Guide to Korean Tea

Popular Teas in Korea

There are a number of different teas enjoyed in Korea. As well as being made from tea leaves, many Korean teas will be brewed by infusing water with flowers, grains, fruits, roots and even seaweed!

We take a look at some of the most popular types of tea enjoyed in Korea.

Korean Leaf Tea

Leaf tea is one of the most common types of tea enjoyed around the world and includes classic tea types such as black tea and green tea. In Korea, the leaves of many other plants can be brewed into a delicious beverage. These can include Baegyeop-cha (pine leaf tea), which is made from Korean pine needles; Daennip-cha (bamboo leaf tea); Maego-cha (rugosa rose leaf tea); and ssukcha (Korean mugwort tea).

Green Tea

Green tea, known as Nokcha, is one of the most common forms of leaf tea enjoyed in Korea. In Korea, green tea is available as both loose leaf tea, known as ipcha, or powdered tea, known as garucha or malcha.

Mint Tea

Korean mint tea is made by infusing East Asian wild mint in hot water. This type of tea is rich in essential oils, such as menthol, which offers great benefits to the digestive system. Mint tea is also an anti-inflammatory, thus helping to soothe the body when drunk.

Persimmon Leaf Tea

Persimmon leaf tea is a herbal tea brewed from the leaves of the persimmon tree. As a herbal tea, it does not contain any caffeine. Instead, this tea is packed full of vitamins and minerals. Persimmon leaf tea is often used as a dietary tea, due to its metabolism-boosting effects.

Korean Flower Teas

Another popular type of tea enjoyed in Korea is that made from flowers. There are numerous varieties of flower that can be brewed into a tea, including lotus flower tea, chrysanthemum tea, peach flower tea, plum flower tea and dandelion tea.

Lotus Flower Tea

Known as yeonhwa-cha, this tea is made from the dried flower of the lotus plant. The flower is infused in hot water and brews a herbal tea. Considered a healthy tea, the lotus flower tea is known to improve heart health, reduce stress and regulate blood sugar levels. In Korea, the lotus leaf is also used to make tea, with drinks brewed from the leaves offering similar health benefits.

Chrysanthemum Tea

A very popular herbal tea, gukhwa-cha is made from the young flowers and leaves of the chrysanthemum plant. The flowers are dried for use as a tea. Chrysanthemum tea is often used as a bedtime tea, to help send you to sleep.

Korean Fruit Teas

Korea also produces several different fruit teas, which each offer an array of health benefits. Most fruit teas will be made from dried fruit, and a diverse range of fruits native to Korea can be used, including goji berries, citrus peel and pumpkin teas!

Jujube Tea

Daechu-cha or jujube tea is made from jujubes, a red date native to Southern Asia. Jujube’s produce a deep red-brown or maroon tea, and it is particularly rich in vitamin B and C. It also offers a high level of iron and potassium, giving those who drink it a boost.

Magnolia Berry Tea

Omija-cha (magnolia berry) is a tea to stimulate your taste buds, with sweet, sour, bitter, salty and pungent notes all present in each sip. Due to this intense flavourful experience, the tea is also known as the five-flavour tea. Made from dried magnolia berries, this traditional Korean tea is red in colour. Omija-cha can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Korean Grain, Seed and Bean Tea

While fruit and leaf teas are more popular around the world, in Korea, tea culture goes beyond this, with several alternative ingredients used to brew up a delicious cuppa! Many Korean teas will be made using an assortment of grains, beans or seeds, such as buckwheat tea, mung bean tea and brown rice tea.

Barley Tea

Barley Tea, known as bori-cha in Korea, is one of the most popular drinks in Korea. The barley is roasted before being brewed into a tea. The drink offers many health benefits, including detoxifying the body and aiding digestion. It can be enjoyed hot or cold and presents a deep, roasted flavour with a hint of bitterness. In Korea, Barley Tea is commonly drunk in place of water, and will easily be found in the home and at restaurants.

Job’s Tears Tea

Also known as yulmu-cha, Job’s Tears Tea offers a beautifully creamy sip, with a slightly sweet taste. It is commonly drunk to help relieve stomach problems, such as ulcers. Job’s Tears is a grain commonly eaten in East Asia, and it is roasted, powdered and mixed with nuts to create a tea. It creates quite a thick, soupy consistency, so some will drink yulma-cha as a breakfast meal. Job’s Tears Tea is also commonly found in vending machines in Korea, so many do not even need to go through the hassle of making it themselves!

Korean Root Tea

Another plant form that can be used to make tea in Korea is the roots of plants. As well as this, the shoots and bark of some plants and trees can also be utilised to brew a cup of tea. Examples of Korean root tea include arrowroot tea, yam root tea and burdock root tea.

Ginseng Tea

The red ginseng plant root is heated for several hours over a low heat to extract the flavours present within. This is used to create a delicious tea that is commonly served with honey and pine nuts. Ginseng tea is commonly available in tea bags, so you wouldn’t need to spend hours brewing this yourself!

Ginger Tea

The ginger root is sliced and boiled in water to produce a sweet tea. The perfect tea for when you’re feeling under the weather, ginger tea helps to soothe sore throats. The longer the ginger is boiled for, the more intense and spicy the tea will be.

If you would like to try some Korean tea to experience the benefits they offer, then check out our wide range of tea and herbal tea at our Korean supermarket.