Recently, a frenzy about corn cobs has swept China and abroad, and a Korean corn whisker tea has been sold in China at a price of up to 5-6 yuan a bottle!You may wonder if this is just tea made from discarded corn cobs and corn stalksHowever, South Koreans regard these corn cobs, which are commonly used in rural areas, as treasures, and a small bag can be sold for 2,000 won in supermarkets. What kind of "garbage" is this, and what kind of secret is hidden behind it?
Waste utilization: a new life for corn cobs.
First of all, we must make it clear that the corn cob here does not refer to the kind of unripe corn cob sliced and stir-fried, but refers to the corn cob left after the corn is threshed, also known as the bud rice cob, which is common in rural China. After farmers have finished harvesting the corn, these corn cobs are often used to light fires or grind into feed for livestock. In our country, these corn cobs are considered worthless waste due to the huge production of corn.
Korea's "corn cob culture".
In South Korea, however, corn cobs are treated very differently. Koreans are not picky about corn cobs, and they like to use them as an ingredient in their cooking, making it a unique delicacy that is nicknamed "corn on the cob." In contrast, Chinese farmers often have only two uses for these corn cobs, one is to burn fires, and the other is to use them as feed for livestock, while in South Korea, they have become a fragrant food for food.
Creative use of Koreans.
Koreans get creative by not only boiling corn cobs and eating them with rice, but also cutting them into pieces and drying them and preserving them to make tea. This corn whisker tea has now become an industry, and even in the Chinese market, it has gradually become popular. Koreans also use corn cobs as an adjunct to soups to add to the taste, and some even grind them into flour to make special dishes. They also believe that corn cobs have a pleasant taste and can even be used as an air freshener, so corn cobs have become a hot seller in the Korean market.
The mystery behind South Korea's "corn cob".
So, why are these corn cobs so outrageous in South Korea?First of all, South Korea has a relatively small geographical area, many mountainous areas, and limited agricultural land, and only 1 3 percent of the land can be used to grow crops, resulting in relatively limited products. Coupled with South Korea's idea of land protection and the influence of the concept of "body and soil", South Korea's vegetables and fruits are higher than those in China.
China's "garbage" goes global: the export of corn cobs.
In this case, South Korea had to import corn cobs in large quantities, becoming one of the countries that import the most corn cobs in the world. This has led to an impressive business opportunity: China has started exporting corn cobs to South Korea, enabling the reuse of this "garbage". Some farmers even peel budding rice for the villagers by going to the door, and take the first corn cob as a reward, which has become a new way to make money.
Garbage to get rich: the miracle of Liaocheng, Shandong.
Shandong Liaocheng is a typical example. A farmer purchased a number of corn threshers and peeled budding rice for the villagers free of charge, with **corn cob as income**. The resulting thousands of corn cobs can be sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per ton after being exported to South Korea, giving this "garbage" a new lease of life. Shandong Liaocheng has established a complete set of industrial chains, providing employment opportunities and promoting the development of the local economy.
The "counterattack" of the kimchi industry
It is worth mentioning that not only corn cobs, but also Chinese cabbage has also set off a boom in the Korean market. Due to the limited land in South Korea and the invasion of natural disasters, the local cabbage production has plummeted, and ** has skyrocketed. The Chinese cabbage in Shandong, China, has become a "savior" to solve the problem of South Korea, and imported vegetables have become an important part of the Korean market.
Chinese ingredients go to South Korea: the overlord of the kimchi market.
From 2017 to 2020, 99% of the Korean kimchi market came from China. Shandong Renzhao Town even looked for partners across the country to establish a complete industrial chain by exporting spicy cabbage, realizing that local residents made a lot of money.
Epilogue. 
All in all, this series of phenomena fully demonstrates the business opportunities brought about by the differences between different countries and cultures. What we call "garbage" has become a valuable resource in their eyes. The "counterattack" of corn cob and Chinese cabbage is not only the circulation of ingredients, but also the result of cultural collision and innovation. In this seemingly simple exchange, we may be able to find more unknown business opportunities and possibilities.
This article reveals an interesting and promising phenomenon in which certain items that are considered "junk" become popular in other markets due to cultural differences. First of all, the article mentions the "new life" of corn cobs in Korea, especially by processing them into tea, kimchi and other foods, which have become a popular ingredient. This makes one wonder what makes the same ingredient produce very different values in different cultures
Behind this phenomenon is the diversity of food cultures on a global scale. In rural China, corn cobs are commonly used for fires and as livestock fodder because their value is considered relatively low. In South Korea, due to the limitations of geographical and land resources, they are more flexible in the use of food, and they have created new market demand by turning these discarded corn cobs into treasures and making tea, cooking, kimchi, etc.
The example of Liaocheng in Shandong Province in the article vividly shows the commercialization process of this phenomenon. Farmers have transformed corn cobs into foreign exports, which not only brings a new economy to the countryside, but also drives the complete construction of the local industrial chain. This business model of waste utilization not only solves environmental problems, but also promotes the prosperity of the local economy. This kind of innovative thinking of discovering business opportunities from "garbage" not only reflects the crystallization of rural wisdom, but also provides experience for other regions to learn from.
Another eye-catching point is the booming sales of Chinese cabbage in the Korean market. Due to geographical and climatic reasons, South Korea's own vegetable production is limited, so it has to rely on imports from other countries, among which China has become one of the major merchants. This not only shows the interdependence of global food products, but also provides a useful reference for Chinese agricultural products to enter the international market.
Ultimately, the essay provokes deep reflection on cultural differences and the values of objects. In the era of globalization, we need to be more sensitive to the business opportunities behind these cultural differences, so as to promote the economic development and rational use of resources in more regions. It's not just a story about food, it's a story that inspires us on how we think about and use resources.
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