Enjoying Traditional Tea in Seoul

Hello! Today, I'd like to recommend a place where you can enjoy traditional Korean sweets. Are you familiar with Gohwajae?

Gohwajae is a premium royal confectionery brand presented by the House of Korea, meaning 'the house of those who love the old.' It is also the royal confectionery brand of the House of Korea.

The House of Korea was originally opened in 1957 and served as the Yeongbingwan (State Guest House). After undergoing a reconstruction project in the 1980s, it is currently entrusted and operated by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation (formerly the Korea Cultural Heritage Protection Association), focusing on promoting Korean culture.

Gohwajae, which presents the flavors and colors of the four seasons on a tea table, is a high-quality experiential program where you can savor meticulously crafted confectioneries made with seasonal ingredients from spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In the serene atmosphere of Sohwadang, a traditional Korean house at the House of Korea, visitors can enjoy a one-person tea table and seasonal single-item menus (summer bingsu, winter juk (porridge), etc.).

It offers a traditional tea table with meticulously arranged traditional tea and seasonal rice cakes, han과 (traditional Korean confectioneries), etc., along with the royal court dance, Chun-ae-jeon.

Experience the charm of a hanok (traditional Korean house) in the heart of the city at the House of Korea and savor the flavors of winter. The tea experience at the House of Korea, surrounded by lush greenery, offers a unique experience for visitors who want to enjoy traditional beauty and taste.

The tea table changes with the seasons. Since it's the winter season, a special tea table for winter is prepared.

(However, not all the sweets are different, and they may vary slightly according to the season.)

It includes apple jeonggwa (crystallized fruit), yuja danji (yuja marmalade), Gaeseong juak (rice cake), kkae gangjeong (sesame confectionery), ginseng jeonggwa (crystallized ginseng), cheongtaedasiк (powdered confectionery), and a warm and fragrant citron tea.

For the winter single-item menu, there's walnut and jujube porridge. It's an additional option, so it cannot be ordered individually.

Gohwajae operates on a 100% reservation system, so a Naver reservation is required. First, search for “House of Korea Gohwajae” on Naver. Then, access the Naver reservation link. Select the date and time of your visit and the menu, and make a prepayment on Naver to complete your reservation!

The winter tea table is available from December 12, 2023, Tuesday, to February 29, 2024, Thursday. Reservations are only accepted between Wednesdays and Sundays. The operating hours are from 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Session 1 is from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Session 2 is from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, and Session 3 is from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, each session lasting 120 minutes.

The location is Sohwadang at the House of Korea, and the operating space includes both seated and table seating.

Reservations for 1, 2, or 4 people use seated areas, while 2 or 4 people use table seating. Seated areas accommodate only 7 teams per session, while table seating accommodates 8 teams per session. Reservations are limited in small groups. When royal confectionery was trending, reservations were extremely difficult to secure. Therefore, if you wish to visit, we recommend making a reservation in advance with a set date.

Furthermore, at Gohwajae, you can enjoy royal confectioneries while watching a performance of Chun-ae-jeon by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation's art troupe. Chun-ae-jeon is a royal court dance created by Hyo Myeongseja for his mother, Queen Sunwon, on her 40th birthday. It depicts the orioles singing on willow branches on a spring morning.

I have personally enjoyed the royal confectioneries at Gohwajae before. In 2021, there was no Chun-ae-jeon performance, but it seems to have been added as part of a rebranding process.

Wouldn't it be a truly special experience to enjoy tea and sweets while chatting with a friend and then watch a traditional performance?

Also, Gohwajae sells packaged confectioneries, allowing you to enjoy royal sweets at home conveniently.

Gohwajae No. 1 (10 pieces) is 50,000 won, Gohwajae No. 2 (6 pieces) is 30,000 won, Gaeseong juak (6 pieces) is 25,000 won, and flower yakgwa (6 pieces) is 20,000 won. If you enjoy the sweets during your visit, consider purchasing some to take home.

Let me inform you of some important points.

The facility is closed every Monday, and cancellations must be made at least one day prior to the scheduled date. However, cancellations on the day of the visit are non-refundable. A maximum of 4 people can be booked per ID. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis per area, but may be designated on the day of operation depending on the situation.

Seated tea tables are served on small tables, while table seating is served on small tables or dongjaengban (a type of tray). For those aged 5 and older, please order one menu per person. The tea table composition may change without prior notice due to ingredient supply conditions. Please be aware that the confectioneries may contain nuts, so those with allergies should exercise caution. Pets are not allowed.

The address is House of Korea, 10, Ttoegae-ro 36-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, and the phone number is 02-2266-9101.

For additional information, please refer to the link below.

https://www.chf.or.kr/kh

Want to enjoy some peace and quiet in Seoul? Want to experience the beauty of Korea while enjoying traditional Korean sweets? If so, enjoy traditional sweets in a tranquil, traditional space!