The tea plantations in Boseong are one of the natural wonders to see in South Korea. Green tea is part of Korean life on a daily basis. You can find all kinds of desserts, teas and many variations everywhere.
I loved Boseong. Originally we did not plan to go, but once I began to explore places with natural environments in South Korea, I found this wonder and I could not miss it. Good thing I didn't! This place is amazing.
In this post I tell you a little about the history of this plantation, what to see in the tea plantations in Boseong, what to eat and drink in the area, what products you can buy and how to get there.
BOSEONG GREEN TEA PLANTATIONS: ITS STORY
Wild tea has been cultivated since the middle of 300 B.C. However, green tea did not arrive here from China in 600 AD. during the Silla dynasty.
During the Goryeo dynasty, tea was grown mainly in temples and in the royal court. Therefore, it was mostly only consumed by monks and the royal court. While later, in the Joseon Dynasty, tea began to grow naturally everywhere, especially in Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces. But it was not until the 1930s when tea became important throughout the country (and the world) and it began to be consumed by the majority of the population. However, as a result of the Korean War, most of the plantations were destroyed and it was not until 1957 that Chang Young Seop reestablished the Daehan Tea Garden and turned it into the present plantation.
Tea needs ideal climatic conditions for it to grow and be delicious, and in this area each of them is fulfilled. Today there are almost 6 million tea trees on the plantation and just over 3 million tea trees outside the plantation.
This tea plantation is responsible for 40% of the country's production. There are other plantations scattered around the country, but without a doubt, Boseong is the best area to visit.
HOW TO VISIT THE BOSEONG TEA PLANTATIONS, SOUTH KOREA
HOW TO GET TO BOSEONG
How to get to Boseong from Seoul
From the Seoul Express Bus Terminal you will need to take a bus to the plantations. The bus takes about 5 hours, depending on traffic and during the journey there are a couple of stops to eat something quick and go to the bathroom. There are usually several departures a day.
How to get from Busan to Boseong
The bus from Busan is 4 hours and has several stops along the way. There are several daily departures.
Once you arrive at the plantation area you can move around the area with local taxis. They are very cheap and you can even book them to give you a tour of the area throughout the day.
WHAT TO SEE IN THE BOSEONG TEA PLANTATIONS
The intense green of the plantation and the environment attracts and falls in love at the same time. The natural environment is incredible and invites you to spend days and days touring the plantations.
I recommend doing a little trekking to the top of the mountain. Before accessing the plantation, you must go through the ticket office. Right next to it is a tea house and souvenir shop, a coffee shop and an ice cream parlor with delicious ice creams, even green tea ice creams.
Once you access there is a small map established for you to follow the path, although they allow you to get out of it, walk among the plantations, take thousands of photos...
You can even go through a forest of Junipers, before reaching the observatory of the Green Tea Farm, from where you will have incredible views of the plantation.
There are other trails where you can see small waterfalls, forest areas, other observatories...
WHAT TO EAT AT THE BOSEONG TEA PLANTATIONS
As you may be imagining, the star ingredient is green tea. You will find it everywhere; in teas, of course, but also in combinations with coffee, in ice creams, all kinds of desserts... Right at the entrance of the plantation you have a cafeteria and an ice cream parlor, but in the area of the road and the small town there are some restaurants small relatives, where you can also eat, Korean barbecue, fish dishes, Korean soups...
WHAT TO BUY AT BOSEONG TEA PLANTATIONS
The plantation shop offers a wide variety of green teas. I didn't know there were so many! They also sell desserts made with green tea. There are photographs and postcards of the plantation, magnets... a tourist catcher without a doubt. Although, obviously I also fell for it and left with three boxes of different teas and a green tea muffin filled with cream. Delicious!
WHERE TO STAY IN THE BOSEONG TEA PLANTATIONS
Going and returning the same day to the big cities, Seoul or Busan, is complicated, you would spend the day on the bus. And it is not recommended. At the very least, I recommend that you find accommodation nearby for the night. There are several "close" cities (2 hours by bus) such as Jangheung and Gangjin, as well as many towns. I recommend you look for something in the towns that surround the plantation.
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to South Korea a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
If you liked this article, subscribe to the blog so you don't miss out on upcoming destinations, curiosities, travel tips and inspiration for your trips.
A hug and see you soon!