KOREAN TEA

The tea culture of Korea and particularly now South Korea, is little known by many Tea People. The exact time that tea was introduced to the peninsular is lost in ages past. Because of its land connection with China some theorists state that tea was naturally spread by animals and winds meaning tea was in Korea from prehistoric times.

In the Samguk yusa (“Record of the Three Kingdoms” C1200’s) it tells us that thePrincess of the Ayuta Kingdom of India arrived in Kinhae in 48CE with possible gifts of tea seeds. Also, in the Samguk sagi (“History of the Three Kingdoms”) it states "Tea had been drunk from time of King Sondok” (r. 632-647CE) thereby predating the arrival of tea to Japan by some 150 years. This is hardly surprising as Korea borders with China and trade, wars and Buddhist monks moved across the boundary with ease. Whatever the case, tea in Korea became important and we can be quite certain that its first large growing area was within the region of Mount Jiri. That area remains an important wild and cultivated tea production area (see picture). Tea flourished and was used by royalty and commoners, religious and lay people alike. When the Koryo king was deposed in 1392 and the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was founded Confucianism displaced Buddhism and tea consumption fell into sharp decline. Alcoholic rice wine usurped tea as a drink and for rituals. Buddhist temples tried to maintain tea production but were ordered by the government to destroy their tea gardens. Tea consumption waned generation by generation until it ceased under the Japanese invasion of 1910. Following the Korean War (1950-1953), South Koreans began to rebuild their tea culture as they rebuilt their pride in their national heritage. To be continued.