Korean tea
Encyclopedia
Tisane
A herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is a herbal or plant infusion and usually not made from the leaves of the tea bush . Typically, herbal tea is simply the combination of boiling water and dried fruits, flowers or herbs. Herbal tea has been imbibed for nearly as long as written history extends...
that can be served hot or cold. Not necessarily related to "common" tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, they are made from diverse substances including fruits, leaves, roots, and grains used in traditional Korean medicine.
History of Korean tea
Geumgwan Gaya
Geumgwan Gaya , also known as Bon-Gaya or Garakguk , was the ruling city-state of the Gaya confederacy during the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea. It is believed to have been located around the modern-day city of Gimhae, Southern Gyeongsang province, near the mouth of the Nakdong River...
Kingdom (42-562). Records from the Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
Dynasty (918-1392) show that tea offerings were made in Buddhist temples to the spirits of revered monks.
During the Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
(1392-1910), the royal Yi family and the aristocracy used tea for simple rites, the "Day Tea Rite" was a common daytime ceremony, whereas the "Special Tea Rite" was reserved for specific occasions. These terms are not found in other countries.
Toward the end of the Joseon Dynasty, commoners joined the trend and used tea for ancestral rites, following the Chinese
Culture of China
Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest and most complex. The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces...
example based on Zhu Xi
Zhu Xi
Zhū Xī or Chu Hsi was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China...
's text Formalities of Family.
Insam cha
Insam chaInsamcha
Insamcha is a traditional Korean tea made with ginseng. It has a strong fragrance and taste. Ginseng is a special product in Korea, and is thought to be good for physical strength...
(인삼차, 人蔘茶) is a tea made from ginseng
Ginseng
Ginseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae....
, which can be an undried ginseng (수삼, 水蔘), a dried ginseng (건삼, 乾蔘) or a red steamed ginseng (홍삼, 紅蔘). The sliced or whole ginseng is gently boiled for a few hours in water, and then honey or sugar is added for taste. Usually, water 500 mℓ and ginseng 50 g is usual preparation for Insam Cha. Sometimes, jujube
Jujube
Ziziphus zizyphus , commonly called jujube , red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, used primarily as a fruiting shade tree.-Distribution:Its precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation,...
can be added when boiled.
- Efficacy: Insam cha is good for increasing energy, especially for someone who catches colds frequently in winter. It also has a remedial effect on stomachaches due to low body temperature. But, this tea should not be consumed by someone who has a high body temperature or high blood pressure.
Danggwi cha
Danggwi cha (당귀차, 當歸茶) is a tea made from boiling the dried root of Korean angelicaAngelica
Angelica is a genus of about 60 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far North as Iceland and Lapland...
or an angelica gigas
Angelica gigas
Angelica gigas is a monocarpic biennial or short lived perennial plant from China, Japan and Korea. It inhabits forests, grasslands and banks of streams. The roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine...
. The dried root of Korean angelica
Angelica
Angelica is a genus of about 60 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far North as Iceland and Lapland...
is gently boiled in water for a few hours. Sometimes, ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
root can be added for preference when boiled.
- Efficacy: Korean angelicaAngelicaAngelica is a genus of about 60 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far North as Iceland and Lapland...
is often called ginseng for woman. Thus, it is good for (white) leucorrhoea and postpartum care. If consumed for a long time, it can remedy cold fingers or toes. But, it should not be used for someone who has diarrhea.
Saenggang cha
Saenggang cha (생강차, 生薑茶) is a tea made from gingerGinger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
root. The ginger root is washed and sliced without peeling. The sliced ginger root is stored with honey for a few weeks. To make tea the mixed honey and ginger root is added to hot water.
- Efficacy: Saenggang Cha is usually used to prevent colds and to aid digestion. It also has a remedial effect on diarrhea and stomachache due to low body temperature. It helps someone who has a low body temperature due to bad circulation. However, this tea should not be consumed by anyone who has a gastric ulcer.
Others
- Chik cha (칡차) - made from kudzuKudzuKudzu is a plant in the genus Pueraria in the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It is a climbing, coiling, and trailing vine native to southern Japan and southeast China. Its name comes from the Japanese name for the plant, . It is a weed that climbs over trees or shrubs and grows so...
root - Dunggulle cha (둥굴레차) - made from dried root of Solomon's sealPolygonatumPolygonatum , King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's Seal, is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae...
. - Ma cha (마차, 麻茶 or 산약차) - made from the root of hempHempHemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
Made from fruits
- SujeonggwaSujeonggwaSujeonggwa is a Korean traditional fruit punch. Dark reddish brown in color, it is made from dried persimmons, cinnamon, ginger, peppercorn and is often garnished with pine nuts. The punch is made by brewing first the cinnamon, ginger and peppercorn at a slow boil...
- punch made from dried persimmonPersimmonA persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
s, ginger, and cinnamon - YujachaYujachaYujacha or yuja cha is a traditional Korean tea made from citron. Yuja fruit is thinly sliced with its peel and combined with honey or sugar, prepared as fruit preserves...
(유자차, 柚子茶) - YuzuYuzuThe yuzu is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda...
teaphoto - GugijachaGugija ChaGugija Cha is a traditional Korean tea or herbal tea made from dried wolfberries . This tea is supposed to be a good source of minerals and vitamins and to boost liver function and help fight fatigue if you drink it on a regular basis...
(구기자차, 枸杞子茶) - made from dried wolfberriesWolfberryWolfberry, commercially called goji berry, is the common name for the fruit of two very closely related species: Lycium barbarum and L. chinense , two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae... - DaechuchaDaechuchaDaechucha is a traditional Korean tea made with dried jujubes, which are called daechu in Korean. There are two ways of making daechucha: boiling dried jujubes or diluting the juice of fresh or preserved jujubes into boiling water...
- made from jujubeJujubeZiziphus zizyphus , commonly called jujube , red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, used primarily as a fruiting shade tree.-Distribution:Its precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation,...
sphoto - Omijacha (오미자차, 五味子茶): Tea made from dried fruits of Schisandra chinensisSchisandra chinensisSchisandra chinensis is a deciduous woody vine native to forests of Northern China and the Russian Far East. It is hardy in USDA Zone 4. The plant likes some shade with moist, well-drained soil...
. Omija cha is named because the tea comprises five distinct flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent. - Maesilcha (매실차, 梅實茶): green fruits of a maesilUmePrunus mume, with the common names including Chinese plum and Japanese apricot, is an Asian tree species classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus. The flower, long a beloved subject in the traditional painting of East Asia, is usually translated as plum blossom. This distinct tree...
and sugar is added to water, and then fermented for a month or so. Be careful not to produce alcohol. - MogwachaMogwachaMogwacha is a traditional Korean tea made with Chinese Quince, which is called mogwa in Korean. There are two ways of making mogwacha: boiling dried Chinese Quince or diluting its juice into boiling water.-See also:*Korean tea...
- the fruit of a PseudocydoniaPseudocydoniaPseudocydonia sinensis , the only species in the genus Pseudocydonia, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in the family Rosaceae, native to eastern Asia in China. It is closely related to the east Asian genus Chaenomeles, and is sometimes placed in Chaenomeles as C...
, or Chinese quince, is sliced, and then it is stored and fermented in large bowl with sugar and water for a month or so. Take care that the mixture does not become alcoholic. - Sansuyu cha (산수유차, 山茱萸茶) - made from a fruit of Cornus officinalis, which is a variety of dogwoodDogwoodThe genus Cornus is a group of about 30-60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods. Most dogwoods are deciduous trees or shrubs, but a few species are nearly herbaceous perennial subshrubs, and a few of the woody species are evergreen...
. - Taengja cha (탱자차, 橙子茶) - the fruit of the trifoliate orangeTrifoliate orangeTrifoliate Orange, Poncirus trifoliata , is a member of the family Rutaceae, closely related to Citrus, and sometimes included in that genus, being sufficiently closely related to allow it to be used as a rootstock for Citrus...
and sugar are added with water and allowed to ferment for a month or so.
Made from grains and seeds
- Bori chaMugichaRoasted barley tea is a caffeine-free, roasted-grain-based tisane made from barley, which is popular in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cuisine. It is also used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute in American cuisine...
(보리차, 菩提茶): roasted barleyBarleyBarley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
tea - Oksusu chaOksusu chaOksusu cha is a traditional Korean tisane made from boiled roasted corn kernels.The variety of corn most often used is called Gang-naeng-i , which is usually grown in the area of Gangneung, a city in the Gangwon province on South Korea's eastern coast, thus making this drink particularly popular...
(옥수수차): roasted cornMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
tea - Hyeonmi chaHyeonmi chaHyeonmi cha is a tisane made from roasted brown rice.To make hyeonmi cha, brown rice is washed, then roasted in a pot. Then water is poured into the pot, brought to a boil, and then simmered for approximately ten minutes...
(현미차, 玄米茶): roasted rice tea - Yulmucha (율무차): Job's tearsJob's TearsJob's Tears , Coixseed, Tear Grass, adlay, or adlai, is a tall grain-bearing tropical plant of the family Poaceae native to Southeast Asia but elsewhere cultivated in gardens as an annual. It has been naturalized in the southern United States and the New World tropics...
tea - Gyeolmyeongja cha (결명자차, 決明子茶): Tea made from roasted Senna obtusifoliaSenna obtusifoliaSenna obtusifolia is a legume in the genus Senna, sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Diallobus. It grows wild in North, Central, and South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and is considered a particularly serious weed in many places...
seeds
Made from leaves
- Bbongnip cha (뽕잎차): dried mulberryMulberryMorus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae. The 10–16 species of deciduous trees it contains are commonly known as Mulberries....
leaves - Gamnip cha (감잎차): dried persimmonPersimmonA persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
leaves - Solnip cha (솔잎차): pine needles
- Gukhwa chaChrysanthemum teaChrysanthemum tea is a flower-based tisane made from chrysanthemum flowers of the species Chrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum, which are most popular in East Asia...
(국화차，菊花茶) - wild chrysanthemumChrysanthemumChrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
flowers are preserved in honey for a month or so, and then mixed with hot water - Ilsulcha (이슬차): HydrangeaHydrangeaHydrangea is a genus of about 70 to 75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and North and South America. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea...
serrata (산수국) leaves - Pakha cha (박하자): peppermint leaves
Others
- Yeongji-beoseot-cha (영지버섯차, 靈芝茶) : tea made from dried Ganoderma lucidum fungus
- Songhwa milsu (송화밀수, 松花蜜水): PinePinePines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
pollen and honey are added to water - Gyulgang cha (귤강차, 橘薑茶): the skin of mandarin orangeMandarin orangeThe orange, also known as the ' or mandarine , is a small citrus tree with fruit resembling other oranges. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads...
s is dried and cleaned, and then it is boiled in water. Serve the boiled water with honey. - Ssanghwa cha (쌍화차, 雙花茶): Tea made from a few materials of traditional Korean medicineTraditional Korean medicineTraditional Korean medicine developed with the influence of other traditional medicine. Its techniques in treatment and diagnosis are both similar and unique to other traditional medicine...
such as steamed and dried root of Rehmannia glutinosaRehmannia glutinosaRehmannia glutinosa is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has the name Sheng Di huang . It is often sold as gān dì huáng , gān meaning "dried."-Medicinal uses:...
(숙지황, 熟地黃), dried root of Angelica gigasAngelica gigasAngelica gigas is a monocarpic biennial or short lived perennial plant from China, Japan and Korea. It inhabits forests, grasslands and banks of streams. The roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine...
(당귀, 當歸), the dried root of LigusticumLigusticumLigusticum is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Its name is believed to derive from the Italian region of Liguria....
officinale (천궁, 川芎), the dried root of Paeonia obovata (작약,芍藥), cinnamonCinnamonCinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
bark, the dried root of Glycyrrhiza glabra (감초, 甘草) and the root of Astragalus membranaceus (황기, 黃芪). - Duchung cha (두충차, 杜仲茶): Tea made from the skin of Eucommia ulmoides tree.
- Donggyuja cha (동규자차, 冬葵子茶): Tea made from seed of MalvaMalvaMalva is a genus of about 25–30 species of herbaceous annual, biennial, and perennial plants in the family Malvaceae , one of several closely related genera in the family to bear the common English name mallow. The genus is widespread throughout the temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of...
verticillata - Salgunamu cha (살구나무차): Made from apricotApricotThe apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation.- Description :...
seed kernels - Gamro cha (감로차, 甘露茶): Tea made from juice of mapleMapleAcer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
leaves, Celtis sinensisCeltis sinensisCeltis sinensis is a species of flowering plant in the hemp family, Cannabaceae, that is native to slopes in East Asia.- Description :...
, Catalpa ovataCatalpa ovataCatalpa ovata, the yellow catalpa or Chinese catalpa , is a pod-bearing tree native to China. Compared to C. speciosa, it is much smaller, typically reaching heights between 20 and 30 feet. The inflorescences form bunches of creamy white flowers with distinctly yellow tinging; individual flowers...
, and Quercus dentata