Yuja tea and yakkwa, the best snack for lazy, cozy winter days

When it comes to Korean cuisine, there are 3 characteristics that i love about it:

1. Korean cuisine is healthy and balanced, combining ingredients that are good for the body
2. Korean cuisine is always innovative
3. Each traditional Korean food, beverage, snack etc, has a long and amazing history and a story to tell. If you want to get to know Korean culture and get a better understanding, trying the food is the best solution 

Yakkwa is a Korean traditional sweet snack which seems to be eaten since 6 century Silla Dynasty and it was considered as a medicine. The name itself means yak medicine and gwa fruit, and before it used to have a flower`s shape. During Goryeo Dynasty it became very popular, as the Buddhism flourished, instead of meat, people had this alternative to use in temples, rituals, holidays, etc.



However, in the last dynasty, Joseon, not many people could afford it so it was considered nobility`s dessert.
The ingredients are honey, wheat flour and sesame oil. However, nowadays the recipe is a bit changed and ingredients as cinnamon powder, ginger juice, rice wine etc.

This snack is always present during the ritual for ancestors, and nowadays it is easy to find and very cheap, less than 3 dollars.


But, after eating this dessert you will feel very thirsty, and as outside it is so cold, instead of water, yuja tea goes better.

Yuja tea is not easy to find in western countries and it is specifically Korean.



Yuja is a citrus plant that originated in Asia since long time ago, and initially, it was used for its tree and not its fruits. It was discovered by mistake and since then it became the number one cold medicine for Koreans.

It looks similar to a lemon, but the smell, texture and peel are different. It cannot be eaten by itself and you have to mix it with sugar or honey.

The ingredients are very easy:

1.Yuja fruit
2.Honey (In my case I prefer honey as it is healthier than sugar, but if you drink yuja tea in coffee shops most of the time it is made with sugar)



After you washed and cut yuja fruits you have to mix them with honey and wait for 2 hours, and then you can drink with hot or cold water. The taste is amazing  and it is packed with vitamin C and helps to keep you far from the flu and boosts your immune system.

In my case, it helps me to relax and makes my mood better as it has a strong aroma.






I think yuja tea along with yakkwa is Korea`s best snack. Not only healthy but also they have a big history and nice stories.

Give it a try ~