Tea Blog

In the years I’ve spent drinking and writing about tea, I have yet to sample Korean tea—a notable omission that I hope to remedy one day.

South Korea may not be the first country that comes to mind when thinking about tea production, and its consumption levels are relatively modest compared to other nations. However, the country does maintain a vibrant tea tradition and industry.

The most well-known tea-producing region in Korea is Boseong County, located in the southern part of the country. Like neighboring Japan, Korea is especially recognized for its green tea production. Although the scale of the industry is smaller compared to major producers like China or India, Boseong has gained significant attention for both its quality and tourism appeal.

According to Discovering Korea, tea was introduced to Korea from China and has been documented as far back as the seventh century. As described in this travel feature on Boseong’s green tea plantations and regional tea culture, the area accounts for a substantial portion of Korea’s green tea production and has become a popular destination for tea tourism.

Additional insights can be found through official tourism resources. For example, this overview of Korean tea culture and traditional beverages from the Korea tourism site explores not only green tea but also a variety of herbal infusions commonly enjoyed throughout the country. It also highlights destinations such as the Beautiful Tea Museum and the O’Sulloc Tea Museum on Jeju Island.

Another resource, this guide to the Boseong green tea plantations and their history, explains how some plantations were originally established during the Japanese occupation and later revitalized. Today, sites like the Daehan Tea Plantation are regarded as some of the most prominent and scenic tea gardens in Korea.

Visitors to the region may also want to explore this overview of the Boseong Green Tea Festival and its traditional activities, which includes tea harvesting, tea preparation demonstrations, and cultural experiences centered on green tea.

For additional perspectives on Korean tea culture, MattCha’s Blog featuring extensive writing on Korean teas and tea traditions offers a wealth of information from a dedicated enthusiast.

For contemporary coverage, see this Korean Herald feature on Daehan Tea Plantation and its role in Korean tea tourism and this companion article discussing the traditions of the Korean tea ceremony.

Although Korean tea may not yet be widely known internationally, regions like Boseong demonstrate that it has both a rich history and a growing presence worth exploring.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea-related writing by the author.

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