Didn't Know Jeju Had Green Tea Fields? A Story of Tea Farms Tucked in the Hills
Mention Jeju, and citrus and the sea are probably the first things that come to mind for many people — but turn your gaze toward the island's midland hills, and a different shade of green is said to be waiting there. Tea fields. Rows of deep green tea bushes stretching across gentle slopes are said to offer a different kind of scenery than Jeju's volcanic cones or coastline. It might still sound unfamiliar that green tea is grown on Jeju at all, but the island is actually said to have quietly built a reputation over the years as land well suited to tea farming. Today, let's look at how Jeju's tea fields are said to have come about, and how you can enjoy Jeju green tea for yourself.
Volcanic Ash Soil and a Mild Climate Are Said to Have Shaped These Tea Fields
Behind Jeju's ability to grow green tea is said to be the island's own distinctive soil and weather. Since Jeju was formed through volcanic activity, it's said to be covered in wide stretches of volcanic ash soil built up over a long stretch of time from accumulated ash. This soil is said to drain well and let air pass through easily, which is said to make it well suited for tea bushes that need to send their roots down deep. On top of that, Jeju is well known for winters that are shorter and milder than the mainland's, and for a climate that doesn't swing too widely across the seasons. Tea bushes are said to be sensitive to cold and to prefer mild weather, so these conditions on Jeju are said to line up well with growing green tea.
For these reasons, Jeju is said to have a history of attempting tea farming that goes back some time, and that history is said to have gradually led to the tea field scenery found in the island's midland areas today. I'd rather be careful about stating exactly when or at what scale this cultivation first began, but the idea that volcanic ash soil and a mild climate are the two conditions said to have made Jeju into a tea-growing region is something that comes up consistently across different sources.
Tea Farms Are Said to Be Found Around Namwon and Andeok in Seogwipo
Jeju's tea fields are said to be found in particular in the midland areas toward Namwon and Andeok in Seogwipo. This area is said to feature wide, gently sloping land extending down from the skirts of Hallasan, with volcanic ash soil that drains well while still holding onto a good amount of moisture — conditions said to be well suited to raising tea bushes. Rows of tea bushes planted neatly across the wide grounds are said to ripple across the low hills, in scenery often described as looking like a green carpet has been laid down.
I'd rather be careful about pointing to any one farm as the largest, or stating exactly how many tea farms are currently operating, since those kinds of details are said to keep changing. Still, word has it that several tea farms have settled in around the Namwon and Andeok area, each tending their fields in their own way. Some spots are said to offer views where Hallasan and nearby volcanic cones come into sight along with the tea fields, so it's worth looking forward to scenery where the tea fields' tidy green rows meet Jeju's own gently rolling terrain.
Walking between the rows of tea bushes, it's said to feel like an unfamiliar, almost mysterious shade of green — one that makes you wonder if you're really still on Jeju.
— 🍊 GYULIJeju Green Tea Is Also Said to Show Up in a Variety of Drinks and Desserts
Tea leaves grown on Jeju are said to be brewed as tea, but they're also said to turn up in all kinds of drinks and desserts. Green tea lattes are a well-known example — rich green tea powder mixed with milk is said to make for a smooth drink with a gentle bitterness. In summer, green tea shaved ice is said to be a popular menu item too, often served with a rich green tea syrup along with sweet red beans and injeolmi rice cake.
On the dessert side, bakery items with a subtle green tea flavor — green tea roll cake, bread filled with green tea cream, green tea macarons — are said to be found at cafes across Jeju. Green tea ice cream and rice cakes with green tea filling are also said to turn up now and then in shops selling Jeju specialty goods. Rather than pointing to one particular cafe or shop as the most famous, I'd say — if you come across a menu item with 'green tea' in the name while traveling around Jeju, it's worth giving it a try. A dessert with a gentle green tea aroma and soft sweetness is likely to feel even more special right after taking in the green tea fields with your own eyes.
GYULI's Tip · Tea fields are said to look quite different depending on the season. In spring, when new shoots appear, they're said to take on a light yellow-green hue, while by midsummer they're said to deepen into a lush green — so you may notice a different charm depending on when you visit.
A wide stretch of green tea fields is said to be one of Jeju's more unusual sights. Shaped over a long stretch of time by volcanic ash soil and a mild climate, this scenery is said to show a different side of Jeju than its citrus groves or volcanic cones. If your next trip to Jeju takes you toward the midland hills, walking slowly between the rows of tea bushes could turn out to be a good experience. And it's worth pairing that with a drink or dessert made from Jeju green tea at a nearby cafe.