tea to cool down Brew Your Own

Why Korean teas are great to cool down

Traditional Korean drinks favour grains, flowers, seeds, and fruits rather than only camellia sinensis.
Many are naturally caffeine-free, brew fast, and taste clean when served on ice. Below are five reliable
choices when you need tea to cool down quickly.

Quick picks: teas to cool down fast

• Bori-cha (barley tea) — Nutty, toasty, super-thirst-quenching. Brew strong and chill. Read more background on
  barley tea.
• Memil-cha (buckwheat tea) — Light, slightly sweet, excellent over ice. About the plant:
  buckwheat tea.
• Oksusu-suyeom-cha (corn-silk tea) — Gentle, refreshing; popular for summer hydration.
  See corn silk.
• Omija-cha (schisandra berry) — “Five-flavour berry” syrup with ice water; ruby-red and bright.
  About the berry: schisandra.
• Gukhwa-cha (chrysanthemum) — Floral and clean; widely used across East Asia as a cooling flower tea. More at
  chrysanthemum tea.

How to brew a perfect tea to cool down

Cold-brew (no bitterness, minimal work)

1. Add 10–12 g roasted barley or buckwheat (or 2 tea bags) to 1 L cold water.
2. Refrigerate 6–8 hours. Strain; serve over ice with lemon slice.

Hot-brew then chill (fastest)

1. Simmer grains/flowers 5–8 minutes (don’t boil hard).
2. Sweeten lightly if desired (1–2 tsp honey or omija syrup).
3. Cool, then pour over plenty of ice. Garnish with cucumber or pear.

Tip: For a cafe-style cooler, blend strong tea to cool down with a handful of ice and a few grapes or pear cubes.
It stays refreshing without becoming sugary.

Smart pairings for hotter days

• Barley tea + citrus — a squeeze of yuja/lemon brightens the nutty base.
• Omija + soda — equal parts omija syrup and sparkling water for a fast cooler.
• Chrysanthemum + jujube slice — floral with gentle fruit notes.

A brief note on wellness

These drinks are traditional refreshments — not medical treatments. If you have specific conditions
or take medication, check professional guidance before adding strong herbal blends. Enjoy them mainly
as delicious, hydrating companions to summer meals.

Tea to cool down — in Baedagol Gardens

If you want to see how traditions of tea, shade, and nature come together, look no further than
Baedagol Gardens. This place, still in development,
will bring together streams, tea houses, and walking paths designed to embody the Korean way of
cooling down during hot summers. Imagine sipping barley tea under a pavilion while cicadas hum,
or sharing omija with friends near a lotus pond — that is the spirit of Baedagol.

The project links past and present: traditional drinks meet modern design, creating a space where
visitors not only refresh their bodies with tea to cool down, but also refresh their
minds through contact with nature. It is more than a park — it is a living reflection of Korea’s
hospitality and balance.

FAQ — tea to cool down

What’s the easiest Korean tea to cool down for beginners?
Barley tea: one pot, five minutes, chill and serve — inexpensive and almost fool-proof.

Can I make it caffeine-free?
Yes. Barley, buckwheat, corn-silk, and chrysanthemum are naturally caffeine-free; great for evenings.

Verder lezen

• Encyclopaedia Britannica — tea traditions
• The Korea Times — Korean teas in daily life
• Atlas Obscura — the five-flavour omija berry
• Metropolitan Museum — tea and art in East Asia

Also explore Mantifang’s own reflections on culture and nature:
Mijn Koreaanse reis,
De Koreaanse natuur is uniek,
en Fractal van Jijang.