Soups & stews Banchan Tteok Korean tea is a beverage consisting of boiled water infused with leaves (such as the tea plant Camellia sinensis), roots, flowers, fruits, grains, edible mushrooms, or seaweed.

According to the Record of Gaya, cited in the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, the legendary queen Heo Hwang-ok, a princess of the State of "Ayuta" (theorized to be Ayodhya, India), brought the Camellia sinensis (var.

[1] Some of the earliest Buddhist temples in Korea, such as Bulgapsa, Bulhoesa, and Hwaeomsa, claim to be the birthplace of Korean tea culture.

[2] Towards the end of the Joseon Dynasty, commoners adopted the practice of using tea for ancestral rites.

[2] The Korean Tea Ceremony, called Darye, embodies Confucian principles of harmony, respect, and gratitude.

The host serves tea to guests in order of importance, using a ceramic teapot and small cups.

It is believed that Darye fosters a peaceful ambiance for appreciating tea's beauty, meaningful conversations, and reflection on respect and gratitude.