''Oksusu-cha'' () or corn tea is a
Korean tea made from
corn
Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...
.
While ''oksusu-suyeom-cha'' () or corn silk tea refers to the tea made from
corn silk
Corn silk is a common ''Stigma maydis'', the shiny, thread-like, weak fibers that grow as part of ears of corn (maize); the tuft or tassel of silky fibers that protrude from the tip of the ear of corn. The ear is enclosed in modified leaves called ...
, ''oksusu-cha'' can be made from
corn kernels
Corn kernels are the fruits of corn (called maize in many countries). Maize is a grain, and the kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable or a source of starch. The kernel comprise endosperm, germ, pericarp, and tip cap.
One ear of corn c ...
, corn silk, or a combination of both.
The
caffeine-free infusion is a popular hot drink in winter.
Along with ''
bori-cha
Barley tea is a roasted-grain-based infusion made from barley. It is a staple across many East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. It has a toasty, bitter flavor.
In Korea, the tea is consumed either hot or cold, often t ...
'' (barley tea), ''oksusu-cha'' is one of the free grain teas served in many restaurants in place of water.
In
Gangwon Province, the tea is called ''gangnaengi-cha'' ()—''gangnaengi'' is a
Gangwon dialect
The Gangwon dialect is spoken in South Korea's Gangwon Province and in North Korea's Kangwŏn Province. Although they are large provinces by area, relatively few people lived in the Gangwon Province. As a result, people living in the western s ...
for "corn"—and is consumed throughout late autumn and winter in most households.
Preparation
Traditionally, corn kernels are dried and roasted to prepare ''oksusu-cha''.
The roasted corn kernels are then boiled in water until the tea turns yellow.
The tea is then strained and the boiled corn discarded. Although the drink is naturally sweet, sugar is sometimes added when a sweeter flavor is desired.
Roasted corn kernels are available at groceries, traditional markets and supermarkets in Korea, as well as at Korean groceries abroad. Tea bags containing ground corn are also commercially available.
Blends
''Oksusu-cha'' is often combined with ''
bori-cha
Barley tea is a roasted-grain-based infusion made from barley. It is a staple across many East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. It has a toasty, bitter flavor.
In Korea, the tea is consumed either hot or cold, often t ...
'' (barley tea), as the corn's sweetness offsets the slightly bitter flavor of the barley.
Gallery
File:Jasaek-oksusu-cha.jpg, ''Jasaek-oksusu-cha'' (purple corn
Purple corn ( es, maíz morado) or purple maize is group of flint maize varieties ( Zea mays indurata) originating in South America, descended from a common ancestral variety termed "k'culli" in Quechua. It is most commonly grown in the Andes of Pe ...
tea) tea bag
A tea bag, or the compound teabag, is a small, porous, sealed bag or packet, typically containing tea leaves or the leaves of other herbs, which is immersed in water to steep and make an infusion. Originally used only for tea ('' Camellia si ...
File:Oksusucha.jpg, Roasted corn kernels
File:Boiling oksusu-cha.jpg, Boiling roasted corn kernels
See also
* ''
Bori-cha
Barley tea is a roasted-grain-based infusion made from barley. It is a staple across many East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. It has a toasty, bitter flavor.
In Korea, the tea is consumed either hot or cold, often t ...
'' – barley tea
* ''
Hyeonmi-cha
Brown rice tea, called ''hyeonmi-cha'' ( , lit. "brown rice tea") in Korean and (lit. "brown rice water"), (lit. "roasted brown rice water"), or (lit "roasted rice water") in Vietnamese, is an infusion made from roasted brown rice.
Prepara ...
'' – brown rice tea
* ''
Memil-cha
Buckwheat tea, known as ''memil-cha'' () in Korea, ''soba-cha'' () in Japan, and ''kuqiao-cha'' () in China, is a tea made from roasted buckwheat. Like other traditional Korean teas, ''memil-cha'' can be drunk either warm or cold and is som ...
'' – buckwheat tea
*
Roasted grain beverage
A cereal coffee (also known as grain coffee, roasted grain drink or roasted grain beverage) is a hot drink made from one or more cereal grains roasted and commercially processed into crystal or powder form to be reconstituted later in hot water ...
References
{{Herbal teas
Herbal tea
Korean tea
Maize-based drinks