Introduction

Bae (배) is the Korean pear – a large, round Asian pear with golden-brown skin and very crisp, juicy white flesh. Koreans eat it fresh as a dessert fruit and give boxes of it as holiday gifts, but it is also a key cooking ingredient. Grated pear sweetens and tenderizes bulgogi marinade and galbi sauce, adds freshness to naengmyeon broth and kimchi, and is simmered with ginger into baesuk, a traditional warm pear drink.

Bae at a Glance

What it is

• A large Korean Asian pear with crisp, juicy flesh

Main ingredients

• Fresh pear; also sold as pear juice, pear extract and pear drinks

Taste

• Very juicy, sweet and refreshing, with a crunchy, slightly grainy texture

Main uses

• Fresh fruit, meat marinades, naengmyeon broth, kimchi, baesuk and pear juice

What is Bae Made Of?

Bae is a fruit, so the main question is which form to buy:

• Fresh Korean pears: large, round, brown-skinned pears, often sold wrapped in foam nets. Choose heavy, firm fruit with smooth skin.
• Other Asian pears: smaller yellow-green Asian pears work in all the same recipes.
• Pear juice and pear drinks: bottled or canned Korean pear juice, handy for marinades.
• Pear extract (bae-jeup): concentrated pear juice in pouches, sometimes with ginger or bellflower root.

What Does Bae Taste Like?

A Korean pear tastes clean, sweet and almost floral, with so much juice it drips when you bite in. The texture is crisp like an apple rather than soft like a Western pear. When cooked, it turns tender and translucent, and its sweetness blends gently into syrups and sauces.

Popular Korean Dishes That Use Bae

Baesuk

Pear pieces studded with black peppercorns and simmered in ginger water and honey – the recipe below.

Bulgogi and Galbi Marinades

Grated pear adds natural sweetness and helps tenderize meat in galbi sauce and bulgogi.

Naengmyeon

Thin pear slices top cold noodles, and pear juice often sweetens the naengmyeon broth.

Kimchi and Water Kimchi

Pear is blended into kimchi paste or sliced into dongchimi and nabak kimchi for a fresh sweetness.

Easy Baesuk Recipe (Serves 4)

Ingredients

• 1 large Korean pear (or 2 smaller Asian pears)
• About 30 whole black peppercorns
• 1 thumb-size piece fresh ginger (about 1 oz / 30 g), thinly sliced
• 5 cups (1.2 L) water
• 1/3 cup (65 g) sugar or 4 tbsp honey, to taste
• Pine nuts and 2 dried jujubes, sliced, to garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Put the ginger and water in a pot, bring to a boil and simmer 15 minutes. Remove the ginger slices.
2. Peel the pear, cut into 8 wedges and remove the core. Press 3–4 peppercorns into the outer side of each wedge.
3. Add the sugar (or honey) and the pear wedges to the ginger water.
4. Simmer gently for 15–20 minutes until the pear is tender and slightly translucent.
5. Serve warm, or chill and serve cold, with a few pine nuts and jujube slices floating on top. Remove the peppercorns as you eat.

Tip: If you use honey, stir it in after you turn off the heat to keep its flavor. For a stronger drink, simmer a cinnamon stick with the ginger, like sujeonggwa.

Where to Buy Bae

United States

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Amazon
Search Korean pear juice on Amazon
Search Korean pear extract on Amazon

H-Mart
Search Korean pear on H-Mart

Canada

Search Korean pear juice on Amazon.ca

Europe

Search Korean pear juice on Amazon.co.uk

How to Store Bae

Korean pears keep well: wrap each one in paper or its foam net, put them in a bag and refrigerate for several weeks. Cut pear browns quickly, so wrap it tightly and use within a day. Baesuk keeps 4–5 days in a sealed container in the fridge. Opened pear juice should be refrigerated and used within a few days.

Bae FAQ

What can I use instead of Korean pear in a marinade?

Any Asian pear works best. In a pinch, use a sweet apple, kiwi (in small amounts, as it tenderizes strongly) or bottled pear juice.

Is Korean pear the same as Asian pear?

Korean pears are a type of Asian pear. They are usually larger and rounder, with brown skin and very juicy flesh.

Why are there peppercorns in baesuk?

The peppercorns are a traditional touch that adds a gentle warmth and spice to the sweet pear and ginger.

Conclusion

Bae is far more than a snack fruit – it is the secret to tender bulgogi and refreshing cold noodles, and the heart of warm, gingery baesuk. Keep a few pears in the fridge this winter and try the drink above. For more Korean warm drinks, see our ginger syrup guide.