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What to drink in South Korea? Top 16 Korean Non-alcoholic Beverages

Last update: Wed Apr 9 2025
Top 16 Korean Non-alcoholic Beverages
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Korean Non-alcoholic Beverage Types

01
Sujeonggwa
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Also known as Korean cinnamon punch, sujeonggwa is a popular traditional dessert drink consumed during the Korean festive holidays alongside with sikye (sweet rice drink). It is known to aid indigestion which is why it’s often served with a large meal.


It's made from water, dried persimmon, and cinnamon and has a dark brown color with a sweet and spicy aroma coming from the ginger and can be served both hot or cold. The earliest mention of this drink dates back to 1849 in the book Dongguksesigi by Hong Seok Mo (a book of seasonal customs), and it describes a drink made from the dried persimmon brew with added ginger and pine nuts.

02

Herbal Infusion

SOUTH KOREA and  2 more regions
3.9
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MAIN INGREDIENTS

Mugicha is a Japanese name for barley tea—an infusion made by steeping roasted barley grains in hot or cold water. Technically, barley tea is a tisane, and nowadays, it is often made by using teabags consisting of roasted and ground barley.


The drink has ancient origins and is enjoyed in many Asian countries. When brewed, barley tea has a light brown color and a savor, nutty and earthy flavor. It can be sweetened to preference, while the chilled, summer version is often served over ice. 
03
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Yuja-cha is a Korean citrus infusion that is mostly enjoyed during winter. It is made with yuya—a lemon-like citrus fruit native to China that was brought to South Korea during Tang dynasty. The tea can be prepared by mixing fresh sliced fruit with sugar and then combining it with warm water.


The other way is to make a fruit preserve (yuja-cheong), which usually consists of sliced yuya, honey or sugar, and water. The tea is then prepared by dissolving the preserve in water. This warming tea should be enjoyed warm and is often claimed to be a soothing health remedy.

04

Coffee

SOUTH KOREA and  2 more regions
3.9
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Dalgona is a frothy whipped coffee that is served on top of milk. Although it became internationally known as a South Korean beverage, similar versions are common in other Asian countries. The basic version of this coffee is made with equal parts of instant coffee, sugar, and water.


The combination is then whipped until it achieves caramel-like color and foamy texture. It is then traditionally ladled on top of milk. In South Korea, the drink was introduced by an actor Jung Il-woo who first had it in Macau. The flavor and the appearance reminded him of a popular Korean street snack, named dalgona, which is made with melted sugar and baking soda. 
05
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Omija-cha is a Korean infusion made with omija—five-flavor berry. Also known as schisandra or magnolia berry, these small red berries are dried before they are used to make omija tea. The berries can be boiled in hot water, which will bring out bitter flavors, but traditionally they are merely steeped in cold water.


The tea is usually sweetened with sugar and honey, and it can be enjoyed warm or cold. The berries will give the drink its distinctive red hue, and they will also provide five omija flavors—hence the name of the fruit—which include saltiness, sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and pungency. 
06

Tea / Infusion

SOUTH KOREA and  one more region
3.8
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MAIN INGREDIENTS

Although it is usually called ginger tea, this ginger-based drink is better described as a ginger infusion. It can be made by simmering sliced ginger in hot water, but in South Korea (saenggang-cha) and Japan (shōgayu), it is often prepared with a mixture of honey and grated ginger.


The combination is stored, and it is then just mixed with water. Some variations will also include lemon or starch. The drink is commonly enjoyed as a health remedy, and it can either be made as a hot or cold beverage. Ginger tea comes in numerous variations that are found in various Asian countries.

07
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Milkis is a South Korean soft drink produced by Lotte Chilsung, a company which released the beverage in 1989, labeling it as a milk and yogurt soda. Some like to describe it as a melting mousse made with frozen yogurt. It is made with carbonated water, corn syrup, sugar, and milk.


Today, Milkis is available in many varieties, flavored with mango, banana, peach, orange, strawberry, apple, or melon.

08
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Sikhye is a traditional South Korean non-alcoholic, sweet drink made with barley malt powder (same powder used to make beer and bread), sugar, rice, and in some cases pine nuts. It has a moderately sweet flavor with a very specific flavor coming from the barley malt.


The drink is traditionally consumed during Korean festive holidays ( e.g New Year’s Day and Korean Harvest Festival). The Koreans believe that sikhye is good for digestion as it contains dietary fiber and antioxidants, and it’s often served after a meal.

09
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Yulmu-cha is a Korean tea that is made with yulmu—the seeds that are gathered from yulmu plant (also known as Job’s tears). The seeds are roasted and ground into a powder, which is then dissolved in warm water to make the tea.


Optionally, yulmu powder can also incorporate other seeds, grains, or nuts. The tea is opaque and creamy with a distinctive nutty flavor. It is usually available as a pre-packed powdered mix, and it is sometimes sold from vending machines.

10
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Hwachae is a general term used to refer to Korean non-alcoholic punches made from various fruits and edible flowers which have been soaked in honeyed water or honeyed magnolia berry juice. The most popular version of the fruit punch is Subak-Hwachae; made with slices or scoops of watermelon, bits of other fruits, ice, and honeyed watermelon juice.


That variety is a popular refreshment during hot summer months. It is believed that there are over thirty varieties of hwachae all using honeyed water or sweet carbonated drinks as a base with different kinds of fruit added to it.

VARIATIONS OF Hwachae
11
12
Herbal Infusion
SOUTH KOREA  and  2 more regions
3.2
13
14
15
Tea
SOUTH KOREA
n/a
16
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Korean Non-alcoholic Beverages