The consumption of high-salt foods is an independent risk factor for increased hypertension. Thus, evaluating the relationship of taste sensitivity and pleasantness of high-salt foods such as Korean jang products, would help contribute to an understanding of salty food eating behaviors of the Korean rural elderly. This study aimed to verify the association between taste sensitivity and salinity of Korean jang products, and the preferences of food groups and nutrient intake in the rural elderly. We studied 269 elderly persons (males 83, females 186) aged above 65 years, residing in the rural area, Sunchang gun Jeonbuk. For each subject, a recognition threshold of 4 basic tastes and pleasant concentrations of NaCl were estimated using the sip- and–spit method. Taste preferences, frequency of intake of food groups, nutrient intakes, and salinity and sweetness of Korean jang products (Doenjang, Ganjang, Gochujang) were assessed. No association was found between salt taste recognition threshold and optimally preferred concentration of salt and salinity of Korean jang products. However, the sweet taste recognition threshold was positively related to the sweetness of Korean jang products. Also, the salinity of Doenjang positively correlated with the frequencies of food groups and nutrient intakes. That is to say that the sweet taste sensitivity was related to the sweetness of Korean jang products, but was not sensitive to the salty taste. The salinity of Doenjang correlated with the consumption of food and nutrient intakes. Taken together, these findings suggest the need for appropriate intervention and education to reduce the salinity of Doenjang, which is an important modifiable factor contributing to reducing sodium intake in the rural elderly.

This study aimed to investigate potential acceptability of Korean jang products among Halal food consumer’s to predict its market possibility in a Halal food market. Focus Group Interview (FGI) was implemented to 11 Halal food consumers residing in Korea for more than 4 month. During the test, 3 types of fermented paste, doenjang, ssamjang and gochujang were evaluated by applying these to Korean foods. In depth interview was conducted on the liking of the jang applied samples, general experiences of Korean food and fermented food in their home countries. The results showed that consumers were positive to Korean jang applied samples in general. The mean liking ratings of doenjang, ssamjang and gochujang were 7.1, 7 and 7.6 on 9-point hedonic scale, respectively. Consumers focused on the sweet and spicy flavor quality of the samples. Consumers commonly responded that the doenjang tasted too salty and needed to increase sweet and spicy flavor, and ssamjang needed to increase spicy flavor as well. Sweetening was necessary for gochujang. The reasons of liking Korean jang were because the flavors were unique yet familiar. The balanced flavor of salty, sweet and spicy flavor were additional reasons of liking. However, the fermented smell of jang products were reasons of disliking the products.

Eh-jang (fermented aquatic products) of Asia can be classified 4 groups, those are Chot-kal (salted fish guts), Chot-kal Paste, Eh-ganjang (fish sauce) and Shic-hae (lactic acid fermented fish products). The native place of Eh-jang and rice culture is almost same and Eh-jang had been spread out all the area of Asia along with rice culture. Korea has variety of Chot-gal and consumes much Chot-gal that Korea is the culture area of both soybean sauce and Chot-gal. Eh-ganjang had been edible all area of Korea during Chosun Dynasty, but it remains only Southern part of Korea. Korean Chot-gal paste is produced as a form of Kon-chang-yi-chot. Korean Shic-hae had been edible all area of Korea during Chosun Dynasty, but remains at the east coast and some area of Hwang-hae Do and Kyung-sang-nam-do.