Cinnamon and Ginger Tea With Persimmons 수정과

Soojunggwa or 수정과 is a traditional Korean drinks. It existed since the Chosun Kingdom. Koreans usually drink it after meals. The aromatic scent of ginger can bring relaxation. Now, a beverage company in Korea produced Soojunggwa in a can, so it's easier to drink. However, the original taste is still there !



Ingredients

10 cinnamon sticks
5 - 6 pieces of ginger
10 cups of water
2 cups of sugar
1/4 cup of pine nuts
10 dried persimmons (gotgam)



Procedures

Add water, cinnamon sticks, and ginger into a big pot.
Wait for it to boil for about 1 - 2 hours.
Add sugar. (This depends on how sweet you want it to be)
Let cool for a while, then put it in the refrigerator.
Serve with persimmon inside and some pine nuts on top.

Culture Capsule 10

Don’t call someone older than you by their first name.

People don’t speak in the first person in Korea. We don’t often use the pronoun ‘you’ either, especially to someone older than you. While you can use the name of a younger brother/sister or a friend of the same age, you can’t use your colleague’s name, boss’s name or the name of someone you don’t know well. In the family or at school, girls can call an older brother, older male friend ‘오빠’ and boys can use ‘형’. Likewise, girls can call an older sister, older female friend ‘언니’ and boys can use ‘누나’. In the office, it’s a good idea to add ‘님’ to the last name and job title of all older people. Among colleagues, they add ‘씨’ after a man or woman’s full name.

- Write reference Korean Languge Education Center, Sogang University