The senior kitchen maids are upset that the Court Ladies picked Jang-Geum and Geum-Young as their assistants. Yeon-Saeng defends Jang-Geum. Jang-Geum begs Court Lady Han to pick someone else since she can’t tastes the flavours. Court Lady Han tells Jang-Geum the reason she can’t pick anyone else is because Jang-Geum has culinary talent and understanding of food that neither Court Lady Han nor Choi nor Geum-Young has. She orders Jang-Geum to show up to practice next day.
Jang-Geum remembers her childhood days when her mother explained to her the ways of food preparation and food-pairing. Court Lady Han tells Jang-Geum to steam the prawn and bean curd steamboat even though she’s never done it and she can’t taste a thing. Jang-Geum makes royal disheswhile Han is watching. Court Lady Han tells Jang-Geum not to taste her own food, rather cook with confidence in her knowledge.
Court Lady Choi tells Geum-Young about the secret recipes that their family has acquired from the previous Head of Royal Kitchen. She wants Geum-Young to practice secretly.
Court Lady Choi walks in to the girls room while Yong Non (Ling Lo) and Chang-Ee (Yeol-I) are playing mahjong. Choi talks to Yong-Non privately. She gives Yong Non money and ask her to move in with Jang-Geum and Yon-Seng and spy on Jang-Geum’s every movement.
There is a crisis in the Royal Kitchen. All the jars of baen sauce have an off taste even though the same salt and same water were used like before. It’s a serious matter because when the taste of bean paste is changed, it signifies a bad omen to the nation. Court Lady Jung tells Court Lady Han and Choi to figure out what happened and find a way to solve the crisis. This will also be their first competition.
Court Lady Choi takes Geum-Young to see her brother for help. She finds out from her brother that the salt was switched by Right Prime Minister Oh. Choi Pan Sul is worried by the news since Court Lady Han is investigating the matter so he orders his men to hurry and get rid of the salt that is in the store.
Court Lady Han brings Jang-Geum to town to trace the origin of all the materials that are involved in the palace bean paste making. They run into Kang Deok Gu and Na Ju Daek as they’re on their way to the palace to bring precious wine to Jang-Geum. Jang-Geum tells Duk Gu about the bean sauce taste.
Geum-Young tells Court Lady Choi that she doesn’t think salt is the reason why the taste changed. Chan-Ee asks Court Lady Jung about the difference salt tastes when stored moist and dry and this gives Court Lady Jung a clue.
Min Jung-Ho and his men are guarding the palace at night when they see a shadow running by. Gang Deok Gu sneaks into the place where the bean pastes are kept inside the palace. Min Jung-Ho and the guards find Deok Gu praying in front of the jars. Min orders Kang’s capture. Min orders Kang to confess his offense. Kang begs for Min to listen for his explanation. Kang says the name ‘Jang-Geum’ which gets Min’s attention. Min brings Kang to Court Lady Jung. Kang Duk Gu states he was there to help jang-geum switch the taste back. Min lets Kang go. Min apologizes to Kang about being harsh earlier and asks Kang if Jang-Geum is his daughter. Kang says people comment how her inteligence reminds them of her father’s wit. Min states he sees no resemblance.
Court Lady Han and Jang-Geum arrive at a village where the villagers have gathered all the jars of bean paste under one tree. They learn that the villagers believe the spot under the tree cultivates the best taste in bean sauce.
The villanger also tells Jang-Geum about a couple of other spots where the villagers recognize as the best places to ferment the bean sauce. Court Lady Han and Jang-Geum visit the house where the villager told them about and they ask to taste the paste. The sauce really tastes better.
Head Court Lady Jae Jo Sang Gong scolds Jung Sang Gong for the bean paste incident and worries about the meal next day. Court Lady Choi states she found a good sauce that they can use for the time being. Right Prime Minister Oh informs the King of trouble of bush fires. Head Court Lady wonders if it’s because of the bad taste in this year’s paste that causes it. The King says that can’t be true.
Court Lady Han and Jang-Geum tell Court Lady Jung that they have found out why the taste is different and Jang-Geum is about to tell the Royal Kitchen Court Ladies the reason.