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Winnowing that list down to 20 drinks required many tasting panels and difficult decisions, but nevertheless, here is our list of the top 20 most interesting and delicious Korean drinks. 

Bokbunja, is a blackberry native to Korea. The wine is the color of oxblood, and its sweet, berry flavor is reminiscent more of dessert wine than a red wine. The drink has traditionally been associated with male virility, and it wasn’t until 2008 that a team of Korean scientists confirmed that the berry increased testosterone levels and sperm counts in mice. Talk about an aphrodisiac. 

For many Koreans, banana milk conjures up memories of childhood. And if you try it, you’ll understand why: it’s simple, sugary, and totally addictive.

The most popular brand, Binggrae, has cultivated a loyal following since it hit the shelves in 1974, a time when bananas were a luxury food. Since then, Binggrae has set its sights on the next generation, having the ever-popular Girl’s Generation (소녀시대) and the lead actor of Boys Over Flowers (꽃보다남자) Lee Min-ho (이민호) star in its commercials.

As the ubiquity of these glittering green bottles in virtually every eating and drinking establishment should tell you: soju is Korea’s national liquor. For a nation of lushes, soju provides a cheap and effective way to get hammered.

The two major soju brands that dominate the Seoul market – Chamisul (참이슬) and Chum Churum (처음 처럼) – usually cost just ₩3,000 per bottle at a restaurant (about ₩1,000 if you want to keep it real at the convenience store). The taste resembles that of slightly sweet, watered-down vodka – sort of like sugar dissolved in rubbing alcohol.

But don’t judge soju solely by those brands. Regional brands outside Seoul offer interesting, and even delicious sojus. Andong soju, despite its higher alcohol content, is hand-crafted and has a clean, subtle character that is more akin to sake than other sojus.