Food in Korea is about the experience and sharing of food. Varying from other Asian cultures many Korean meals feature a variety of side dishes called banchan, with short grain, steam cooked rice, served family style and consumed in a variety of combinations (meals are often names for the number of side dishes!) Korean cuisine is largely based on rice, vegetables, and seafood (and meat in South Korea) and meals strive for balance, not only of the flavors (sweet, sour, bitter, salty and spicy) but of color as well (red, yellow, black, white, blue).