| Baekseju | |
|---|---|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 백세주 |
| Hanja | 百歲酒 |
| Revised Romanization | baekseju |
| McCune–Reischauer | paeksechu |
Baekseju (sold under the brand name Bek Se Ju; literally "one-hundred-years wine") is a Korean glutinous rice-based fermented alcoholic beverage flavored with a variety of herbs, ginseng most prominent among them. According to some, the name comes from the legend that the healthful herbs in baekseju will help you live to be 100 years old.
The drink is infused with ginseng and eleven other herbs, including licorice, omija (Schisandra chinensis), gugija (Chinese wolfberry), Astragalus propinquus root, ginger, and cinnamon.
Baekseju is brewed using traditional methods, and has a mellow flavor, with a hint of ginseng.[1]
It is often consumed with gui and other spicy dishes which are main flavors of Korean food. However, Baekseju is less popular, possibly due to its image and high price. It is considered to be a more old-fashioned variety of alcoholic beverage than soju or beer.