Is Korea known for their coffee?
Even though Korea does not cultivate coffee, it has become a nation known for its unique coffee culture. Not just the main regions of Seoul and Busan; in fact, there are many exquisite cafes offering different types of specialty coffee all across the country, even in small towns and cities. Some of the most iconic and popular coffees worldwide include Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, Jamaica Blue Mountain, Kenya AA, Sumatra Mandheling, and Panama Geisha. The best coffee in the world depends on bean variety, growing region, altitude, and processing method.
Why is Korea so obsessed with coffee?
Korea has been dubbed the “Republic of Coffee,” drawing in experts and investors from around the world. Such Korean love for coffee can be attributed to an invention in the 1970s that had a decisive impact. Coffee mix,” as it was called, is a sachet packed with instant coffee, sugar and cream. It wasn’t until the 1960s that instant coffee was introduced to Korea, which made coffee accessible to the general public due to its cheap price. Korean café culture was truly started when Starbucks entered the Korean market and introduced the idea of cafés as places to socialize, work, rest, etc.
What is the signature drink of Korea?
Soju. Soju is likely the most famous alcoholic beverage produced in Korea, strongly associated with drinking culture on the peninsula. Technically similar to vodka (and the Japanese beverage, shochu), soju is clear; it is distilled from various starches including wheat, glutinous rice, barley, or sweet potato. Soju is Korea’s most iconic and consumed alcohol—apparently the average Korean downs 53 bottles of soju a year. Soju was traditionally a distilled liquor made with rice, water, and nuruk (a Korean fermentation starter).