In-house project
We suddenly thought of the value of taste, which can only be completed when a long time and human devotion are trodden upon. Some call it 'tradition' and some call it 'fermentation'.
The Dott12 project began with an earnest desire to borrow the authenticity of those who have quietly kept their places unseen, allowing the depth and dignity of Korean fermentation culture to be re-experienced in the most natural yet profound way on today's dining table. In a fast-paced world, we wish to add a forgotten, deep warmth to daily life through this flavor born from waiting for 12 months of the year.
Sunchang has long been the center of Korean traditional sauce culture. The sauces, which silently ripen while enduring the seasons, temperature, wind, and sunlight, were not just simple food ingredients, but were closer to a culture that fully encapsulates the life and patience of the Korean people. We did not want to stop at simply recreating the value of this tradition, but wanted to reinterpreting it with a modern sensibility. To achieve this, we began a deep collaboration with master artisans who have been making traditional sauces in the Sunchang region for decades, as well as local producers. To capture their philosophy of preserving good ingredients, as well as their fermentation technology and traditional sensibility accumulated through long experience within a single project, we contemplated and researched together in every moment, from ingredient selection to the manufacturing process. The brand name ‘Dott’ contains the meaning of ‘enhancing the taste’ (Mat-eul dod-u-da) in pure Korean, and the number ‘12’ symbolizes the fermentation time completed with devotion and waiting over a period of 12 months in a year. Our philosophy, which pursues depth over speed and balance over stimulation, is gently melted into this name.
Rather than using flashy additives, Dott12 focused on key ingredients nurtured by the soil of Korea. We used deep gochujang, doenjang, and soy sauce, crafted by masters in Sunchang over generations, as our foundation. To this, we added carefully roasted sesame seeds and pungent minced garlic. Instead of artificial sugars, we combined blueberries and natural grain syrup to achieve a natural sweetness and rich flavor. Insisting on 100% domestic ingredients, we focused on silently bringing out the inherent taste and nutrition of the ingredients using traditional fermentation methods. Within these small, humble ingredients lie the stubborn passion of masters who have silently carried out their craft on Korean soil for a long time, and the teardrops of sweat from farmers who have tilled the soil and farmed for decades.
What we wanted to create with such dedication was not just a single bowl of 'Ssamjang'. It was a single, weighted proposal and project to allow more people to experience the depth and refinement of Korean fermentation culture more naturally in their daily lives, borrowing the long years and sincerity of those who have kept their places out of sight.
We wanted to deliver a savory flavor that is remembered longer than a spicy and strong taste, a flavor that shines brighter on the daily table than on special occasions. By pairing naturally with meat, rice, salads, and vegetables, we aim to prove the new possibilities of Korean sauce culture. We believe that tradition is not merely something old and ancient, but a value that has survived across the barriers of time to this day. Dott12 is a small attempt to calmly carry forward Korea's rich time and sincerity in today's way, and it is a long journey that will continue without stopping, just as deep sauce matures year after year.
