As in China and Japan, tea is a big deal in Korea.
They have involved rituals surrounding the beverage and hold green tea in the highest regard, reserving certain types specifically for ceremonies.
This is due to the belief and practice of how healthful and beneficial tea consumption is for the mind, body, heart, and soul.
To experience a taste of this sacred drink, the following list contains 12 Korean tea brands.
While most of these are on Amazon, others are very obscure and difficult to come by. Regardless, if you can get your hands on some of it, your body will thank you.
Korean Tea Brands Overview
- Osulloc Tea
- Dong Suh
- Damtuh
- Ottogi
- SEEIN
- ZEDA Tea
- Teas Unique
- Prince of Peace
- Ssanggye
- Nokchawon
- Kwangdong
- Hankook Tea
12 Korean Tea Brands
1. Osulloc Tea
Osulloc Tea came into being in 1979 by Seo Seong Hwan. This Korean tea brand aims to please the avid aficionado.
This is because, at that time, Seo Song Hwan found great disappointment in Korea’s disregard for tea.
He adored traditional tea culture alongside the circumstance and pomp that goes with it.
But, in the late 1970s, Korean society and culture fell away from this practice. He dedicated many years to tea cultivation on Jeju Island, utilizing abandoned farmlands.
Osulloc produces tea that is so good and pure, it has certifications from Carbon Footprint, USDA & FSC.
They offer several varieties, and all are 100% organic and delicious.
There is classic green tea, Rooibos, Matcha, Volcanic Rock semi-fermented tea, Samdayon fermented tea, pear tea, and so many others.
Pros:
- A wide array of flavors
- Various forms as loose leaf and tea bags
- Longtime tradition connected to history
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- Difficult to get outside of Korea
2. Dong Suh
As a leader in the Korean food and beverage market, Dong Suh is a beloved brand that’s been around since 1968.
Currently operated and owned by Chang-Hwan Lee and Jong-Won Kim, they have an excellent reputation with admirable packaging.
This is the crème de la crème of tea in South Korea because they employ some of the strictest quality control and hygienic standards.
Their prices are very nice on the bank account for the value while delivering tasty teas inspired by nature.
There are healthy varieties that are Korean staples.
For instance, they offer Purple Corn, Rooibos, Barley, Buckwheat, Solomon’s Seal, and Brown Rice Green teas, to name a mere few.
Pros:
- Great value for the amount versus the price
- Varieties target Korean consumers
- Strict quality controls
Cons:
- Reproductive and cancer warnings on the package
3. Damtuh
Founded in 1983 as a powder, soda, and syrup manufacturer, Damtuh got its start with teas in 1990.
They use innovation and tradition to produce fruity and floral selection with a wonderful taste and aroma. Some of these you can even drink cold.
Plus, Damtuh uses top-notch technology for high-end quality control before, during, and after manufacturing.
From farm to package, they consistently check every aspect for taste, quality, and effect, even in brewing tests.
This ensures they’ll be the best you’ve ever had.
They offer such flavors as Honey Ginger, Burdock, Roasted Grains, Corn Silk, Agave Ginger, Mugwort, Barley, Honey Tangerine, and Walnut Almond.
There are many others, but those are the best sellers.
Pros:
- Impeccable quality control methods
- Huge variety of choices
- Packaging comes in convenient sticks
Cons:
- Damaged/broken package after overseas ordering
- A little more expensive than other teas
4. Ottogi
Another tea-manufacturing giant in South Korea is Ottogi.
They began making curry powder in 1969 but expanded into tea in the 1990s. Ottogi is some of the most desired worldwide.
They use only the best ingredients to provide a tasty and healthy tea. Some of their varieties are Korean standbys, but others are a little different and unique.
You’ll see ones like Pomegranate, Sweet Potato, Chinese Yam, and Cassia Seed (cinnamon), among many others.
Pros:
- Unusual and traditional tea varieties
- Popular, delicious and well-made
- Simple, tasty and healthy
Cons:
- Limited variety
- Difficult to locate outside of South Korea
5. SEEIN
For a brand that hopes to bring peace and harmony to mind, body and soul, SEEIN reigns as king.
Under the ownership of the Nousbo Company, Ltd, the founders’ Kay Lee and C. Kim began producing tea after a trip to Jeju Island.
A friend served them some local green tea.
The experience was surprising and delightful, leaving them brightened and rejuvenated. They wanted to bring this sensation to the public as well.
They now serve 15 countries with their signature quality green tea and have done so for almost 15 years.
SEEIN is an organic product certified by the USDA and Europe with strict quality controls.
They have only two varieties: Matcha with Xylose Sugar and Organic Matcha (for ceremonial use).
Pros:
- Premium, organic green tea
- Directly produced from Jeju Island
- Wonderful tasting teas
Cons:
- Make only green tea
- Rather expensive compared to others
6. ZEDA Tea
ZEDA Tea has some of the finest artisan teas coming out of South Korea. Unfortunately, there is not much information available about the brand.
So, we don’t know who founded it, where it started, or any other information as with other manufacturers listed here.
However, we do know they produce a quaint selection of high-quality teas that are very available outside of South Korea.
In fact, there are two flavors. The first is 100% pure and organic Matcha Green Tea, and it comes in a powder.
The other is Hwangcha, which translates to “yellow tea.” This is special because they can produce only 10 kilograms each year.
Grown on a small, independent farm in Sancheong, it’s a fermented tea with a nutty, fresh, and rich flavor.
Pros:
- Fine artisan-style teas
- Delicious, healthy and pure
- Rare leaves go into every package
Cons:
- Expensive for tea
- Difficult to find outside South Korea
- Limited variety and company information
7. Teas Unique
Produced out of Flowery Branch, Georgia in the United States since 2010, Teas Unique is an unusual tea brand offering both traditional Korean and Japanese types.
However, they didn’t start selling as Teas Unique until 2015.
They have orthodox flavors, incomparable aromas and artisan blends.
They handpick the leaves and use minimal processing in the creation of their products to preserve flavor and taste.
There are whole leaves and powders while sourcing ingredients from the USA as well as traditional farming areas in South Korea.
Teas Unique details its offerings according to the growing region in Korea along with the various types.
There is a black and green tea from Jeju Island along with yellow tea from Mount Jiri, Chrysanthemum from Boseong, and roasted brown rice blends from Uji.
Pros:
- Fresh, carefully curated teas
- Based in the USA and easy to obtain
- Some sourced from the best places in Korea
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive compared to other teas
- Mostly green tea with very little variety
8. Prince of Peace
Another American-based Korean tea brand is Prince of Peace. Started by Kenneth Yeung in 1985 out of a small office in San Francisco, the company has come a long way.
Kenneth has a passion for health and adores Asian medicine, finding great value in herbal supplements.
This impetus birthed Prince of Peace.
His first endeavor was to develop a weight loss tea by using American ginseng roots.
Today, Prince of Peace is the most popular ginseng tea in the United States and South Korea.
In fact, they order it by the boatloads for their New Years’ celebrations.
Prince of Peace has a whole line of health products that include Asian and American ginseng along with ginger, milk, honey, and herbal teas.
There are blends for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol control too.
Pros:
- Huge selection and variety of teas
- Very accessible and readily available
- Healthy and spiritually uplifting
Cons:
- Price and value doesn’t match up with volume
- Some people complain it has a processed taste
9. Ssanggye
Ssanggye is the Korean tea brand that has a little bit of everything. There are many varieties, and all of them highlight the vitality of Mount Jirisan.
Ssanggye practices the traditional Korean method of tea fermentation while developing an innovative process they call “white charcoal roasting and maturing.”
This is what brings out the flavors and makes their teas delicately dance on your taste buds.
They have flavors such as Chrysanthemum, Hydrangea, Bellflower, Plum Flower, Mulberry, Puer and Hibiscus, along with blends for sleep, hypertension, immunity, diabetes and others.
Those are just the ones that garner the most popularity.
If you’re uncertain of which to try first, they have a wonderful variety pack with all of them in there.
Pros:
- Specially curated for full health benefits
- Very available outside the borders of South Korea
- Cost-effective and affordable
Cons:
- Only 40 tea bags per package
- Some varieties lack enough flavor
10. Nokchawon
Nokchawon is a massive tea producer in South Korea, with mammoth-sized plantations in Boseong and Sacheong.
These are two of the largest growing districts in the northern part of the country. Nokchawon prides itself on the tinier and greener plants, which helps give its taste and aroma a long shelf life.
Their motto is “fusion, food culture and taste.” This means you can trust the product you receive.
With their huge selections and varieties, it’s not difficult to see how this is one of Korea’s most beloved tea brands.
Nokchawon’s pride and joy is their green tea. However, there are fusion blends, exotic teas, and healthy mixes.
Things like Korean Corn, Korean Ginseng, Honey Citron, and Bitter Melon are all highly desirable.
Pros:
- Some of the finest teas out of South Korea
- Tea bags contain only natural fiber
- Select from Boseong & Sacheong
Cons:
- Only 40 tea bags in one package
- Tea bags tend to be small
11. Kwangdong
The teas produced by Kwangdong are actually pharmaceuticals. They use all natural and organic ingredients to produce a host of products, not just teas.
However, Kwangdong makes some of the best tasting teas in which you can take comfort.
This 50-year old company focuses on the health of South Koreans in a very serious way.
Kwangdong takes a holistic, organic approach to their products, ensuring they supply optimal health and wellbeing.
They are so successful in this that they are a beloved brand on the global stage.
While their product range is vast, their tea selections are limited. However, they offer a direct health benefits anyone can and will enjoy.
They have Cornsilk, Burdock, and Oriental Raisin. These come premade in a bottle, ready to drink upon opening.
Pros:
- Excellent tasting and healthy teas
- Can get the teas from anywhere in the world
- Pharmaceuticals focused on overall wellbeing
Cons:
- Limited variety and selection of teas
- A little on the pricey side for bottled tea
12. Hankook Tea
Hankook Tea has been in operation since 1951 and they adhere to traditional, strict standards for quality.
They ensure eco-friendly agricultural methods that harmonize, not destroy, the surrounding environment. Each step of their manufacturing employs transparency and integrity.
They allow each leaf to grow at its own pace and don’t force maturation. This means Hankook
Tea creates products that are free of pesticides, inorganic substances and other harmful elements.
Plus, they support the local art scene and only offer artisan-made teas for the utmost in taste and aroma.
They have a great variety and selection of teas to suit any purpose or preference.
There is of course green tea but they also have Red Ginseng, Barley Sprout, Hwang Cha (yellow), Chrysanthemum, Persimmon, Mulberry Leaf, Lotus Leaf and so many others.
Pros:
- Huge selection of pure, rare and exotic teas
- Supports the local South Korean art community
- Free of harmful chemicals
Cons:
- Difficult to find in stores outside of South Korea
Conclusion
Korean tea is indeed an experience. Any one of the 12 Korean tea brands mentioned above will help you understand the depth of meaning they have for the culture.
What’s great is that you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.
