Of course. The cultivation of ginseng is actually quite different from other crops. Once it is cultivated, it cannot be re-cultivated in the same field for 15 years. The field must be carefully selected as the outcome depends on the nature of the soil and land. Korean ginseng is so popular that the field soil is prepared two years by tilling the soils repeatedly with fresh leaves such as oak.

It refers to the shape of the ginseng. The Korean ginseng has a root system, which includes the rhizome head, main root and lateral roots. These three elements are where numerous fine roots develop. On the whole, the Korean ginseng has such a balanced shape that it resembles a human body. Let me show you what I mean…

OK… The shape of the ginseng changes as the root develops. In the first year, the main root develops with 30 to 40 lateral roots. These roots either fall off or are cut off while transplanting the following year. After transplantation in the second year, the lateral roots are re-grown. In the third year, the elongation of the main root and the number of lateral roots should both be growing well in length and volume.

The main root grows only in volume, thus forming the characteristic shape of Korean ginseng. A six-year-old ginseng has a 7 to 10 cm long main root and a diameter of 2 to 3 cm, with several lateral roots and a large rhizome head. This type of ginseng is used for making red ginseng. Its total length is about 34 cm and weigh between 40 to 120 g. In some cases, it can even weigh up to 300 g. It is not good for roots to grow more than 7 years. If it does, the roots would appear 'retarded' and ill shaped with woody skin. A higher rate of cavity or 'inside-white' will also occur after processing.

Korean ginseng is different from other ginseng cultivated in China, Japan, and North America. It takes as long as 6 years to cultivate Korean ginseng. In terms of ginsenoside, the Korean ginseng contains 22 kinds of ginsenoside while the others contain 8 to 9 types. Moreover, it contains anti-aging substances such as anti-oxidant and an insulin-like substance, which are not found in other types of ginseng. One need not fear poisoning or drug dependency effects like those often caused by others. Besides, its effects are always remedial. With the coming of modern science, many scientists have started investigating the effect of ginseng for the past two decades and it can now be proven that Korean ginseng is effective in several different ways.