"It melts in your mouth" The honey-sweet harvest scene of Sancheok-myeon, Chungju sweet potatoes

At the threshold of autumn, sweet treasures freshly dug from the ground have revealed themselves. This is the scene where people have gathered to enjoy the flavor of Chungju sweet potatoes, which have reached their peak season.

"Below this is a treasure trove" A bountiful harvest cultivated with beads of sweat

According to a video from KBS Documentary Workshop, the area around Sancheok-myeon, Chungju was recently filled with the joy of harvesting sweet potatoes. People who gathered from early morning began digging into the ground with unpracticed hands to harvest the sweet potatoes. Thick and sturdy sweet potatoes poured out from various parts of the field. At the scene, an experience of harvesting the sweet potatoes directly was also conducted. People immersed in the fun of harvesting shouted, "It's coming, it's coming," as they faced the bountiful sweet potatoes emerging from the soil.

The harvest site was reminiscent of a treasure trove. A reporter with 20 years of experience commented, "This is a prime spot," as the area was filled with bountiful sweet potatoes. One citizen participating in the harvest shared the joy of harvesting, saying, "I will take these many sweet potatoes and make them into sweet potato starch honey glaze (mattang), steam them, and roast them." In particular, a harmonious family harvesting scene was captured, such as a son being seen harvesting sweet potatoes even better than his father.

"It was worth waiting in line" The temptation of hot roasted sweet potatoes

The hottest spot at the Chungju Sancheok Sweet Potato Festival was undoubtedly the roasted sweet potato tasting corner. A participant in the video was seen waiting in a line that was notably longer than others to taste the roasted sweet potatoes. The freshly roasted sweet potatoes revealed their yellow flesh, stimulating the appetites of those watching.

The pumpkin sweet potato, a representative variety of Chungju, boasted a texture that seemed to melt in the mouth and a sweet taste. The participant expressed the irresistible taste even amidst the hot heat, saying, "It melts in my mouth." Meanwhile, at the direct transaction market set up on one side of the festival grounds, footsteps continued from those looking to purchase high-quality Chungju sweet potatoes at a low price. Various varieties of sweet potatoes, including those from Cheondeungsan Mountain, were gathered, adding to the fun of choosing according to one's taste. At the scene, a citizen was also captured purchasing six boxes of sweet potatoes at once to give as gifts to relatives. A regular visitor who visits around this time every year highly evaluated the quality of Chungju sweet potatoes, saying, "It is the most delicious among all I have tried."

The appearance of 'Sweet Potato Bread' resembling sweet potatoes and unique desserts

This festival went beyond simply eating sweet potatoes and provided a unique gastronomic experience using sweet potatoes. What caught the most attention was the 'staple crop bread' that looks exactly like the real thing, such as corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. While the appearance is unmistakably that of a sweet potato, the inside is filled with sweet sweet potato, providing joy to visitors.

This bread is characterized by a chewy texture that stretches like glutinous rice cake. It offered a different kind of fun with a chewy exterior and a fluffy sweet potato inside. At the festival site, in addition to sweet potato bread, various desserts using sweet potato as the main ingredient, such as sweet potato tiramisu and sweet potato latte, were prepared to deliver the sweet taste of autumn to visitors. In particular, the sweet potato latte was cited as a delicacy that allows one to feel the flavor of sweet potato filling the mouth. The season of Chungju sweet potatoes, cultivated by the sweat of farmers, is expected to continue providing sweet happiness until the weather gets colder in winter.