Ssukcha facts for kids
 |
|
| Type | Herbal tea |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Korea |
| Ingredients | Korean mugwort |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
쑥차
|
|---|---|
| Hanja |
-茶
|
| Revised Romanization | ssukcha |
| McCune–Reischauer | ssukch'a |
| IPA | [s͈uk̚.tɕʰa] |
Ssukcha (Hangul: 쑥차) is a special Korean drink. You might also hear it called mugwort tea or wormwood tea. It's a traditional Korean tea made from a plant called Korean mugwort. In Korea, this plant is known as ssuk (Hangul: 쑥). People enjoy drinking ssukcha in both North and South Korea.
How to Make Ssukcha
Making ssukcha starts with collecting mugwort leaves. These leaves are usually picked around May or June. This time is special because it's when the Korean festival of Dano happens.
After picking, the leaves are carefully washed and drained. Then, they are chopped into smaller pieces. These pieces are left to dry in a shady spot for about 3 to 10 days.
Once the mugwort leaves are dry, they are roasted. This is done in a special round pot called a deokkeum-sot, which is like a big cooking pot used for roasting tea. To make the tea, you just add a handful of the dried, roasted mugwort and a cup of water to a teapot. Boil it for 5 to 10 minutes, and your ssukcha is ready to enjoy!
Health Benefits of Mugwort Tea
Korean mugwort is packed with good things for your body. It has lots of vitamin A and vitamin C, plus important minerals.
In the past, people believed that drinking mugwort tea could help you stay healthy. They thought it might help prevent and treat the common cold. It was also used to help reduce fever and swelling in the body. Some people even used it to ease pain and help keep blood pressure at a healthy level.
