''Oksusu-cha'' () or corn tea is a
Korean tea
Korean tea is a beverage consisting of boiled water infused with leaf, leaves (such as the tea plant ''Camellia sinensis''), roots, flowers, fruits, grains, edible mushrooms, or edible seaweed, seaweed. It may or may not contain tea leaves.
Hi ...
made from
corn
Maize (; ''Zea mays''), also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout Poaceae, grass that produces cereal grain. It was domesticated by indigenous peoples of Mexico, indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago ...
.
While ''oksusu-suyeom-cha'' () or corn silk tea refers to the tea made from
corn silk
Corn silk is a common name for ''Stigma maydis'', the shiny, thread-like, weak fibers that grow as part of ear (botany), 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 i ...
, ''oksusu-cha'' can be made from
corn kernel
Corn kernels are the fruits of Maize, 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 (grain), germ, pericarp, and tip cap.
...
s, corn silk, or a combination of both.
The
caffeine-free
Decaffeination is the removal of caffeine from coffee beans, cocoa, tea leaves, and other caffeine-containing materials. Decaffeinated products are commonly termed by the abbreviation decaf. To ensure product quality, manufacturers are required ...
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, and Korea. It has a toasty, bitter flavor.
In Korea, the tea is consumed either hot or cold, often taking the ...
'' (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
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Ko ...
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, and Korea. It has a toasty, bitter flavor.
In Korea, the tea is consumed either hot or cold, often taking the ...
'' (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 () or purple maize is group of flint maize varieties (Flint_corn, Zea mays indurata) originating in South America, descended from a common ancestral variety termed "kʼculli" in Quechuan languages, Quechua. It is most commonly grown i ...
tea) tea bag
A tea bag (or teabag) is a small, porous, sealed bag or Packet (container), packet typically containing tea leaves (''Camellia sinensis'') or the leaves of other herbs, which is immersed in water to steeping, steep and make an infusion. Origina ...
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, and Korea. It has a toasty, bitter flavor.
In Korea, the tea is consumed either hot or cold, often taking the ...
'' – 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.
Preparat ...
'' – brown rice tea
* ''
Memil-cha
Buckwheat tea, known as ''memil-cha'' () in Korea, ''soba-cha'' () in Japan, and ''kuqiao-cha'' ( zh, s=苦荞茶, t=苦蕎茶, labels=no) in China, is a tea made from roasted buckwheat. Like other traditional Korean teas, ''memil-cha'' can be ...
'' – 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
{{Corn
Herbal teas
Korean tea
Maize-based drinks