Beginner’s Guide to Korean Tea: Knowing Your Tea

If you love tea, you shouldn’t be missing out on Korean Tea. It has a rich aroma; it certainly has exquisite flavor and it’s good for your health. So, whether you’re thinking of drinking tea for health reasons or for pleasure, you need to know more about Korean Tea.

History of Tea in Korea

Tea is deep-rooted in Korea’s History and was said to be already present during the 2nd Century. It’s strongly embedded in the Korean Tradition that it had seen Korea at the pinnacle of its success as well as its lowest times.

But among everything, it will always find a special spot within the Buddhist Temples in Korea. In fact, Buddhists have preserved the tradition of drinking tea.

The Record of Gaya states that the legendary Queen Heo Hwang Ok got a Camellia Sinensis Plant as a present from the princess of Ayodhya (India). This plant was then planted on Baegwolsan Mountain, which is at Changwon.

However, fruit teas such as goji berry and magnolia tea we’re the popular teas during the Samhan Era, instead of the Camellia Sinensis.

It is believed that Buddhist monks started the systematic way of planting tea bushes when Chinese Tea Culture was introduced.

It was during the Joseon Dynasty that royals and people from the upper class used Korean Tea during ceremonies and rites.

The commoners then adopted this practice at the near end of the said dynasty.

In 1924, the first modern tea house was established where tea’s popularity dwindled. But, in the 1970s, Korean Tea’s popularity surged, all thanks to Choi Beom Sul.

Choi Beom Sul is Dasolsa Temple’s Head Monk. The monk taught all the key figures, which resulted in the revival of Korean Tea during the ’90s.

During the Mid 00’s, the production of Korea Tea was at its highest. This can be credited to the green tea health craze which swept the middle class off their feet.

Today, you can easily spot traditional Korean tea houses. You can even visit modern Korean tea houses that are down-right gorgeous in Korea.

Traditional Korean Tea Ceremony

Darye, also known as the Traditional Korean Tea Ceremony, literally means etiquette for tea. Darye has been embedded in the Korean tradition for more than a thousand years.

This ceremony is known to make you feel utterly relaxed, in the midst of living in this fast-paced modern Korea. It can set your mind at peace and help you meditate. Korean Tea Ceremony is very soothing and relaxing.

It’s a perfect relief for stress, especially since Korea has an apparent Ppal li-Ppal li (빨리빨리) or Hurry-Hurry culture. This can often push people to feel stressed.

There are 3 Types of Korean Tea Ceremony

Royal Darye

This Darye is conducted in silence and lasts for up to 8 hours, which is only attended by the King.

Seonbi Darye

This Darye is conducted in silence. This Korean Tea Ceremony is for the Korean Confucian scholars which is usually composed of men. However, it’s open for both genders.

Friends Darye

This Darye is similar to a typical western afternoon tea. Unlike the previous two types of Darye, this darye is more casual, and people can have fun chatting as they enjoy their sweets on the Korean tea table. The tea for this Darye is mostly served in beautiful pottery and elegant Korean tea cups.

Different Types of Korean Tea

Korea has so many teas to offer, ranging from the leaf tea up to the root teas. They even have combination teas. Each of the tea has its own unique flavor and taste.

Korean Teas can be identified in 5 categories. These are:

1. Flower Teas

2. Leaf Teas

3. Fruit Teas

4. Shoot, Root, & Bark Teas

5. Bean, Grain, & Seed Teas

1. Flower Teas

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Flower Teas are harvested from beautiful Korean Flower. Korean Flower Teas have are very fragrant and have a very subtle taste.

These are some of the popular Korean Flower Tea:

A. Chrysanthemum Tea – Gukhwa-cha

Gukhwa-cha, commonly known as the Chrysanthemum Tea, is a tea from the Indian Chrysanthemum Flowers. This tea’s color can range from a pale yellow to a bright yellow hue. It has a soothing floral aroma.

In Korea, this tea is usually given as a medicinal tea to make people alert and more awake.

Health Benefits

Chrysanthemum is packed with nutrients such as Beta Carotene, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C.

The Beta Carotene in Chrysanthemum is then converted into Vitamin A by your liver. Vitamin A is great for giving solutions to your skin problems that are related to aging. It can also increase your immunity.

To add to that, it’s also an excellent source of Choline, Niacin, Folacin, and Riboflavin. Not only that, but it also contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, amino acids and glucosides, iron, and adenine.

Calms your nerves down
Boosts your digestion especially for oily foods
Detoxifies your liver
Eases the heaviness of your head during cold
Natural coolant that reduces your body heat during an illness
Makes your senses alert
Rejuvenates your brain
Relieves sore throat
Lightens the dark spots around the eye area
Strengthen’s your lungs.

How to Prepare Chrysanthemum Tea?

Chrysanthemum Tea

The flowers are usually balanced in bamboo saltwater. Then, it’s carefully washed using cold water and is drained using a kitchen towel. The drained flower is then covered with Korean Paper (Hanji) and is dried in a floor-heated (Ondol) room.

Upon serving, add three to four flowers to hot water.

Medicinal Chrysanthemum Tea

We start by washing the flowers carefully by steaming it with the water with an herbal decoction.

This herbal decoction usually made using steamed and dried Rehmannia roots, white woodland peony, dried lovage roots, and dried Korean angelica. The ratio for the water to decoction is usually at 8:1.

After doing so, the flowers are then properly dried. After drying the flowers, it is once again, steamed. Repeat this process 9 times.

Upon serving, add the flowers to hot water.

Honey Chrysanthemum Tea

Start by washing and drying the flowers carefully. It is then preserved in honey for 3 – 4 weeks. Upon serving, the honey-preserved flowers are added to hot water.

B. Peach Blossoms Flower Tea – Dohwa-cha

Peach Blossoms Flower Tea is a symbol of intense love and good luck. This tea completes your romantic evening with your partner. It has a delightfully yellow hue with a lingering floral aroma.

Health Benefits

Peach Blossoms Tea is rich in Vitamins A, B, and C. It can help you clear your veins and dilate your blood vessels for better blood circulation. It also boosts your oxygen supply, which prevents the formation of melanin on your skin— preventing dark spots, freckles, and melasma.

Eases constipation
Removes body toxins
Promotes clear skin
Soothing
Regulates your blood circulation

How to Prepare Peach Blossoms Flower Tea?

Dohwa-cha

Peach Blossom Flowers are usually harvested during spring. Before drying the flowers, its stamen is removed. After the stamen is removed, the flower is then ready for drying.

In preparing the tea, the flowers are boiled in water, before it is served. You can add honey or any of your preferred drink sweetener.

C. Lotus Flower Tea – Yeonhwa-cha

Yeonhwa-cha, commonly known as Lotus Flower Tea, is a Korean Tea made from a lotus flower. It’s also used in the Korean Temple Cuisine as a symbol of Buddhist enlightenment.

Health Benefits

Korean Lotus Flower Tea is rich in Vitamins B and C. It’s also packed with minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. This tea is also very relaxing that it can be used to help people with insomnia and sleeping troubles.

Very relaxing
Ideal for people with sleeping trouble
Relieves your nerves and anxiety
Boosts your immune system

How to Prepare Lotus Flower Tea?

The petals of the lotus flower are washed and dried. When preparing this tea, the Korean Lotus Flower tea dried petals are simmered in water on low heat.

You can then add honey or any preferred drink sweetener.

D. Plum Flower Tea – Maehwa-cha

Maehwa-cha, also known as Korean Plum Flower Tea, is a traditional Korean Tea made from Plum blossom. Plum blossoms are usually harvested during spring. Half-opened plum blossoms are picked and dried.

Health Benefits

This Korean Plum Tea is a very refreshing tea that is ideal for quenching one’s thirst. It’s also great for nausea and cough. Aside from that, its also packed with Vitamin B and C and promotes good skin.

Great hangover tea
Eases nervousness
Ideal against cough
Improves your focus
Helps manage your digestion

How To Prepare the Korean Plum Flower Tea?

In a teapot, pour at least 50 ml hot water, then add ten flowers. Let it steep for 1 – 2 minutes.

You can then add honey or any preferred drink sweetener.

2. Leaf Teas

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Perhaps the most popular type of Korean Tea, leaf tea, comes from the leaves of a plant that is dried and processed to give you a soothing tea. It has a subtle and relaxing aroma that can help calm our nerves.

A. Green Tea – Nok-cha

This is the most popular type of tea among our listed Korean Tea. The Korean Green Tea has less caffeine content than coffee. However, it has enough caffeine to give you the same effect as coffee.

Health Benefits

This Korean Green Tea is packed with antioxidants that protect your cells from the harmful free-radicals that harm your cells. It can also help you lose your fat as it prevents you from craving for food.

Promotes fat-loss
Protects your cells
Regulates your blood circulation
Lowers the risk of heart disease
Prevents cancer

How is Korean Green Tea Prepared?

In preparing the tea, the green tea leaves are either boiled or steeped in hot water. Lower-quality ones need to be steeped longer in hotter water while the high-quality ones have a shorter steeping time in cooler water.

B. Pine Needle Tea – Sollip-cha & Jannip-cha

Sollip-cha, commonly known as the Pine Needle or Pine Leaf Tea, is an herbal tea created from the leaves or needles of pine tea.

There are different kinds of Korean Pine Needle Tea.

Sollip-cha

This herbal tea comes from a Korean red pine leaf. Its leaf is usually harvested in December. Two types of Sollip-cha can be made. One is created from fresh or dried pine needles while the other one is fermented.

Jannip-cha or Baegyeop-da

This tea comes from a Korean pine leaf that grows eastward.

Health Benefits

This tea is rich in Vitamin C. In fact. It contains five times the vitamin C concentration in lemons. It’s great for relieving heart disease and varicose veins. It’s also rich in Vitamin A, which is great for eyesight and skin.

Great for your heart health
Regulates blood circulation
Promotes great skin
Strengthens your immune system

How to Prepare Pine Needle Tea?

Sollip-cha

For the fresh sollip-cha, the pine needles are harvested and soaked in water for a day. After doing so, the leaves will be cleaned, rinsed, then dried.

For preparing the fresh sollip-cha, the leaves are simmered over low heat. Honey or other sweetener is then added to your tea.

For the fermented sollip-cha, the pine needles are harvested and cleaned. It is then placed in a sugar solution. After doing so, the solution is fermented in a sunny place for over a week. This fermented tea is then filtered and is drank as a cold tea.

Jannip-cha

Fresh pine needles are washed, drained, and boiled. After doing so, it will then be boiled in water. When the tea comes to boil, the tea is brewed in low heat. Lastly, the tea leaves are filtered out so you can enjoy the tea without the leaves.

C. Lotus Leaf Tea – Yeonnip-cha

This tea comes from the young leaves of a lotus plant. The lotus leaf is treated in heat via steaming or roasting. Lotus Leaf Tea is packed with vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits

Korean Lotus Leaf Tea is great for boosting your digestion. It’s also great for improving your circulatory health. Aside from that, it is also beneficial for your stomach and spleen. In China, this tea is also considered as a slimming tea.

Boosts your digestion
Ideal for improving your circulatory health
Healthy for your spleen and stomach
Rich in antioxidants
Has acne-fighting effects

How to Prepare Korean Lotus Leaf Tea?

Korean Lotus Leaf Tea is heat-treated before it is dried. Sometimes fresh lotus leaves are infused with dried leaves and are simmered on water over low heat.

3. Fruit Teas

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Another popular type of tea is fruit tea. From traditional to the modern era, fruit tea is widely known. Even Korean Bubble Tea has a fruit tea variation. Korean Fruit Teas are popular because not only are they thirst-quenching, but they’re also sweet. Not to mention, it has a refreshingly, soothing aroma.

A. Jujube Tea – Daechu-cha

Daechu-cha, also known as Jujube Tea, are teas that come from Jujubes. This is a common flavor that you can even find one on your local cafe or Korean Bubble Tea vendor.

Health Benefits

Jujube tea is rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains Vitamin B and C. It also contains phosphorous, iron, calcium, and potassium. The Korean Jujube Tea also has a nerve-calming effect, which is why it’s perfect for those who have insomnia.

Relieves anxiety
Has a calming effect
Strengthens your immune system
Great for people who suffer from insomnia

How to Prepare Jujube Tea

Korean Jujube Tea is created from a boiling dried jujube. A Jujube is preserved through simmering the dried jujube on a low heat for 8 hours or more until it becomes a sweet syrup.

It can be served both hot and cold.

B. Plum Tea – Maesil-cha

Maesil-cha, also known as Plum Tea, is a tea with a sharp tart flavor. It’s usually offered in restaurants after a meal. It’s known for its appetite-stimulating effect.

Health Benefits

Korean Plum Tea is known for its appetite-stimulating effect, which is why it’s often offered in Korean Restaurants. It also boosts your alertness and vigor. This tea can also help you detoxify your body.

Relieves the common symptoms of food poisoning
Relieves diarrhea
Has a detoxifying effect
Has an appetite-stimulating effect

How to Prepare Plum Tea?

You can make plum tea yourself by buying dried plums in your local market. Place all of your dried plums in a jar with sugar and leave it for some time.

Once you see syrup at the jar’s bottom, you can use the syrup as a Plum Tea.

C. Five Flavors Tea – Omija-cha

Five Flavors tea comes with different names such as Schisandra tea or magnolia berry tea. It’s named as the five flavors tea as you can get a range of 5 unique flavors, depending on how you prepare this tea. The flavors you can get are: sour, salty, sweet, bitter, or pungent.

Health Benefits

The Korean Five Flavors Tea is packed with health benefits. One of which is that it can relieve thirst. It’s also great for relieving fatigue. Aside from that, it can also improve your liver and kidney health.

Regulates blood circulation
Promotes skin health
Relieves fatigue
Refreshing
Relieves stress

How to Prepare Five Flavors Tea

When this tea is boiled in hot water, you will get a bitter flavor. However, if you steep it in cold water, you may get a range of different flavors such as salty, bitter, sour, sweet, or pungent.

D. Citron Tea – Yuja-cha

Yuja-cha, also known as Korean Citron Tea, is made from Yuja. Yuja resembles that of a small grapefruit and is related to mandarin. It has an irresistible fragrant citrus aroma that you can smell from its cups.

This is a common flavor that is paired with honey for Korean Honey Citron Tea.

Health Benefits

Korean Citron Tea is rich in Vitamin C that can strengthen your immune system. It’s great for treating cold, sore throat, and cough. It’s also used to soothe the uneasiness due to seasickness.

Soothing on the throat
Strengthens your bones
Promotes skin health
Stimulates good digestion
Regulates your blood circulation
Suppresses fever

How to Prepare Citron Tea?

You can easily find the best Korean citron tea brand both on your local market or order them online. Once you have a Citron Concoction, take a spoonful of its syrup and mix it with water.

It can be served both hot and cold. It’s best served during wintertime.

4. Seed, Bean, & Grain Teas

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Korean Bean, Seed, and Grain Teas are often found in Korean households and restaurants. These tea are aromatic and are great thirst quenchers.

A. Barley Tea – Bori-cha

Bori-cha, commonly known as Korean Barley Tea, is a staple tea in every Korean Home. You don’t have to search for it as almost every Korean will offer this tea to you once you visit their home. It has a mildly nutty flavor and is very refreshing.

Health Benefits

This tea is free of caffeine and is great for losing weight. It can also give you better digestion. It can also help you regulate your blood sugar level.

Great for regulating sugar level
Promotes great digestion
Caffeine-free

How to Prepare Barley Tea?

You can boil the roasted barley kernels in hot water. You can serve this tea, both cold and hot.

B. Buckwheat Tea – Memil-cha

Another common tea that you can find in every household of restaurants is Buckwheat Tea. It can be paired with delicious dishes. Korean Buckwheat Tea has nutty filling and can make you feel as if you’re already full.

Health Benefits

It can help you regulate your blood circulation. It can also prevent varicose veins from showing up. Aside from that, it can also help you boost your metabolism.

Helps in treating diabetes
Boost metabolism
Prevents edema
Prevents varicose veins
Regulates your blood circulation

How to Prepare Buckwheat Tea?

The buckwheat is husked, cooked, and then fried. After that, it is fried in a pan with oil. Use 10 parts of water for every 1 part of buckwheat and infuse it with water for 2 – 4 minutes.

C. “Job’s Tears” Tea – Yulmu-cha

Yulmu-cha, commonly known as the “Job’s Tears” Tea or Coix Seed, is a tea that is named after the character from the Bible Job. It has a thick and soupy consistency and works great against allergies.

Health Benefits

This tea is great for allergies. It can also boost your immune system. The great thing about this tea is it is gluten-free. For those who have trouble ingesting gluten, you can drink this tea.

High in protein
Great for reducing cholesterol level
Prevents cancer
Great for people who have osteoporosis
Ideal for weight loss

How to Prepare “Job’s Tears” Tea?

First, the seeds are roasted and ground until it turns to powder. This powder is then dissolved in warm water, which turns it into a tea.

D. Corn Tea – Oksusu-cha

Oksusu-cha, commonly known as Korean Corn tea, is a tea that is made from the corn kernel. Korean Corn tea is a Korean replacement for water in a lot of restaurants. This tea is often consumed during late autumn and winter.

Health Benefits

This tea is rich in Vitamin B6, B12 & C. Aside from that. This tea is also great to keep one hydrated.

Keeps your hydrated
Boosts your immune system
Promotes great skin

How to Prepare Corn Tea?

The corn kernels are dried and roasted. To prepare this tea, you boil the roasted kernel in the water until the water turns into a yellow hue. After doing so, strain the tea and discard the boiled corn.

E. Brown Rice Tea – Hyeonmi-cha

Hyeonmi-cha, commonly known as a Brown Rice Tea, is a tea with a strong aromatic scent. Oftentimes, this tea is blended with green tea called Hyeonmi-nokcha.

Health Benefits

Korean rice tea is packed with vitamins such as Vitamin B, E as well as protein, as compared to white rice. This tea is great for reducing your cholesterol. It also has a diuretic effect.

Promotes skin health
Great for managing cholesterol
Cleanses your urinary tract
Boosts your immune system
Rich in fiber
Great for weight loss

How to Prepare Korean Brown Rice Tea

The rice is first washed, soaked, and roasted in a pot or pan. It’s roasted until the grains turn into yellow. After doing so, the rice is then boiled and simmered for 5 – 10 minutes. The tea is then strained, and the rice grains are discarded before it gets served.

5. Shoot, Root & Bark Teas

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Last but not definitely not the least are the Shoot, Root & Bark Teas. These teas are not only refreshing but will also keep you alert.

A. Cinnamon Tea – Gyepi-cha

Gyepi-cha, commonly known as Cinnamon Tea, is comfort and warmth in a cup. Korean Cinnamon Tea is something that is enjoyed, not only in Korea but all throughout the world and usually a mix of ginger and cinnamon tea.

Korean Cinnamon tea often uses Cassia Cinnamon, which is why it tends to have a potent warm aroma as compared to most Cinnamon tea.

Health Benefits

Cinnamon Tea is packed with antioxidants that protect your cells from free-radicals. It can also help you regulate your blood circulation and reduce your blood sugar level.

Regulates blood sugar level
Promotes weight loss
Promotes skin health
Boosts your immune system
Regulates your blood circulation

How to Prepare Cinnamon Tea?

Dried Cinnamon sticks are used for the Korean Cinnamon Tea. It is then simmered together with a small amount of chopped ginger. It is then strained and served.

B. Ginseng tea – Insam-cha

Insam-cha, also known as Korean Ginseng Tea, is a traditional Korean Tea made from ginseng. This tea doesn’t use tea leaves; however, it’s an infusion using the root of the Korean Ginseng plant.

Health Benefits

Korean Ginseng Tea benefits us a lot as it can prevent us from getting fatigued. It’s also a great alternative treatment for diabetes and a great energy booster.

Stimulates appetite
Prevents fatigue
Calms the nerves
Prevents diabetes
Boosts your energy

How to Make Korean Ginseng Tea?

The name of a Korean Ginseng Tea depends on how it is prepared.

Red Ginseng (Hongsam) are processed fresh roots, which will become a Korean Red Ginseng Tea while White Ginseng (Paeksam) is done by air drying.

For preparation, the Ginseng Roots are ground until it comes to a powder. However, it can also be soaked for it to become an extract.

C. Ginger tea – Saenggang-cha

Saenggang-cha, commonly known as Korean Ginger Tea and Korean Honey Ginger Tea, is a tea that is often paired with honey. This tea is made from a ginger root, which is preserved with honey.

Health Benefits

Great for energy-boosting, to treat fatigue. This tea is also great for treating stomachache, diarrhea, and low body temperature. Aside from that, Korean Ginger Tea is also great for warming your body up.

Warms your body
Great for treating stomach ache
Energy booster
Treats diarrhea

How to Prepare Ginger?

You start by boiling fresh ginger in water. You can also prepare a Korean Honey Ginger Tea by slicing ginger, which will then be mixed with hot water to make it into a tea.

D. Corn Silk Tea

Korean Corn Silk Tea is different from Korean Corn Tea. Corn Silk Tea is created from the silk of corn, which is then processed to become tea.

Health Benefits

Korean Corn Silk Tea is a natural diuretic that can help you cleanse your urinary tract. It can also help you regulate your blood sugar level.

Regulates blood sugar level
Cleanses urinary tract
Relaxing
Manages blood pressure

How to Prepare Corn Silk Tea?

The young corn silk is placed in a sieve and is left to dry for 2 – 3 days. After doing so, cut the silk lengths in 3 cm and roast it in a skillet over low heat. Once it turns into a golden yellow color, place it in a plastic bag or ziplock, and crush it by hand.

Then, place it in a tea strainer and pour your hot water over the strainer.

Where To Buy Korean Tea?

You can buy Korean Tea from your local supermarket or grocery store. However, if you want to simply buy tea online, here’s our list of recommended shops.

1. Osulloc

Osulloc sells high-quality teas that are rich in flavor. The aroma of their teas are also great and will always have you coming back for more.

2. Hankook Tea

Hankook Tea has been in the Tea industry since 1951. People love tea from Hankook because of its exquisite tasting tea. These tea are also handcrafted by fine Tea Artisans in the field.

3. Jukro

Jukro Tea is also another crowd favorite due to their one of a kind tea. It’s definitely not cheap. However, the tea from Jukro will always make you want more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Korean Tea

Takeaways

Not only are Korean Tea delicious, but it also has a rich aroma and will certainly boost your immune system. From Flower Teas to Root Teas, Korean Tea will always leave you with so much to choose from.