Beyond soju’s neon green bottles lies a forgotten world of flavors—monk-brewed elixirs simmered in copper pots. Aphrodisiac berry wines were once sipped by Joseon royalty. It is an unseen world of liquor that preserves Korea’s heritage in a way still unfamiliar to the outside world.
Let’s dive into Korea’s seven most mesmerizing secret liquors—the kind you won’t find in tourist guides, but absolutely should seek out.
1. Omegisool(오메기솔): The Haenyeo’s Liquid Courage
Where to find it: Jeju’s dawn-lit fish markets
Tastes like: Yoghurt and ocean spray come together as a whole new drink
Unique Fact: Served in bamboo cups to stay chilled for pre-dive energy
This liquor is a milky-white, lightly effervescent rice wine with a yoghurt-like tang. It doesn’t have preservatives, which means it spoils after 3 days of opening. Pair up with fresh sea urchin to unlock its full flavour.
2. Beopju(법주): Temple Monks’ Sacred Sip
Where to find it: Remote mountain monasteries
Tastes like: Herbal sunshine in liquid form
Unique Fact: It was offered to Buddha before humans could drink it.
Brewed in pure copper pots by Buddhist monks, this crystal-clear rice wine is so sacred that it is strained through silk and made with rainwater collected in the courtyard. Want to know the 600-year-old recipe? Prayer, patience, and zero talking during fermentation.
3. Dongdongju(동동주): The Rice Wine That Floats
Where to find it: Seoul’s back-alley jipbal bars
Tastes like: Creamy, unfiltered nostalgia
A creamy, unfiltered makgeolli with suspended rice grains. Named for its dancing rice grains (dongdong), this makgeolli ancestor pairs obscenely well with spicy pig’s feet. This should be consumed within 24 hours of opening; otherwise, the fermentation will ruin the taste.
4. Sansachun(산사춘): The 600-Year-Old Digestif
Where to find it: Apothecary shelves in Insadong
Tastes like: Tart cherries whispering ancient secrets
Unique Fact: Joseon doctors prescribed it for meat-induced indigestion.
This beverage, hawthorn berry wine, was Korea’s original medicine for upset stomach. Joseon Dynasty doctors prescribed it for bloated nobles after feasts. Now, the old men in hanbok still sip it post-kimchi, claiming it as ‘melts meat like snow.’ Pair up drinks after samgyeopsal and feel the contrast.
5. Gamju(감주): The Forbidden Wedding Wine
Where to find it: Night market in Gyeonggi-do or the traditional brewer of the province
Tastes like: Liquid persimmon leather with a cinnamon kick
Unique Fact: Banned outside royal weddings during the Joseon Dynasty.
This mysterious drink, once served only at royal weddings, is believed to have the power to bless marriages. They use the elders’ home roof to dry the fruit for making the alcohol.
6. Jindo Hongju(진도 홍주): The Shaman’s Truth Serum
Where to find it: Jindo Province
Tastes like: Ginseng roots soaked in lightning
Unique Fact: Surprisingly, this alcohol doesn’t give a hangover
Before performing shamanic rituals, shamans drink this blood-red ginseng liquor to see spirits. Made with 40% pure alcohol, the 49-day fermentation in earthenware makes it potent enough that even the bottle sweats.
7. Cheongju(청주): The Gold Cup Mystery
Where to find it: Andong’s night market
Tastes like: Creamy with a nutty hint
This category of alcohol has unique aromas and seven tastes. These were used on four important ceremonial occasions: coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and ancestral rites. For this reason, these drinks are considered to form the core of traditional booze.
Coming to the end, this part of Korea’s truest stories isn’t written in history books; they’re fermented in clay jars, whispered over shared cups, and passed down through generations one sip at a time.
These forgotten brews are more than alcohol. They’re time machines, survival tools, and liquid rebellion. Each bottle holds its own little stories if you know how to listen. So next time, whenever you are handed a drink related to Korea, just try to see the story behind its creation. You might just uncover stories older than Seoul itself.
Written by Trisha Deka
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