Juice Korean Style

This was a very random experiment that turned out quite well. I want to get it down and try again some time only make more and try different fruit!

Starting early spring it is very common to see people(generally all older) out and about hunting/gathering various greens, roots, nuts, mushrooms and berries. The campsite that we rent for our nature school program just so happens to have a bush with a bounty of edible berries that the kids and leaders snack on from time to time in early summer. With some campers help one morning I was able to gather a reasonable amount of berries and decided it was time to try making some juice Korean Style.

After bringing the berries home I did the following...

1) Clean berries.

2) Prepared an air tight container to use for the juice.

3) Layered berries and sugar in equal amounts until the berries were all in the  container.

4) Let sit on my shelf for about a month

5) Strain out the pulp/seeds

6) Mixed Juice syrup with cold water on a 1:1 ratio. 

7) Add ice and enjoy

Home made juice or wine as it could be termed is a common way to make a special drink here in Korea for tea or especially for a cool refreshing drink during the hot summer! It is also common practice to use citrus fruits for this same purpose and using the same method. Depending on what you want it is possible to adjust the length of shelf life and its common in Korea to wait three months before serving. Omija Tea is one of the more popular versions of this recipe here in Korea and defiantly takes the whole tree months to be ready for consumption. Depending on the type of fruit and how long it takes for the juices to go from inside to outside the fruit is a good indicator for readiness. 

Korea Biking Challenge

These days my road-bike has been a great companion. Having a bike has given me freedom to go places as well as an enjoyable exercise option and fun free time outlet. Thanks to some ladies I meet on the trail I now have a new and exciting plan for my biking besides just going to and from work.

I now have a bike "Passport" as well as all the info I need to go all around Korea via bike and get my passport stamped along the way. Of course the goal is generally to get all the stamps and receive completion medal, for me I'm mostly just happy to have more biking options and plan on getting as many stamps as I can over the next few months.

My first stamp was easy because its right along my daily pike route, and now I plan on following the pink line up and finishing that whole route!

This is the Map and list of all the check points and there are lots. The Pink trail is the one at the very top and follows the North Han river

I hope to keep updates coming as I complete various trails and hopefully find some fellow bikers to ride with along the way :)

Here are pictures of my favourite places along the bike trail so far.

The Start of Nature School

March News

February Newsletter

New Moon Festival

Here is one of my more recent adventures! 

Tea Time

I have discovered that drinking tea means more than downing a warm cup of liquid. After spending three hours at tea my hope is to make tea time a regular occurrence. It all started with an invitation quickly given and many uncertainties as to when, where and how I could accept. I was with a group already so ultimately everyone ended up invited.

Me with Ian in the front yard of the Tea House

Just one wall full of tea weares

My friends soon had to leave and I was left with Mr. A my main host and a few other invitees. I enjoyed learning more about Mr. A(Coach) and his family. He lived in Germany for 10 years, he was there before and after Germany united and since moving back to Korea has made his home in the village where I am staying. I had the privilege of meeting one of his sons and daughter in law a few weeks back at a local cafe. I was sad to find out that they were moving to Singapore, but am now glad I had the chance to meet them and and have that connection to their parents.

Mr A's Wife

Water is poured on the pot to release more scents.

The head tea instructor is an elderly lady who has been serving tea for over 45 years and was the main inspiration and drive behind building the tea house. She didn't speak much English but was none the less a good instructor and added so much to the experience.

We had tea, two different ways, both Chinese in origin. It was amazing the detail behind everything and the whole philosophy behind it all. Tea drinking is meant to affect all five senses and ultimately each individuals Spirit, Mind and Body. It is meant to take time and be integrated into life and inspire a restful atmosphere. Unlike coffee, tea's purpose is to slow down, not speed up. Tea is meant to be drunk slowly and not in five minutes.

Everything ends up clean and ready for the next time

After the tea was gone, everything made ready and ourselves relaxed we said good buy and were on our way. They invited me to participate in regular tea classes and I look forward to taking them up on the offer. What makes it even better is that I don't even need to take the exam :)