Why Korean rice syrup is so expensive

• A 1-kilogram bottle of artisanal rice syrup can reach $140.
• It's all due to sikhye: a mixture of steamed rice, hot water, and barley malt.
• Sikhye takes days — and nights — of hard work to achieve.

Rice syrup is a staple in Korean cuisine. It's used in many savory dishes, and it's the base of traditional sweets like yeot, or rice taffy. A 1-kilogram bottle of artisanal rice syrup can reach $140. It's all due to sikhye: a mixture of steamed rice, hot water, and barley malt. Sikhye takes days — and nights — of hard work to achieve. So, how long does it actually take to make sikhye? And is this why rice syrup is so expensive?