Joanna James
From delightful Korean teas, refreshing juices, and delicious milkshakes to traditional rice wines, Korea has a lot to offer foodies in terms of tasty beverages. Here’s a curated list to refer to if you’re considering a visit to Seoul, Korea any time soon!
A non-alcoholic rice wine, sujeonggwa is a popular traditional dessert drink consumed by locals on important Korean festive holidays. Sujeonggwa or Korean cinnamon punch is made from cinnamon, dried persimmon, and water. It is beneficial in aiding good digestion which is why it is often served with large meals. This particular drink has a delightful sweet and spicy aroma and can be consumed both hot and cold.
This aromatic and enticing Korean infusion is made with Korea’s five-flavour berry – omija. Also known as the magnolia berry, omija berries are dried before they are used to make the tea. Traditionally, preparation of the omija -cha beverage requires steeping the dried berries in cold water. The tea is then sweetened with a generous helping of honey or sugar. One can upon drinking experience the five omija flavours – sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, sourness, and pungency.
If you’re planning a visit to Korea during the summertime, a great way to beat the warm temperatures is to sip on a delicious glass of maesilcha or green plum tea. This refreshing fruit tea aids in food digestion relieves symptoms of food poisoning, helps detoxify the body, and is great for overcoming fatigue and stimulating one’s appetite.
Described as a cross between frozen yoghurt and a melting mousse, Milkis is a beloved South Korean soft drink available in many flavours such as watermelon, apple, orange, peach, banana, strawberry, and mango. This drink is made with milk, sugar, corn syrup, and carbonated water and can be found in almost all vending machines and supermarkets in the country.
Korean whipped coffee or Dalgona Coffee as it is more popularly known can be found in almost all coffee shops around many a hotel near Myeongdong Shopping Street such as the likes of Travelodge Myeongdong Euljiro. This popular coffee is concocted by hand beating or whipping equal parts of hot water, sugar, and coffee until the mixture achieves a creamy consistency. After which a generous helping of cold or hot milk is added. Popular toppings include honey, crumbled biscuits, coffee powder, and cocoa.
A herbal tea infusion made out of the ginseng plant’s root, insam-cha, or ginseng tea does not contain any tea leaves. Regular consumption of this traditional Korean tea is known to help reduce inflammation and reduce oxidative stress.
This Korean traditional rice wine is made with just three main ingredients – nuruk, water and rice. The oldest alcoholic beverage in Korea, this drink dates back to the 1st century. A popular drink among the locals, this rice wine is consumed during meals in a communal setting.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
