When thinking of Seoul, you will think of high-rise and modern buildings in the middle of a bustling city. Did you know that there are beautiful yet tranquil places in Seoul where you can relax together with culture and nature? Let’s take a break after your business events and unwind with stress-free activities like Korean Tea Ceremony or Templestay Programme in Seoul!
Korean Tea Ceremony
It is no secret that East Asian nations are making some of the best tea in the world. In fact, tea has a deep-rooted role in many of their cultures, so does South Korea. A traditional tea ceremony in Seoul should be on anybody’s bucket list who is looking for a unique relaxing activity in Seoul.
The traditional Korean tea ceremony, or darye, goes back more than 1,500 years, aimed to enjoy tea with ease within a comfortable formal setting. Tea ceremonies are viewed as a way to find relaxation and harmony in the fast-paced Korean culture of today. Learn about the recipe for flower tea and enjoy afternoon tea at home! It will be the best way to calm your mind and body.
(I) Traditional Korean Tea Ceremony
Korea Tea World, located in Buckchon Hanok Village that represents over 600 years’ history of Seoul, offering customised Korean tea ceremony classes in an authentic traditional Korean house, which changes with the seasons.
During the programme, participants can experience the traditional ceremony starting from preparing the tea, having a hot sip of traditional tea until savouring the tea snacks in a formal yet relaxing atmosphere while wearing the Korean traditional costume.
The tea ceremony expert will educate you on the customs and proper etiquette such as the traditional bow for traditional tea ceremonies. After the tea ceremony, you can relax and soothe your tired muscles with a unique green tea hand and foot bath to cap off your class. In addition, you may also bring home the tea snacks that you made in a traditional Korean lucky bag. It is the perfect souvenir for this traditional and educational gastronomic experience.
After getting into the right mood, you will learn how to set up a tea table. There are 10 main components to this, teacups, teapot, cooling bowl, large bowl, coaster, tea scoop, tea towel, tea mat, tea container and lid holder.
Interesting things that you will learn from the tea ceremony experience:
- Two ways of pouring and offering tea and it vary for females and males.
- Have to use both hands during the tea ceremony.
- Patience is the key where tea should be pour out slowly.
- Clean your hands with the remaining green tea at the end of the ceremony.
- In winter, green tea foot baths and massages are customary.
(II) Unique Flower Tea Party
I’m Green Studio, a lovely studio that introduce traditional and cultural programme with flower teas and Korean dessert dasik, dried persimmon ssam and white bean paste flower for locals and foreigners. The handmade teas and refreshments are made daily according to season and trends.
In the studio, you will learn about six different types of traditional teas including the flower tea party with traditional Korean refreshments and traditional Korean desserts. Signature flower tea, blended tea, tea cocktail, traditional beverages, medicinal tea and other refreshments will be made on the spot and served during the story telling experience.
You will get to know the story behind each process and broaden your tea experience by tasting a rare medicinal tea that designed to warm body and mind, a seasonal flower tea with a rich scent and colour, as well as other kinds of teas that cannot easily be experienced elsewhere. Try to learn how to make authentic local delicacies such as dasik, hwajeon, jeonggwa, gwapyeon and more!
(III) Korean Flower Tea Culture Experience
In Korea, edible flowers or fruits of each season are suitable for flower tea tasting and refreshments making. Let’s calm your body and soul with a cup of aromatic flower tea and be amazed by the colourful flower petals, which definitely reduce your stress and fatigue.
Korean Flower Tea Cultural Academy (KFTCA) offers Korean flower tea making classes with tea experts in Seoul, satisfying all your senses of taste, sight and smell. In the class, participants will learn the traditional Korean tea ceremony, tea brewing demonstration, tea drinking manner and the types of flower teas and their benefits, giving a complete wonderful experience of Korea’s flower tea culture.
There are many types of flower teas with different benefits. For example, magnolia tea gives warmth to cold body, chrysanthemum tea reduces body fatigue and rose tea is good for the skin.
First, prepare flowers and divide them into sizes that are suitable for drinking. Slightly roast the flowers on the pan. Cool off the roasted flowers with a fan, and set the flowers afloat on warm water. Flower tea will be slowly brewed, while its fragrance sooth your mind and body.
The mixture of various types of ingredient flowers creating an absolutely stunning colour for your new fusion tea. You can also put some sample of flowers into a cute little packaging as a meaningful souvenir for yourself and your loved ones!
