Tasty, healthy teas fit for drizzling summer

By Han Sang-hee

Outdoors the heat is sizzling hot while indoors the air conditioners are turbo charged to provide some relief. Although it would be difficult to endure the extreme heat without any cool air, this wide gap in temperature cannot be good for your body. Instead of battling the heat with cold beverages or ice cream, try something traditional to beat those scorching rays while doing no harm to your health.

''Hanbang,'' which means ''traditional Korean medicine,'' was, and still is, a popular method in treating illnesses while keeping both your mind and body healthy. The traditional remedies are still applied in everyday life for Koreans and now there are easier ways to benefit from and learn more about the ancient medicine.

Tea in Hanbang

Hanbang, like other Oriental traditional medicine, has been influenced by Chinese traditions. One of the earliest references to Korean herbs as medicine would be the founding myth regarding a bear and tiger that ate wormwood and garlic. These two ingredients are still considered effective cures in hanbang nowadays and, since they do not appear in Chinese herbology, it shows that despite the influences, Korean medicine has developed on its own to some extent.

The most famous medical book in Korea's history is the ''Donguibogam,'' which was included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register last year.

According to the historical book written in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) era by a royal physician Heo Jun, there are numerous types of tea that can help you regain your strength during the summer and additional recipes for edible tidbits that will help you become healthier.

Among various methods of hanbang treatment, the most popular, and simplest, is drinking a dark herbal liquid concoction. Ingredients include flowers, fungi, plants and even moss.

Hanbang in a cup

Walking along the streets of Seoul, you can easily see men and women rushing with a cup of takeout coffee in their hands. These days numerous Koreans enjoy their coffee on-the-go, and no one can blame them as takeout is fast, simple and, for some, can even work as an accessory.

For 26-year-old Choi Seung-yoon, coffee was not a healthy beverage choice to drink on a daily basis, and after brainstorming what would soon become a potential success in the beverage market, he decided to open a takeout hanbang tea cafe.

''I was sick and tired of coffee. I realized that takeout drinks had become a culture of their own and so why not offer something healthy?'' he told The Korea Times at Ogada, the first takeout hanbang tea shop in the world.

Choi started the business in 2007 with the help of doctors of oriental medicine and realized there was more to the ancient method than bitter medicine and acupuncture.

''I basically had to think of three conditions. First and foremost, it had to really be healthy, not just look and seem like a healthy drink. Next was that it had to work as both cold and hot beverages and finally they had to taste good,'' he said.

In hanbang, it is extremely important to know your physical constitution, as some ingredients may not be good for you. This was also an important and quite difficult consideration, as all the drinks had to contain ingredients that would work for everybody.

After numerous attempts and experiments, Choi and his team of doctors came up with five different teas: Kang Tea; Ho Tea; Hea Tea; Mee Tea and the Ryu Tea. The name of the shop, ''Ogada,'' literally means ''five beautiful teas'' in Chinese characters.

Walk into any of the seven current locations around Seoul and you can take in the rich yet distinct aroma of various herbs and ingredients. The Korea Times tried the Mee tea, which is made with pomegranates, "omija" and "bokbunja," a purple berry also known as the rubus coreanus fruit, which Choi said was good for the skin. Bright reddish-orange in color, the ice drink was sweet, sour and refreshing. The Ryu Tea, which is made of mulberry leaves, wunji fungus, buckwheat, cinnamon and "dangui," or Korean angelica roots, is good for digestion and also breaking down fat. This reporter frowned at the first sip, but managed to become accustomed to the rather bitter yet healthy-tasting beverage.

''(Hanbang teas) are distinctive, healthy and traditional. Young people might find it a bit old-fashioned to drink hanbang tea, but with the right packaging and marketing, I believe this can go a long way,'' Choi said.

For a larger variety of tea shops and cafes, pay a visit to Insa-dong, where you can find an array of hanbang tea cafés.

For more information on Ogada cafés and their locations, visit www.ogada.co.kr.

Hanbang tea favorites

Maesil tea: Made with ''maesil,'' or Japanese apricots, this yea is especially good through July. Effective in detoxifying, maesil tea can relieve stomach aches.

Ginger tea: Working under the air conditioner can affect the overall immune system and make it easier to catch a cold, but a cup of ginger tea can prevent all that. Ginger is also good for blood circulation and detoxification.

Jujube tea: Sleepless nights are a burden, but try drinking jujube tea for a good night's sleep. Jujubes help comfort the stomach and release stress.

Omija tea: ''Omija,'' or the schizandra berry, is named after its five different tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, salty and bitter. Thanks to its various tastes, it helps in bringing back your appetite and further recuperating from the heat. It's also a great remedy for fatigue.

Galgeun tea: ''Galgeun'' is the root of the arrowroot, and when made into a tea form, it's great for hangovers and putting you back on track for the day. It's also effective for blood circulation, reducing fever and flu.