The New South Korean Hangover Cure – Grapefruit Ice-cream

It’s a Monday morning, and somehow your colleagues managed to convince you to hit the town last night. Now today, you’re nursing one of the world’s biggest headaches and just want to sleep the pain away.

Does this sound familiar?

In South Korea, a country where, based on the numbers, drinking seems to be very much a part of the work and social culture, a creative group has managed to produce special hangover removing ice-cream.

The item in question is the Gyeondyo-bar which roughly translates to “hang in there,” and it is the first ice-cream bar sold with the purpose of stopping the dreaded hangover, and of course, tasting delicious at the same time.

The grapefruit-flavored dessert contains a hangover curing ingredient dating back to the 17^th century, oriental raisin tree fruit juice. In 2012, the Journal of Neuroscience proved the ancient ingredient reduced intoxication in rats.

South Koreans are no strangers to alcohol. It is estimated that on average they drink 12.3 liters of alcohol a year, the highest figure in the Asia-pacific area, and surprisingly, more than the Irish.

The high consumption of alcohol in South Korea has caused significant problems for the government, employers, and hospitals. A study done by South Korea’s National Health Insurance in 2013 shows that the yearly cost of drinking is $125 million, caused by loss of production, hospitalization, and early death.

Aside from hangover reducing ice-cream, pills, and cosmetic products, which hide the effects of alcohol, calming foods like “hangover soup” are popular.

Photo credits: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com