caught up with Portia for tea and lunch. We spent a lovely few hours bubbling away merrily with laughter and stories. Portia has an amazing fragrance collection which we dove into in search of ‘green’ scents. I was presented with a plethora of options. I thought I would share my first impressions of these with you.

There is nothing considered or nuanced here just what jumped out and hit me first. What this style of testing allows for is a snapshot of a range of perfume in a short period of time. What I can then do is go back and explore individual frags at my leisure. Fun!!

Going Green?

TinaG’s Quick Sniffs with Portia

Here’s my notes, ranked from less to more green (if that can be a thing….)

Armani Prive Vert Malachite Giorgio Armani FragranticaFragrantica

Armani Prive – Vert Malachite
Where is the ‘vert’? A bit of pettigran wafts through but it’s mainly a big white floral, heavy on the jasmine and ylang ylang.

Robert Piguet – Futur
This is supposed to be enriched by ‘green’ accords, but I can’t get past the old school aldehydes in the opening. It burns off leaving jasmine & ylang ylang with some bitter orange.

Chanel – No 19
Cool green, jasmine, rose, iris, geranium. Elegant.

Silences Jacomo FragranticaFragrantica

Jacomo – Silences
Galbanum-heavy. Not a note I easily pick up in fragrances so I spend some time with my nose on the card trying to affix it in my scent memory.

Ormond Jane – Sampaguita
Watery green. Grassy, light florals, lily & rose.

Guerlain – Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune
Grapefruit green, sharp and fresh.

Tokyo Bloom The Different Company FragranticaFragrantica

The Different Company – Tokyo Bloom
Heavy pink pillar of florals in the middle of gentle plant greens.

Olfactive Studio – Panorama
Light green. Peppery notes, it is a study in various green shades.

Niki de Saint Phalle FragranticaFragrantica

Niki de Saint Phalle
Cool green, but full of colourful varied florals. Fun.

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz – Giverny in Bloom
Fresh cut wet plant stem green. OMG this is exactly like being inside a florists! Amazing!

Guerlain – Aqua Allegoria Teazzurra
Dry green tea note. Simple. Gentle.

Fleur No 1 1000 Flowers FragranticaFragrantica

1000 Flowers – Fleur No 1
I think I was coming to the end of my capacity here because I just wrote ‘green’. (I don’t think there’s 1000 flowers in there).

So, what would I go back to? I’d be interested to see how Silences developed, along with Chanel No 19. I’ve given Panorama a run through as I got a sample when it was released, and it really is layered greens.

What else should I add to my list for future sniffs on a green theme?

See ya!
Tina G xx

CHANEL N°5 L’Eau GIVEAWAY WINNERS

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Post by Portia

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Hello APJers,

Department Store release date in Australia is September 15 for the newest CHANEL fragrance. Thanks all for getting involved and thanks too to CHANEL SAs for their generosity.

CHANEL N°5 L’Eau GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Chanel No 5 L'Eau Chanel FragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Lemon, mandarin, orange, neroli, aldehydes
Heart: Rose, ylang-ylang, jasmine
Base: Cedar, white musk

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 3 winners who will receive:
1 x Carded Manufacturers Sample CHANEL No 5 L’Eau
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Saturday 10th September 2016 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org

Winners Are Bodie Strain Sydney Opera House Fireworks Flickr

Nelle

Rickyrebarco

Lena

The winners will have till Wednesday 14th September 2016 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit

What Else Do You Collect?

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Post by Portia

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Hello Fragrance Family,

I was looking around my house the other day and it struck me that collecting fragrance wasn’t my only “thing”. So it got me wondering about your other collections.

What Else Do You Collect?

I have a few.

morning Star Royal Doulton Portia 2016

Royal Doulton: Morning Star

Once upon a time back in the 1960s my Mum and Dad got married. They chose the Royal Doulton pattern Morning Star to be their “For Good” set of china. People were able to buy one or a few pieces for them from a Wedding Gift Registry. So for their wedding a beautiful 6 place set was bought with Mains plate, Salad plate, Bread plate, Bowl, Cup & Saucer. They also got a Vegetable Tureen, Tea & Coffee pots, Creamer, Milk, Sugar & Gravy Boat. We used it for birthdays, Christmas, congratulations and every other event in our household. After Mum and Dad died I was left with a pristine 6 place set but I tend to entertain on a larger scale than they did so over the next 10 years I grew the set to 15 seater with some extras of some. I also added Cream Soup bowls & saucers, Fruit bowls, 3 x Vegetable and 3 x Main Tureens, 2 x Platters, a Baking Dish, extra Tea & Coffee pots, Milk, Sugar and a bunch of curios as they come up on eBay. We now use this set as our every day set and each time I eat off a plate or make a pot of tea Mum and Dad are there with me. It’s like a daily hug and reminder of some of the super good times we spent together as a family.

Soaps Jan 2016 #1

Bath Products

I’ve talked about this before with you all. There is a special box that holds almost all my Bath Oils, Shower Gels, Bubble Bath and Soaps. It’s filled with modern, vintage, discontinued and current. From Amouage to Tom Ford, Caron to Olympic Orchids, Boucheron to Yves Saint Laurent and everything in between. There are vintage boxed soap & fragrance sets of Givenchy Le De, Hermès Amazone and Caleche, CHANEL No 5 & 19, Opium by YSL and many others. Soaps come in singles too like the Guerlain Mitsouko & Shalimar, Saipua, L’Occitane, Mysore Sandal Soap, Farmer’s Daughters Egg White Soap and loads of single bars found around the world. Shower Gels from Amouage, LUSH, Penhaligon’s, Korres, Lolita Lempicka, B&BW, Molton Brown, Jo Malone and others all roped in as bubble Bath (my favourite).

Tea Collection Portia 2016

Tea

Yes, everywhere I travel if there is some local tea for sale I buy it. Particularly in India and the UK. Fortnum & Mason is now available in Australia which has dimmed it fabulousness somewhat but they still taste yum. Having spent time in India’s Kerala and Himachal Pridesh tea growing areas and doing some estate visits, through the production processes and then getting to sample some of the teas I also have a bunch from them. South Korea also has a tea farming culture, we went through the Jeju Island area and I have been through another one but can’t remember where. Not all of South Koreas teas are green or black they also do chrysanthemum teas and a slew of others that are interesting and delicious, once you get used to how different they are. I also have Chinese flowers that unfurl in the tea pot, Chinese loose leaf green, white tea from a few different places now and some red tea.

There are also a couple of other collections around here but……. next time.

So, what do you collect? Come on, ‘Fess up. You know I love to read your stories too.
Portia xx

 

Madagascan Jasmine by Michel Roudnitska for Grandiflora 2015

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Post by Portia

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Hello Fabulous Fumies,

Can you believe I live in the same city as Grandiflora yet I’ve never set foot in the place? Well, sadly it’s true. Not because I’ve purposely stayed away but I just never seem to be in that part of town without a time budget, or I’m there after hours for work. It is on my bucket list to get there though so hopefully sometime soon I’ll be able to show you some pics of a visit. Till then I’ve finally been to Surrender To Chance and grabbed myself a decant.

Madagascan Jasmine by Grandiflora 2015

Madagascan Jasmine by Michel Roudnitska

Madagascan Jasmine Grandiflora FragranticaFragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Jasmine, Green notes, Musk

The first person I knew that had Madagascan Jasmine was Ainslie Walker and I tried it at her place but was woefully under impressed. I’m not sure what my problem was but even then I felt maybe I was missing the point. I was.

Madagascan Jasmine opens green, yes, I know that that term covers a lot of ground. It’s the green of tearing soft, fleshy, succulent leaves. The green of hedging camellias, rubbing your nail down the long thin, dark green leaves of clivia, the metallic green of clean kitchen basins and the extreme yellow green of narcissus. It’s also white, the white of the jasmine growing over the side fence, the white of expensive little bathroom soaps, Lily of the Valley white and the soft plush white of clean flannelette sheets. Laundry musks but done as a binding note rather than a solo performer. Though they are huge and in your face they seem to buoy the rest and keep it floating and radiant.

Madagascan Jasmine Grandiflora Narcissus_medioluteus WikipediaWikiMedia

Imagine being sandblasted by scent, it’s so full on that it rips away your skin and bones leaving you a sheer, bodiless, cloud of scent. If you close your eyes while wearing Madagascan Jasmine I think it could take you anywhere. The most gorgeously engulfing jasmine and it lasts well too. Almost as adamant as Tawaf by La Via Del Profumi.

Beyond beautiful.

Madagascan Jasmine Grandiflora clouds Radiant White PixabayPDI

 

Further reading: What Men Should Smell Like and Persolaise
Peony Melbourne has Au$185/100ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $5.50/ml

What is your Jasmine?
Portia xx

CHANEL N° 5 L’Eau by Olivier Polge for CHANEL 2016

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Post by Portia

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Hello APJers,

Release date in Australia is September 15 for the newest CHANEL fragrance. I have been lucky enough to grab some early release carded testers. One for me and three for you. This is my own first test drive.

CHANEL N°5 L’Eau by CHANEL

CHANEL N°5 L’Eau by Olivier Polge

Chanel No 5 L'Eau Chanel FragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Lemon, mandarin, orange, neroli, aldehydes
Heart: Rose, ylang-ylang, jasmine
Base: Cedar, white musk

OK everyone, so this is my first wearing. I am notorious for hating things till I get to know them and spend some time with them. Unless they are the rare instant loves.

Imagine a simple cologne from one of the mid priced brands like Body Shop, put a lot of it on, really spray the shit out of it, then have someone walk past you wearing CHANEL No 5. Right. Smell the air as they walk past and CHANEL No 5 is quite noticeable with the citrus herbal top. Smell the air in one minute so there’s the merest trace of CHANEL No 5 and still some citrus. Smell again in one minute and you are left with a lightly citrus and floral white musk fragrance. In 5 minutes more you are left with musk and you smell like your laundry. Now, for every minute you just did that multiply by 10 minutes and that’s basically how CHANEL No 5 L’Eau wore for me.

Olivier Polge has created CHANEL NO 5 for people who hate to smell CHANEL No 5. It’s not bad. It’s quite pretty and beautifully blended but it doesn’t have my heart singing either. It smells like a cologne and wears like one too. CHANEL No 5 L’Eau could come from the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria line, except the top is reminiscent of CHANEL No 5.

It’s going to be a huge hit.

You want to smell it? Get yourself to a CHANEL counter or enter our competition below.
Portia xx

N°5 L’EAU: the announcement film – CHANEL

 

Giveaway Kesha&Co

CHANEL N°5 L’Eau GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 3 winners who will receive:
1 x Carded Manufacturers Sample CHANEL No 5 L’Eau
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Tell us your favourite CHANEL fragrance (old or new) or which one you’d like to try

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Saturday 10th September 2016 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Wednesday 14th September 2016 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit

Pionus GIVEAWAY WINNER

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Post by Portia

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WOW! Thanks to Azar for her amazing generosity!
Let’s see who won,
Portia xxx

Pionus GIVEAWAY WINNER

Azar 4.9.16 Blue Headed Pionus #1

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

The winner will receive:
1 x 5 ml of Note Fragrances Blood Orange Chocolat
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Wednesday 7th September 2016 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

winner nodepositforum

TIFFANIE

The winner will have till Saturday 10th September 2016 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

Bookworm Portia: Fragrance & Novels

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Post by Portia

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Hello Bookworms,

Lately I have been back reading books. For a while life was just too hectic and my head felt too full of whirling stuff to be able to fully give myself to a book. Thankfully life has calmed down to a mere roller coaster ride and I’m finding some space to get my read on. Books have always had a special place in my life. Mum & Dad used to read us to sleep every night and we were always told that when the world got too tough losing yourself in a book was an excellent cure. So, many of my books have been read and reread since my childhood and every time it’s like seeing old friends. Here though are a few of the fragrant books I’ve been reading this last few weeks.

Bookworm Portia: Fragrance & Novels

The Scent Trail Celia Lyttelton BookDepositoryBookDepository

The Scent Trail: Celia Lyttelton

The Scent Trail: How One Woman’s Quest for the Perfect Perfume Took Her Around the World. I enjoyed this book immensely and Celia Lyttelton must have spent a small fortune going on this grand journey around the world, meeting amazing people who grow, harvest and distil the fragrant ingredients that she had made into a bespoke scent. If you ever wanted to know more about where the natural ingredients are sourced then this book will give you enormous insight. Every now and then I had to go back and reread a page because I was lost in jealousy at her great good fortune.

Jitterbug Perfume Tom Robbins BookDepositoryBookDepository

Jitterbug Perfume: Tom Robbins

I have had this damn book for years and would read the first chapter or two and put it down in bafflement. This year I was determined to read all the way to the very last page, and I did. Tom Robbins leads us a merry dance and the story of finding immortality through scent is spellbinding, once you push through the first few chapters. I find that after reading it I look back on it with more admiration that I had while doing the reading. Jitterbug perfume needs to be reread and savoured next time.

The Perfume Garden Kate Lord Brown BookDepositoryBookDepository

The Perfume Garden: Kate Lord Brown

To be honest my initial thought was that I would hate this novel. Turns out I couldn’t put the damn thing down. A story told across generations with simultaneous narratives from all the protagonists, happening over a 70 year period. Basically a couple of love stories and a family torn apart by war. Mainly set in Valencia, Spain and there is a lot of fragrant talk because two of the main characters are perfumers. Really enjoyable, if slightly predictable read.

The Perfume collector Kathleen Tessaro BookDepositoryBookDepository

The Perfume Collector: Kathleen Tessaro

An estate, a perfume store, an inheritance, lost love, drama, found love. It’s all here in a very entertaining book. There is something about the writers style that irked me a few times but the story rolls along inventively enough and I ended up invested emotionally in the characters, though they are mostly only mildly likeable.

Two honourable mentions:
The Perfumed Sleeve by Laura Joh Rowland: A fabulously salacious murder mystery set in old Japan with a few fragrant references. Who knew old Japan was such a sexual hotbed of lies and deceit?
The Sari Shop Widow by Shobhan Bantwal: Indian widow and family nearly lose their family shop but the dictatorial oldest brother comes with his business partner to help. Few fragrant references but a cracking good read. My second reading, it was even better this time.

What are you reading?
Portia xxx

Sample GIVEAWAY Sep 2016 WINNER

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Post by Portia

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Woo Hoo APJ!

Loads of you came along and got involved in this one. Great to see so many of you. I hope life its treating you kindly wherever you are.
Portia xx

Sample GIVEAWAY Sep 2016 WINNER

SAMPLES 8.2016

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

The winner will receive one each of these samples:
Manhattan Rose by Krigler
Fiore del Dragone by Tesori d`Oriente
Poopoo Pidoo by Egofacto
Jamais le Dimanche by Egofacto
Le Americhe Caribbean Fruits by Compagnia Delle Indie
Bleu de Nice Santal by PierSaintPier
Equinox Bloom by Penhaligon’s
Opus X by Amouage
San Francisco by A Wing & A Prayer
Dreams & Visions by A Wing & A Prayer
Bella by A Wing & A Prayer
Coeur de Vetiver scare by L’Artisan
Holiday No. 14 by DSH Perfumes
JaLouSie by perfumes Lalun
Vetiver des Sables by Montale
Aoud Lime by Montale
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Saturday 3rd September 2016 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

Winner FallOutFactory

Tarena

The winner will have till Wednesday 7th September 2016 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

First (Vintage Parfum) by Jean Claude Ellena for Van Cleef & Arpels 1976

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Post by Portia

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Hello Vintage Lovers,

Some days when the post arrives and a long awaited and expected package is finally in my hands I get a little tremor of uncertainty. Will this be the real deal? Will I have spent my hard earned (OK only mildly) cash on a winner or a bummer? The other day was just such a day, arriving opened and lightly used was a vintage extract that I had extremely high hopes for……

First (Vintage Parfum) by Van Cleef & Arpels 1976

First Vintage Parfum by Jean Claude Ellena

First Van Cleef & ArpelsVan Clef & Arpels

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Aldehydes, Bergamot, Raspberry, Mandarin, Peach, Black currant
Heart: Carnation, Hyacinth, Orris root, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-valley, Narcissus, Orchid, Tuberose, Turkish rose, Ylang-ylang
Base: Amber, Oakmoss, Honey, Musk, Sandalwood, Tonka bean, Vanilla, Vetiver, Civet

When First was released I was 8. Being in Australia we may have got it around then but it wasn’t really on my radar. At that time I was completely unaware of anything except that my Mum was the most beautiful and smelled the best of all the Aunties and all the other Mums. The reason I bought this perfume bottle is that I have memories of First being around through my teen years in a general sort of way. I don’t think Mum had it but some of the ladies in my sphere did, there were definitely bottles of it in my vision.

I had a modern EdT that basically bludgeoned my nose to headache with its opening cacophony and I wondered if an older perfume would be less ferocious.

First Van Cleef & Arpels Gold silk PixabayPDI

How does it smell? Richer, less aldehydic at the opening though they are still a fizzy, slightly oily metallic patina over the fruits. First perfume is less about the opening though and more about the heart, as if it can’t wait to get to the white and yellow flowers. Once this jasmine-centric heart arrives it’s swoon time. So beautifully blended that my main reading is jasmine supported by other white flowers and creamy, slightly banana ylang. I’m sure better noses could parse it more succinctly. You have no idea how freaking gorgeous first perfume is. Unbelievable, eye-rolling, deep breath till I think my hand might get sucked up my nose fabulous.

The heart lasts for ages before I start to notice it becoming more honeyed and sweeter. I can’t decide if it’s sandalwood or a combination of other things. I do smell furry oakmoss and a lovely dose of animal, soft and plush. From just 3 dabs on my hand this baby lasts all night and I can still smell whispers of an animalic vanilla/amber in the morning.

First Van Cleef & Arpels 3rd Eye Photographer Field of gold FlickrFlickr

Further reading: Perfume Posse and Non Blonde
I found my bottle on eBay
Surrender To Chance has extrait samples from $19/0.5ml

Have you had the pleasure?
Portia xx

Home Made Kimchi: Jin’s Family Recipes

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Post by Portia

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Hey there crew,

As you know Jin is South Korean. One of the most important dishes in the South Korean cuisine is Kimchi. Since he moved to Australia he has been buying his Kimchi pre made in bulk. Recently though he decided he was homesick for his families recipe. So he rang his Mum & Dad and got the details and then our house smelled like a South Korean outdoor food market for an afternoon.

IMG_7009

So this photo happened on my FaceBook. A couple of my mates asked for the recipe. OK, but every family in South Korean family has their own recipes, often handed down over centuries. Sometimes melding different families recipes through marriage. So today Jin is going to give you two of his families recipes. They are really simple to make and not very expensive either.

Jin finished Kimchi 2016 #1

Here Jin has added both of today’s Home Made Kimch Recipes with roast pork and sliced garlic cloves, wrapped in a lettuce leaf and eaten in one mouthful.

Chinese Cabbage Kimchi

This is what most people think of when they think Kimchi, it’s the most readily available in the store pre-made.

1 Chinese cabbage
1 cup of Sea Salt
About 10 cups of Water
1 Onion (+/- up to you)
2 or 3 Shallot/Scallions (+/- up to you)

  1. Cut Chinese cabbage into quarters, remove core and then cut about 5cm strips
  2. Submerge in sea salt and cold water
  3. Leave it for 2-3 hours until it gets soggy
  4. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce (it needs time for chili power to get wet and swell)
  5. Cut onion in 1cm strips and shallots 2-3cm
  6. Wash Chinese Cabbage with fresh water 3 or 4 times until all the salt is washed off
  7. Drain the water
  8. Mix the sauce, cabbage and onion together
  9. Add shallot and mix
  10. Leave for a minimum of 1 hour before eating but overnight in the fridge is better (gets more sour the longer it’s left)
  11. Done

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #1

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #2

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #4

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #5

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #6

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #7

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #8

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #9

Jin Cabbage Kimchi 2016 #10

Radish Kimchi

Now, this Kimchi is traditionally made to go ONLY with boiled pork on celebration days but Jin loves it so much he’s eating it with everything.

1 Large Daikon Radish
3 tbsp of Sea Salt
1/4 cup Sesame Seeds (+/- up to you)
1/4 cup Sesame Oil

  1. Peel large Radish, cut into 1cm discs, then cut discs into 1cm straws (like McDonalds French Fries)
  2. Apply sea salt and mix together
  3. Leave it for 30min-1 hour until it gets soggy, you must be able to bend the Radish straw without it snapping.
  4. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce (it needs time for chili power to get wet and swell)
  5. Wash Radish with fresh water 3 or 4 times until all the salt is washed off
  6. Drain the water
  7. Mix the sauce with Radish (by hand is easier)
  8. Add Sesame Seeds & Sesame Oil
  9. Leave for a minimum of 1 hour before eating but overnight in the fridge is better (gets more sour the longer it’s left)
  10. Done

Jin Radish Kimchi 2016 #1

Jin Radish Kimchi 2016 #2

Jin Radish Kimchi 2016 #3

Jin Radish Kimchi 2016 #4

Jin Radish Kimchi 2016 #5

Jin Radish Kimchi 2016 #6

Kimchi Sauce

This sauce combines with the vegetables and starts a fermentation process. After a few days sitting in your fridge it make lots of lactobacillus with a sour taste. Very good for your digestive system health, much like yoghurt. It should last up to a year in the fridge, getting more sour as it ages. Originally Korean farmers would do this at harvest time so they could have vegetables through the winter, like Westerners pickle.

1 cup of chili powder
1/2 cup of fish sauce
2/3 cup of crushed garlic
3 tbs of sugar

  1. Put all ingredients together in a bowl
  2. Mix all the ingredients quickly
  3. When fully combined it will look like a thick paste
  4.  Set aside till needed
  5. It takes an hour or so for chili power get properly wet and swell
  6. Mix into ready vegetables
  7. Done

Jin Kimchi Sauce 2016 #1

Jin Kimchi Sauce 2016 #2

Jin Kimchi Sauce 2016 #3

Jin finished Kimchi 2016 #2

With love from our family to yours,
Jin & Portia xxx