Tea culture in South Korea offers travelers a window into Korean cultural heritage, craftsmanship and hospitality.

Artisans of Leisure arranges exclusive tea experiences in Seoul and on Jeju Island for travelers on our private South Korea tours, including private tea ceremonies and tastings, visits to tea plantations, tea-blending and packaging workshops, shopping for handcrafted teaware and more.

The Korean tea ceremony—known as darye (tea etiquette)—emphasizes simplicity, hospitality and reflection. Rooted in both Buddhist and Confucian traditions, Korean tea etiquette centers on the quality and seasonality of the tea leaves and accompanying sweets, careful brewing techniques, high-quality ceramic vessels and the creation of a calm moment amid daily life.

Tea has been enjoyed in Korea for more than 1,000 years and was closely associated with Buddhist temples and royal ceremonies during the Silla and Goryeo dynasties. Although tea declined in popularity during the Joseon era, Buddhist monks preserved elements of traditional tea culture as an integral part of meditation and spiritual practice.

In the 20th century, interest in Korean tea was revived as part of a renewed appreciation of Korean cultural heritage. Contemporary Korean tea culture stems from this renewal, preserving historic tea traditions and artisanal craftsmanship while embracing contemporary flavors, innovative tea experiences and stylish tea houses.

One of the instrumental figures in this revitalization of Korean tea culture was Jangwon Suh Sung-whan, the founder of Amorepacific, a leading South Korean cosmetics company. Inspired by tea traditions he encountered while traveling abroad for work, Suh established the Osulloc tea brand in 1979 and began planting tea fields on Jeju Island.

The mineral-rich volcanic soil, frequent rainfall and subtropical climate of Jeju Island create ideal conditions for cultivating tea. Today, Jeju is one of Korea’s premier tea-growing regions, and Osulloc is among the country’s leading tea producers and exporters. The Osulloc Tea Museum and surrounding tea fields offer visitors a hands-on introduction to Korean tea against a backdrop of the island’s natural beauty.

We take travelers to visit Osulloc’s lush tea fields, learn about the history and production methods, shop for handcrafted teaware and sample a variety of teas, including unique flavors featuring local Jeju ingredients such as Samda Tangerine Tea. The cafe at Osulloc also serves creative tea-infused desserts, including green tea ice cream.

During private city touring in Seoul, we arrange for travelers to visit a teahouse in a restored hanok (traditional Korean house) in a historic district such as Bukchon or Insadong.

The beautiful traditional Korean architecture, with wooden beams and courtyard gardens, provides a serene setting for sipping tea and sampling traditional sweets.

Many tea houses serve tea in handcrafted ceramics, including teapots, tea bowls and water-cooling bowls, inspired by pottery traditions that date back centuries. The refined simplicity of the high-quality ceramics reflects Confucian ideals of restraint and elegance and connects modern tea culture with traditional craftsmanship. We also take travelers to our favorite shops to browse for ceramics and traditional tea utensils.

Other tea experiences we arrange include tea at a historic Buddhist temple.

Seoul has a growing number of stylish contemporary teahouses that appeal to a new generation of tea drinkers through specialty teas, collaborations with ceramics artisans, innovative brewing techniques, and herbal and medicinal teas.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to plan a private South Korea tour featuring cultural and culinary highlights, as well as customized tea experiences in Seoul and on Jeju Island.