There are a countless number of reasons to visit Korea – whether it’s the art, the fashion, or the food, there is truly something for every visitor to make a trip to Korea an amazing experience. But the most important thing that people forget to talk about is their amazing drinks.
Like Korean meals and Korean snacks, Korean drinks are all interesting and different from one another and from drinks in other countries.
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
Soju(소주) is the national drink of South Korea. It is a clear spirit that was initially made from grain, particularly rice, and is now also made from sweet potatoes or barley. It’s a bit similar to vodka (around 20% proof) and is the cheapest beverage on the menu. There are many soju cocktails available, all of which will get you drunk unusually quickly.
Soju inclines to result in a mean hangover, even if you’ve only had a little. Takju (탁주 시), is a Korean rice wine, and ginseng wine, which is more luxurious but generally has a better taste.
The utmost popular kinds of beer in South Korea are western-style lagers – Cass, Hite, and OB. These three are fairly light and cheap.
TEA
In South Korea, tea or cha refers to numerous types of herbal tea that can be served hot or cold. Not certainly related to the leaves, leaf buds, they are made from various substances, including fruits like Yuza Tea(Yuja-Cha, 유자차) or Goji Tea(Gugi-Cha; 구기차), flowers like Chrysanthemum tea (gukhwa-cha; 국화차), roots like Root tea (Ssanghwa-cha, 쌍화차), and many more flavoured teas like Green Plum Tea, Green Tea.
COFFEE
In Korea, coffee is considered modern while tea is believed to be old-fashioned and common. Koreans generally drink coffee after lunch or in the evenings while chatting with friends. The most common coffee drinks in Korea are iced Americanos and Lattes. Also for having caffeinated milk for a go, Coffee milk(커피 우유) is the drink that one should go for. It is coffee infused with milk and is a perfect drink for a much needed extra energy.
PUNCHES
Hwachae (화채) is a universal term for traditional Korean punches, made with various fruits or edible flower petals. The fruits and flowers are soaked in honied water or honied magnolia berry juice. In modern South Korea, carbonated drinks or fruit juices are also normally added to hwachae.
Omija-hwachae (오미자화채) or magnolia berry punch is a sweet and tangy punch made with magnolia berries. The reddish-pink punch is generally served throughout the Summer. Other fruits and flower punches that are made in South Korea are watermelon punch or Subak-hwachae (수박화채); Strawberry Punch or talgi-hwachae (딸기화채); Yuja punch or Yuja-hwachae (유자화채), and many more.
RICE DRINK
Sikhye(식혜) is a traditional Korean rice drink that is so sweet that it is often served as a dessert. This Korean drink is usually made of cooked rice, which gives it an exciting texture. It is often served as a meal in some restaurants in South Korea. Sikhye is believed to help digestion, as it contains nutritional fiber and anti-oxidants. It was often served to royalty after meals to help them with digestion.
All About South Korea (한국에 관한 모든 것) 