Dish guide · Drinks
Ssanghwa-cha
쌍화차
Korean herbal tea
A dark, slightly bitter and sweet herbal tea with no tea leaves in it, made from roots and bark. It's closely tied to Korea's old-style dabang tearooms.
What it is
- It's brewed from herbs such as white peony root, angelica, cinnamon and licorice, then sweetened.
- Old tearooms often top it with pine nuts, walnuts and jujube, and sometimes float a raw egg yolk in it.
How to eat it
- 1Sip it slowly while it's hot, using the spoon to eat the nuts and fruit. Tell them if you don't want the egg yolk.
History
- Ssanghwa-tang began as a traditional herbal remedy. It was a dabang favorite from the 1930s to the 1980s, and the egg yolk was a treat in an era when eggs were expensive. Any health effects are tradition, not proven fact.
Allergies and diet
Usually contains
- Nuts and egg yolk are common toppings.
- Herbal tea may not suit you if you're pregnant or on medication. Ask a doctor.
Recipes differ between restaurants. If you have an allergy, always ask the staff before you order.
🗣️ Allergy card for the staff
Pick your allergy to see the sentence in Korean.
📍 Where to try it
- 🍵
Eulji Dabang 을지다방
Tearoom · Euljiro, Seoul · Since 1985
A 1985 dabang, Korea's old-fashioned tearoom, famous for herbal ssanghwa tea with a raw egg yolk floating on top. BTS shot photos here, so you will find local shopkeepers and young fans from around the world sharing the same vinyl sofas.
Try: Ssanghwa-cha (herbal tea with egg yolk)
- 🍵
Mido Dabang 미도다방
Tearoom · Downtown & Seomun Market, Daegu
An old-fashioned dabang (tea room) on Jingol Alley, where older Daegu regulars meet over ssanghwa-cha, a traditional herbal tea. A calm stop on the modern-history alley walk.
Try: Ssanghwa-cha
Sources
We check every fact against at least two sources and write it in our own words. Last checked: 2026-10-31.