In Korea, there are many traditional tea houses (Jeontong Chatjip 전통찻집) where you can enjoy traditional Korean teas made from various grains, roots, fruits, flowers, and leaves of various plants.
Tea is called 'cha 차' in Korean.
Traditional teas that Koreans enjoy include teas made from grains such as Bori cha 보리차 (barley tea), Oksusu cha 옥수수차 (corn tea), Yulmu cha 율무차 (job's tears tea), and Kyeolmyeongja cha 결명자차 (cassia seed tea); root-based teas like Insam cha 인삼차 (ginseng tea), Saenggang cha 생강차 (ginger tea), Dungeule cha 둥글레차 (balloon flower root tea), and Cheek cha 칡차 (arrowroot tea); fruit-based teas like Youja cha 유자차 (yuzu tea), Mogwa cha 모과차 (quince tea), Daechu cha 대추차 (jujube tea), and Omija cha 오미자차(schisandra tea); and flower-based teas such as Kookhwa cha 국화차(chrysanthemum tea) and Suguk cha 수국차 (hydrangea tea).
There are also teas made from leaves, such as Ppongip cha 뽕잎차 (mulberry leaf tea), Solip cha 솔잎차(pine needle tea), Gamip cha 감잎차 (persimmon leaf tea), and Nok cha 녹차 (green tea).
Korea's green tea culture began in the 4th century in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, where wild tea leaves were harvested and made into tea.
Today, green tea is produced in Jeollanam-do Boseong, Gyeongsangnam-do Hadong, and Jeju Island.
Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation 대한다원 in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, the largest green tea production area in Korea, is a beautiful and fragrant place that is popular not only with Koreans but also with international tourists to Korea.
One rainy day, I visited the Daehan Dawon.
I walked down a path lined with majestic cedar trees and arrived at the green tea fields.
My tired body relaxed and my mind became fragrant.
My heart was beating with the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo forest path.
