Korean refreshments

By Bernard Rowan

I've devoted several columns to different types of Korean drinks, including alcoholic drinks and types of tea. I'd like to write this time about nonalcoholic drinks, including juices and types of pop. This isn't a health foods column. I'm writing for foreigners to appreciate how to get a quick, refreshing drink. I enjoy the unusual kinds of drinks in Korea.

It's going to get warmer and then hot soon. How are you doing? You're on the streets ― the Korean streets. They're busy. They're full of people, and if you've just exited the subway, you may find yourself parched. I'm going to tell you something. Take a minute to enjoy a delicious Korean drink. I'm serious. In my times in Seoul and elsewhere, I always tarried a bit to drink one to several wonderful Korean drinks ― nonalcoholic. And I say several because I'm a big guy, and the drink cans are small. Let's learn about Korean refreshments.

Go to Seven Eleven! That's your school for the tasty drinks. I like the varieties of milk available to drink. Some of my favorites are banana milk and strawberry milk, as well as the usual whole and chocolate milk varieties. Cold milk still tastes good to me, and I read it's not altogether clear to worry overmuch about the fat grams and cholesterol, unless you drink it by the gallon or something.

There are of course, all the famous American-global soft drinks. Korea's Chilsung Cider resembles Sprite to my mind. It's tasty. I'm not sure 815 Cola is around anymore. Its name stands for the date of National Liberation Day. Fanta Orange is popular in this category. Milkis has its fans. That's a drink made of carbonated water, milk and sweetener.

Of course, orange (not so tasty to me) and tomato juices rank as enduring favorites. I love a drink called "Sac-Sac Grape" and "Sac-Sac Orange." The bits of fruit in the cans appeal. Just delicious. Apple pear (beh) drink tastes just great. I enjoy pine needle juice too. Americans may know about aloe vera, but Koreans make a sweet aloe vera juice that tastes good and helps with our skin and digestion. The vitamin C and collagen are important for our bodies. Also, a mainstay drink is plum juice, maeshil-cha. It's sweet but aids digestion and is wonderful after a meal.

More smooth and silky in taste is rice punch tea (sikhye), which sometimes appears as a dessert drink in restaurants. Similarly, misutgaru is a drink made from various grains. It has a grainy texture but served cold is enjoyable and a healthy refresher. Another tasty drink is persimmon juice or sujeonggwa.

There are plenty of types of cold teas, including Nestea drinks, both lemon and apricot-flavored. I enjoy nokcha iced cold, green tea drink. It's healthy with good antioxidants and an alternative to sweet drinks. I also enjoy something called milk tea. It's wonderful warmed, and some soft drink machines carry it warmed. It's to my mind like a cup of British tea with milk but much smoother to taste.

There also is Yakult and other yogurt drinks, often including probiotic cultures, now the craze to aid good digestion and gut bacteria.

If one lacks the time to sit down for a proper drink or cup of tea or coffee, try these "on-the-go" drinks. They're affordable and readily accessible in many public places, convenience stores and supermarkets. They won't disappoint, and they'll keep you on the pace in busy Korea!

I forgot one drink: water. My grandfather said it's the best drink in the world, and it remains so. Korean stores have many bottled waters to sell too. One also can enjoy waters mixed with fruit flavors, such as Lotte's 2% fruit-flavored beverage.

Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com.

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