In South Korea, there’s a TV show called “Welcome, First Time in Korea?” where they introduce Korean culture to foreigners.
Once, they had American musical actor Brad Little as a guest. During his visit to a Korean barbecue restaurant, Brad, feeling thirsty, asked for water. However, the water served at the restaurant was barley tea. Seeing it for the first time, Brad exclaimed, “really dirty!” which amused those around him. Later, in an interview, he mentioned that he initially thought it was water that he couldn’t drink, considering it dirty. However, urged by locals, he took a sip of barley tea and was so captivated by its flavor that he even poured himself a full cup. Despite Koreans nowadays drinking a lot of bottled water, historically, many boiled their drinking water. Some still prefer boiled water with barley, cassia seed , or corn added for better taste and health benefits. Today, I’d like to talk about barley tea, corn tea, and cassia seed tea including their benefits and how to prepare them.
Step 1 : Nutty Corn Tea
Corn originated in Latin America and was brought to Korea from China in the 16th to 17th centuries. Koreans are familiar with corn tea, often using it as an alternative to water. Personally, I’d choose corn tea over bottled water from convenience stores because of its superior taste. Corn tea can be found in Korean grocery stores or the Korean products section of supermarkets. The picture below is a picture of corn tea, tea bag products.
Benefits of Corn Tea
Try boiling water with a corn tea bag; you might find bottled water less appealing afterward. However, remember to store corn tea properly to avoid spoiling.
- Good for preventing cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis
- Anticancer effects due to its ability to eliminate free radicals.
- Prevents skin aging and dryness.
- Promotes bone health and prevents osteoporosis.
- Suppresses oral bacteria and promotes gum health
- Boosts immunity and helps with menopausal symptoms.
Step 2: Earthy Roasted barley tea
Brad’s “dirty water” remark referred to barley tea. Roasted barley tea is made by roasting barley and boiling it, a popular drink in Korea throughout the year. Its barley tea flavor is slightly stronger than corn tea. Not “Nutty” but “Earthy”. Once you’re captivated by its charm, bottled water might not satisfy you anymore. barley tea can be found in Korean grocery stores or the Korean products section of supermarkets. The picture below is a picture of tea bag products.
Benefits of Barley Tea
Barley tea is caffeine-free, making it a suitable substitute for water for many people. It’s often preferred over bottled water for its flavor and aroma.
- Lowers cholesterol and body fat.
- Contains magnesium beneficial for diabetes.
- Improves blood circulation and helps with platelet formation.
- Helps eliminate heavy metals from the body.
- Reduces skin troubles through detoxification.
- Rich in dietary fiber, beneficial for intestinal health.
- Suitable for those with hemorrhoids or weak digestion.
- Good for cardiovascular health.
Step 3: Bitter & earthy Cassia seed Tea
Lastly, let’s talk about cassia seed tea. Cassia seeds are known as “eyes-opening seeds” due to their stimulating effect. cassia seed tea has a slightly different taste compared to barley or corn tea, sometimes perceived as spicy. Despite this, it’s popular among Koreans for its unique flavor. 90% earthy, 10% bitter! Cassia seed tea is “Kyeol myeong ja” tea in Korean. cassia seed tea can be found in Korean grocery stores or the Korean products section of supermarkets. The picture below is a picture of tea bag products.
Benefits of cassia seed tea:
- Good for relieving eye fatigue and congestion, preventing eye diseases, and improving eyesight.
- Effective in lowering blood pressure, beneficial for hypertension patients.
- Promotes urination, improving kidney health.
- Aids digestion and relieves constipation.
- Has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing pain and inflammation.
- Reduces cholesterol levels.
However, cassia seed tea also has its precautions
- People with low blood pressure or those taking blood pressure medication should be cautious.
- Those with gastrointestinal disorders should also be careful, as excessive consumption can cause diarrhea or abdominal pain.
- Some individuals may experience allergies.
- Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.