South Korea
Greentea Food and the secret bamboo forest
Greentea Food
and the secret
Bamboo forest
The rain drips gently from the sky on this day, shrouding the tea garden in an almost opaque veil.
Covered in mist, the tea plants seem to be asleep. The light shines subdued through the dense clouds and creates a mysticism that cannot be compared with the sunny day before. What a perfect moment to visit the restaurant in the main square of the Daehan Tea Garden.
I walk up the brown steps to the restaurant and take a seat at one of the tables by the window. The restaurant offers standard Korean dishes, but is characterized by the use of green tea from the plantation in the preparation of the dishes.
After carefully examining the menu, I decide on Nogcha Bibimbap 녹차 비빔밥, a popular Korean dish served with rice and fresh vegetables, a fried egg and a choice of meat or tofu. The word 녹차 means green tea and adorns all the dishes on the restaurant's menu.
With a view of the tea fields that present themselves to me through the large window front, I wait in anticipation. As the food is served, I see a splendour of different colors that unite in the bowl to form a uniform portrait. A picture that I would like to leave exactly as it is. The special thing about this dish is the way the rice is prepared. The rice is cooked in green tea, which is harvested locally. This makes the dish unique, as the taste of the green tea varies depending on the time of harvest.
비빔밥 translates as "stirring rice" and describes the way in which the dish should be eaten. Together with a spicy chili paste called "gochujang", the rice is mixed with the vegetables and then eaten with the help of a spoon. At this point, I have to say: it's a shame that the taste and smell cannot be shared over the net. The green tea gives the sweet and spicy dish an unusual and tangy note. A flavorful experience!
What makes it special: As a guest of the tea garden, you walk among the tea plants, drink the leaves as freshly brewed tea and eat food made from them. This makes me feel connected to this place on all levels and I enjoy every spoonful of my meal, down to the last grain of rice. Strengthened, I head to the souvenir store right next to the restaurant and discover a variety of sweets and snacks made from the green tea. The store offers a huge variety of products, from green tea cookies to green tea bath salts. I find the green tea yanggaeng (양갱), a traditional Korean sweet made from jelly, particularly exciting.
With my shopping bags full, I leave the store to try one of the tea plantation's most famous dishes: "Nogcha ice cream" (녹차 아이스크림). The ice cream has a beautiful green color that perfectly matches the different shades of green in the garden and is characterized by a slightly tart but very intense green tea taste. One of the reasons why I immediately treat myself to a second portion.
A breathtaking sight! A wooden entrance stretches out in front of me, like a gateway to another world, leading into a forest of dark green bamboo surrounded by mist. It feels like an invitation to a secret place that doesn't reveal itself to everyone. Step by step, I walk deeper into the forest on the brown wooden walkway covered in withered leaves. In a sea of bamboo, I enjoy the peaceful silence and knock on almost every bamboo cane I pass. I don't know how much time I've spent in the middle of the forest - but my gratitude grows immeasurably.
The Daehan Tea Garden represents a tea culture that combines beauty and tranquillity, appreciation and health with the drinking of tea. I leave the garden reluctantly, but recharged with a multitude of experiences, I look once more at the entrance gate to the tea garden and read the dedication once more:
»Please cherish and love our Daehan Tea Garden like a beautiful painting.«. I have definitely fallen in love. And I leave this place with a smile on my face.
Dear readers and friends of tea culture,
This was the last episode of our samova WorldTour: South Korea. My journey through the tea culture of South Korea is over for now, but not finished. I collected countless wonderful memories and experiences during my adventure in the Land of the Morning Calm. I hope that you were able to share a little of the Korean tea culture with me.
Our world is a kaleidoscope - it reflects, it is diverse and anything but easy to understand, let alone grasp with two eyes. But with every piece of the puzzle we get closer, and this project is intended to be one of them. Thank you for your interest and feedback. See you soon for the next WorldTour. Deniz
Finland
Our samova trip takes us to the Finnish region of Vaasa and, with its tea sponsor Team Spirit, sets a clear example of friendship, enjoyment and team spirit.
