Boseong-gun's 'Signature Tea Menu Development Training' Popular Among MZ Generation

Development of Various Tea Pairing Courses Aligned with Consumption Trends etc.

As the demand for refreshing beverages increases ahead of the summer season, the ‘Signature Tea Menu Development Training’ aimed at nurturing traditional tea experts in Boseong is gaining popularity.

Boseong County in Jeollanam-do has been conducting the ‘Signature Tea Menu Development Training’ since May until July 2 at the Agricultural Technology Center’s processed food room, targeting about 20 representatives operating cafes or tea experience centers in the area.

Experiencing a tea pairing course that harmonizes tea and desserts at Cocosiena Tearoom in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Boseong-gun

This training was organized to highlight the uniqueness of Boseong tea and develop tea courses tailored to customer preferences. It includes theoretical education to enhance understanding of ingredients, practical training to develop beverages and tea foods (tea food), and field education visiting famous tea houses (tea rooms) in Seoul.

The main training includes tea course experiences in Mapo-gu, Seoul (specialized companies: Cocosiena, Keochageu), tea menu design and branding, harmony of desserts and tea, development of tea beverages following trends, and a tea pairing menu evaluation session.

Participants in the training created popular beverages on social media (SNS) such as matcha affogato, matcha tonic, and blended tea based on organic Boseong matcha, as well as tea foods (tea food) that anyone can enjoy deliciously, including rice dasik, hopumdae, gaeseong juak, and yanggaeng.

The ‘Tea Pairing Menu Evaluation Session’ will be held at 2 p.m. on July 2 at the Boseong County Agricultural Technology Center, where attendees can experience tea pairing courses that capture the special qualities of Boseong tea according to the season and theme.

A participant in the training said, “I joined the training to improve the quality and visual appeal of existing menus,” adding, “Through this training, I learned the secrets to developing and producing new tea menus using various ingredients.”

An official from the county stated, “Only when differentiated beverages and products unique to Boseong are developed can they be loved consistently over a long period,” and added, “We will spare no effort in support and education to introduce various Boseong teas that are trusted and recognized by consumers.”

Meanwhile, in 2018, ‘Boseong Traditional Tea Agriculture’ was designated as National Important Agricultural Heritage No. 11, recognizing the historical value and excellence of Boseong tea. Since 2010, experts have been nurtured through tea processing and evaluation training for the premiumization of Boseong tea, training of traditional tea agriculture interpreters, and benchmarking of agricultural heritage areas by inviting domestic and international tea experts.

Boseong = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Cheon-seok hss79@asiae.co.kr