For food enthusiasts, the kitchen scenes (despite some discontinuity with the cook's hands) are delicious. The court food served, the royal cooking competitions, the meals served to the royal family, and the scary politics of the court kitchen all add color to Jang Geum's personal journey. Set during the early 16th century, history buffs will note that chili peppers had not yet been introduced into the Korean kitchen, but the art of pickling and making kimchee was already centuries old. Over the course of the miniseries, the characters cook humble dishes, royal ceremonial meals, and herbal remedies.