27+ South Korean Teas to Try (Best Korean Tea)

South Korea, like many other East Asian countries, has a long history of tea culture. Korean teas are enjoyed not only for their taste, but also for their medicinal properties and healthful benefits. 

Despite the popularity of coffee in Korea, tea is ingrained in the culture and remains a part of everyday life. Korean teas are considered a meal accompaniment, a home remedy for common ailments, and generally thought to uplift the mind, body, and spirit.

While green tea is commonly regarded as the staple tea in Korea, there are hundreds of varieties of tea here. These days you don’t even have to go to a tea house to get tea from Korea; many dining establishments carry an assortment of Korean teas or you can easily find the best teas in Korea online, thanks to stores like H-mart. 

This article covers the best South Korean teas, ranging from Korean green tea and honey citron to toasted rice and jujube - but first let’s talk about how tea and the tea culture in Korea came about. 

In the year 1905, tea was officially classified under the botanical name Camellia sinensis. All tea comes from this one tea tree, which actually originated in China. Korean tea culture began during the Three Kingdoms Period (18 BC - AD 660), when Chinese tea was imported into the country.

According to the Gaya Record, the legendary Queen Heo Hwang Ok received a Camellia sinensis Plant as a gift and planted it on Changwon's Baegwolsan Mountain. Labrador tea and Fruit teas such as omija-cha (magnolia berry) and gugija-cha (goji berry) teas have been used since Early Korea (Samhan Era) and the Three Kingdoms Period. 

According to the early chronicle-histories known as Samkuk-yusa and Samkuk-sagi, Queen Seondeok of Silla (ruled 632-47) drank green tea, and King Munmu ordered tea to be used during ceremonial offerings in 661.

In 828, King Hungdok obtained tea seeds from Tang China for planting, and King Sinmun later advocated the use of tea to purify the mind. Buddhist monks brought with them Chinese tea culture and began the systematic method of planting tea bushes throughout the country.

Korean tea was either whisked in a bowl (Sung Dynasty) or steeped in water in a pot (Ming Dynasty). Tea was the subject of some of Korea's oldest recorded poems during the Koryo Kingdom (the 10th-13th centuries).

While Korean tea culture began earlier, in the Silla dynasty, it only lasted until the Koryo (Goryeo) Dynasty. Buddhist traditions and practices declined in the latter half of the Goryeo period due to corruption and the rise of strong anti-Buddhist sentiment.

Tea was drunk by royalty for leisure, and was used in ancestral and other ceremonial offerings. Over time, Buddhist traditions were replaced with Confusian ones. Ceremonial tea drinking almost vanished if it weren't for scholars and the literati who continued with traditions of dasi (writing poems about tea) and dahoe (tea gatherings).

Korean tea culture was secularized during the Joseon Dynasty, as the royal family and aristocracy used Korean tea for ceremonies and rites. By the end of this period, Commoners had already adopted the practice of using tea for jesa (ancestral rites). 

Korean Tea Ceremonies or Darye (“charye”) literally means tea etiquette or tea rite, and was synonymous with jesa. Similarly, there were regular honcha ceremonies in which cups of green tea were offered before the Buddha statues in temples.

The first modern Korean tea house was eventually established in 1924, as tea's popularity waned. But, thanks to Choi Beom Sul, Korean tea and tea traditions regained interest in the ‘70s.

Tea, derived from Buddhist ritual offerings, was used in ancestral and national (Yeondeunghoe and Palgwanhoe) ceremonies. Choi Beom Sul, the Head Monk of Dasolsa Temple shared traditional tea etiquette which may have led to what we now know and practice regarding Korean tea traditions.

Historically, tea drinking became ingrained in daily life, evolving from spiritual and royal traditions of Buddhist monks, the royal family, the nobility, and scholars. The manner of serving and drinking tea became an important part of family and guest etiquette. 

Present day darye is less formal and more warm, aimed at offering friends a relaxing tea drinking and harmonious experience. Many restaurants serve grain tea (like brown rice or barley tea) instead of plain water to their guests, and at home, traditional teas made of various ingredients are commonly consumed both hot and cold. 

Tea drinking is an experience that requires all five senses, in Korean culture. Korean tea is typically consumed with both hands holding the cup, but this is not always necessary. The first step is to examine the color of the tea, followed by smelling its fragrance. 

The first sip is to taste the tea with the tongue, then experience the flavor in the throat, and finally, enjoy the lingering aftertaste in the mouth. Tea is said to combine various tastes in varying degrees of saltiness, sweetness, sourness, and bitterness, especially the infamous ‘5 flavor tea’ (omija).

The three Daryes or Korean traditional tea ceremonies:

• Royal Darye - This Darye is conducted in silence, lasts for up to 8 hours, and is done in the presence of the king. However, the king doesn’t partake of the tea in case it is poisoned, so this type is mostly for show. 
• Seonbi Darye - This is another Darye that is performed in silence. It is for Korean Confucian scholars, usually composed solely of men. However, women can also participate in this tea ceremony, in modern times.
• Friends Darye - This is the most relatable Darye, similar to common afternoon tea in the West. Unlike the previous two types, this Darye is a more casual experience that is best shared among family and friends. 

Darye tea is typically served in beautiful pottery and elegant Korean tea cups. Traditional pottery is fired in kilns with porcelain, such as the beautiful Goryeo Celadon porcelain from Korea's Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392).

Korean pottery artisans were so skilled that Japanese pottery was heavily improved by some of the country’s craftsmen having relocated to the neighboring East Asian nation in the 1500’s. Traditional Korean tea is chosen in consideration of body constitution and state of health.

It's important to remember that not all Korean teas are sourced from the original tea tree, Camellia sinensis. Many popular picks are "tea" infusions or non-coffee beverages (whether hot or cold) crafted from flowers, roots, grains (or seeds), or fruits.

There are numerous flavors, blends, and herbs to choose from, and the best Korean tea brands offer a variety of options. The five types of proper Korean teas are leaf teas, grain (or seed) teas, flower teas, fruit teas, and root teas.

Let’s take a closer look at the best South Korean teas, at least according to domestic popularity.

The young leaves of the lotus plant are heat-treated by steaming or roasting, and then dried to make lotus leaf tea. This is a tea that has been enjoyed for thousands of years and has a ton of benefits for the body.

Lotus Leaf Tea contains numerous vitamins and minerals. In addition to promoting digestive and circulatory health, it contains antioxidants that fight free radicals.

The pine needles from the Korean red pine are used to make this particular tea. This non-caffeinated tea also has a pine leaf version known as baegyeop-cha. Pine needles for Korean pine tea are harvested from 10 to 20 year old trees in the cool months, usually December.

Pine needle tea contains five times the amount of Vitamin C found in lemons, and can help with heart disease, varicose veins, skin complaints, and fatigue. This tea is also high in Vitamin A, which is good for eyesight, hair and skin regeneration, and red blood cell production. 

Taoist priests drank pine needle tea because they believed it extended their lives, and there is actually evidence that it may help slow the aging process.

Pomegranate tea is a vibrant red sweet tea with a tart flavor. It's made with crushed pomegranate seeds, boiled pomegranate flowers, or by combining tea with pomegranate juice concentrate.

Pomegranates are well-known super fruits that can aid in skin tightening, which is why older Korean women tend to drink this healthy tea. It also helps to build muscle, improve the immune system, lower cholesterol, and prevent heart disease.

It's even said to be high in antioxidants, which help protect against certain types of cancer. This tea is available in stores, but pre-made versions are frequently mixed with mint, black tea, or green tea.

They can be sweetened as well, so choose teas that can be steeped for the best results, or reduce the sugar you add for a healthier cup. Take a look at this recipe.

Gukhwacha, or chrysanthemum tea, is made by drying and preserving chrysanthemum flowers in honey for several weeks. After that, the flowers are steeped in hot water.

Chrysanthemum tea has experienced increased popularity recently, as it’s visually stunning, with the rehydrated flowers appearing to resurrect in a cup of bright yellow tea. This tea contains no caffeine and has a delicate, slightly sweet, floral flavor.

In Korean medicine, chrysanthemum tea was thought to help with varicose veins, colds, as an anti-inflammatory, and as a detoxifier. This popular Korean tea is said to cool down the liver when it becomes overheated as a result of chronic stress.

Ssanghwa-cha is a traditional Korean tea with a deep brown color and a distinct flavor. This popular medicinal tea is also known as Double Harmony Tea.

Angelica root, Cnidium Officinale Makino, Licorice Root, Medicinal Jujube, Rehmannia Glutinosa, Astragalus Root, Ginger, and Cinnamon are among the herbs used. It has a plethora of health benefits that can be obtained simply by adding it to your morning routine.

The strong herbal medicine flavor of Ssanghwa Tea is followed by a slightly bitter aftertaste. The sesame seeds give it an earthy and nutty flavor to balance this out, with a layer of cinnamon and sweetness from the jujubes. 

During the Joseon Dynasty, it was considered an herbal bath and was consumed in the morning and at night (1392-1910). Many Koreans buy this pre-made tea, but there are still places in the country that serve freshly-made versions.

In East Asian countries, Sipjeondaebotang has been used as a medicinal tea for centuries. It is more potent than ssangwa-cha because it contains a total of ten medicinal herbs that when blended, completely protect the body. 

Ginseng, angelica root, kneeling angelica, peony, milk vetch root, cinnamon, white atractylodes, deer antler, Helen, and foxglove are among the ten ingredients. The ingredients are boiled for an extended period of time with ginger and jujubes, yielding a potent tonic.

Sipjeondaebotang means "wholly and dearly protect and preserve everything" and literally means "harmony of both energy and blood". The infusion is widely used to alleviate fatigue, reduce inflammation, and improve liver function.

Its energizing properties make it an excellent supplement for those recovering from the flu and for boosting the immune system.

Hyeonmi-cha, also known as Brown Rice Tea, has a strong aromatic scent. It is classified as a blended tea, usually with green tea (hyeonmi-nokcha). This tisane is made by roasting rice in a pot and then covering it with boiling water.

Tea should be available in tea bags or roasted form at Asian grocery stores in your area. In addition to the antioxidants found in green tea, Korean brown rice tea is high in vitamins.

B vitamins, vitamin E, protein, and other nutrients that aid in fatigue and recovery, immunity and the prevention of colds, food poisoning, tooth decay, "gum disease," and bad breath. This tea is also beneficial for lowering cholesterol, and has a diuretic effect.