Top 10 Drinks Popular in South Korea

One of the world's biggest markets for alcoholic beverages in South Korea. Given that drinking alcohol is frequently encouraged in social and professional settings, it is not surprising. 

Most of the time, when you meet a new person or even an old friend, you end up drinking. You will already be aware of how significant the drinking culture is in South Korea if you have ever visited as an adult who is of legal drinking age.

Although South Korea continues to have a strong affinity for alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages are also available and are encouraged to be tried. Korean non-alcoholic drinks are reviving for the body and the spirit. 

Let's start by looking at the most well-known non-alcoholic beverages that you absolutely must try. Then, popular alcoholic beverages will be introduced, which are mainly used to forge and strengthen emotional bonds.

1. 바나나맛우유 (Bananamat uyu: Banana-Flavored Milk)

Bananamat uyu is arguably the most well-known non-alcoholic beverage in South Korea. Statistics show that South Korea sells about a million bottles of banana milk every day. 

Given that Bananamat uyu literally translates to "banana-flavored milk," it might sound like a bland beverage. However, it comes as no surprise that this beverage is so well-liked given its utterly addictive blend of sweet and savory flavors. 

For South Koreans, bananamat uyu evokes childhood memories in addition to being a beverage. It first gained popularity because bananas were a pricey food. The most well-known flavored-milk company, Binggrae, developed Bananamat uyu in 1974 as a healthy snack that allowed people to taste bananas while consuming more milk for their health.

Bananamat uyu is readily available at any convenience or grocery store.

2. 박카스 (Bacchus)

Try Bacchus if you need to stay awake while visiting South Korea, studying there, or working there and don't feel like drinking coffee. South Korean energy drink Bacchus made its debut on the market in 1963. It has been one of the most recognizable steady sellers ever since. 

Bacchus was first developed as a hangover cure. As an energy booster that targets people who really need a boost, it is now compared to Red Bull. A bottle of Bacchus is simple to find in a convenience store.

3. 미숫가루 (Misutgaru: Ground Grains)

Do you regularly consume protein shakes? In that case, Misutgaru is the best option for you! It is a shake made from a powdered mixture of many beneficial ingredients, including grains, beans, and nuts. You can also include other ingredients, such as honey if you'd like. 

Because it contains a variety of whole grains and is high in protein and fiber, this shake is healthy diet food. Since you only need to combine this pre-made powder with milk or water to make a shake, it is simple to make. 

This convenient and quick healthy beverage would be especially great if you were planning to go sightseeing in Seoul or other South Korean cities.

4. 숭늉 (Sungnyung: Scorched Rice Tea)

In Korea, an ingredient called nurungji, or crunchy rice, is frequently used. Sungnyung is a traditional Korean infusion with a clean, savory flavor that is made from the thin, toasted rice that is left over at the bottom of a cooking pot after the rice has been cooked. 

Sungnyung is frequently offered complimentary after a meal, so you might not be able to find it on restaurant menus. Many people think that Sungnyung promotes healthy digestion and refuels the body. 

Do you want to try this beverage? It's simple to make at home! Boiling the rice at the bottom of the pot after adding water and removing the cooked rice from the pot.

5. 아침햇살 (Achimhaetsal)

Morning rice is referred to as achimhaetsal. It is a beverage made from three different varieties of Korean rice, as its name suggests (white, brown, and black). When it was first introduced in 1999, it caused a sensation with the tagline "makes your stomach comfortable" and was patented as the first grain drink made with rice in the entire world. 

It is also known as rice milk or rice drink because of the way it looks and because its name is so long. Its flavor is frequently compared to sweetened almond milk. You will fall head over heels for Achimhaetsal if you enjoy this kind of taste.

This drink is regarded as a great drink for the stomach, as was already mentioned. Therefore, it goes well with spicy Korean dishes like Buldak (fire chicken) and Nakjibokkem (spicy stir-fried octopus)!

6. 커피믹스 (Korean Coffee Mix)

If you enjoy coffee and are in South Korea, you should not pass up the nearly ubiquitous instant mixes. South Korea has developed into a coffee republic and has a strong coffee culture thanks to the growth of the coffee industry starting in the early 2000s.

In Seoul or any other major city in South Korea, there are countless wonderful cafes to visit, but you can also easily find instant coffee vending machines on the streets. Since these instant coffee sticks make it possible for anyone who enjoys coffee to enjoy a cup quickly and conveniently, it is also not difficult to find instant coffee sticks in South Korean homes or offices. 

Making instant coffee only requires a few simple steps. To begin, take an instant coffee stick and tear it along the "easy cut" marking on the top. Then, transfer the fine powder from the stick's interior into a tiny cup and combine it with hot water. Then, after stirring until the powder has dissolved, sip.

7. 소주 (Soju)

Soju is without a doubt the beverage most associated with Korean origin. A clear, distilled alcoholic beverage made from sweet potatoes is called soju. 

Chum Churum and Chamisul are two popular soju brands that rule the South Korean market. Regional brands with intriguing flavors and distinctive qualities are also available. Although it can change, the typical alcohol content ranges from 17 to 25 percent.

You could drink soju all night without concern for cost if you run into old friends and feel like getting wasted. Even so, it would still be less expensive than a whisky bottle. Soju costs approximately 1,000–2,000 won in shops and perhaps 3,000–4,000 won in establishments like pubs or restaurants. Along with many Korean dishes, soju is also offered in chilled shot glasses. 

The combination of soju and Samgyopsal, Korean-style grilled bacon, is popular among Koreans. You can choose flavored soju instead of plain soju if you find the flavor of plain soju to be too strong. Lemon, grape, and apple flavors are frequently requested.

8. 복분자주 (Bokbunjajoo: Korean Raspberry Wine)

The Korean black raspberry, which is widely cultivated on mountains all over the nation, is used to make the wine known as bokbunjajoo. Comparatively speaking to typical wines, it tastes fairly sweet. The name Bokbunja has a meaning that describes the effect of boosting energy powerful enough to topple the Yogang, which was frequently used as a bedpan in the past. 

A folktale claims that an elderly couple picked raspberries and unintentionally made wine out of them. The man in the couple became so energized after consuming Bokbunjajoo that his urination overturned the Yogang, and shortly after that, his wife gave birth.

9. 막걸리 (Makgeolli: Traditional Korean Rice Wine)

The oldest alcoholic beverage in Korea is makgeolli, which has recently risen to the top of the list in terms of popularity. It is a traditional rice wine from Korea that is primarily made from rice but also contains other grains. The smoother than Makgeolli top layer of the finished fermented rice wine is known as Dongdongju (동동주). 

Makgeolli is the bottom layer, which also contains some sediment. It has a milky white color and is unfiltered, in contrast to soju and other clear alcoholic beverages like Dongdongju.

Previously thought of as a beverage for farmers, makgeolli has recently become more well-liked by people of all ages. Younger generations mix Makgeolli with strawberry-flavored milk or Chilsung Cider, South Korea's version of Sprite, to create their own flavors. 

Nowadays, it's common to see bars serving a variety of Makgeolli cocktails and flavors. It goes well with savory pancakes like Pajeon or sweet pancakes like Bindaetteok.

10. 인삼주 (Insamju: Korean Ginseng Liquor)

Ginseng liquor is called Insamju. Premium ginseng is its main component, and the Korean recipe has been used for it for more than 1,500 years. 

Korean ginseng is thought to boost immune function, improve blood flow, reduce stress, and reenergize the body. Insamju was created so that people could take advantage of both ginseng's health advantages and an alcoholic beverage.

Insamju, a beloved ginseng liquor, was once frequently served to house guests by members of the upper classes who thought it had healing properties. A significant health and wellness trend has recently had an impact on the South Korean beverage market. 

Insamju is no longer regarded as an antique beverage as a result. Younger generations can be seen to enjoy insamju, particularly when paired with the ginseng chicken soup known as samgyetang, which is thought to be the perfect accompaniment to this ginseng liquor.