World’s Best-selling Spirit SOJU — You Must TRY
Do you know which is the best-selling spirit brand in the world? Well, it is not whiskey and obviously not vodka or rum. Surprised, right? It is soju — a Korean alcoholic beverage — as famous as k-pop BTS that has taken the world by storm.
Whether mixing it in cocktails, having it with Korean BBQ, or just straight from the bottle — it is everywhere.
According to The Spirits Business, the soju brand, Jinro is the best-selling spirit, selling about 86.3 million cases in 2019 — beating all the other liquor brands out there.
So, what is soju? Why is it so popular across the world? What are the best brands you can buy? Just scroll down to know more about it!
What is soju? And how soju is made?
This buttery and malty flavored Korean vodka is the easy-to-go booze in Korea. But it is also popular in some other Asiatic countries like Japan and China.
The alcoholic content varies from around 16 to 53% and sits well between wine and any hard liquor. This low-alcohol distilled spirit is neutral in flavor, just like your favorite vodka. But it does not leave any harsh alcoholic burn like the other one.
It is made from three ingredients — rice or other grains, nuruk (yeast), and water for hundreds of years in the Korean peninsula. The use of rice to distill soju was banned by the Korean government from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Due to the nationwide shortage, distillers shifted to produce alcohol from sweet potatoes, wheat, or tapioca. However, the ban is no longer in place, some manufacturers still use sweet potatoes to distill Chamisul or Jinro.
What is the origin of soju?
The dearest and nearest firewater of Korea — considered its National drink had a fascinating history. This ‘burnt liquor’ was first originated in Arabia and known as ‘araq’.
It was first introduced by Mongol invaders in the early 13th century during Goryeo Dynasty. History tells Genghis khan brought this to Mongolia, and then his grandson Kublai Khan, the first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty introduced it to Korea.
How do you drink soju Traditionally?
Do you have that shot glasses in front of you? Ok, now you have to say ‘Geonbae’ instead of cheers. It means ‘dry the glass’ — a sign to show respect to the pourer — a unique Korean culture to make your nightlife energetic with your friends or family.
Just like wine, you can consume it with food. There is a whole list of foods that the Koreans specifically prepare to have with soju — known as ‘Anju’.
In Korea, there is a proper way to serve this drink. Traditionally, an older member first serves it in a shot glass, and you have to take it using both of your hands. You can’t prepare your own, as there is a tradition to consume it communally.
You have to turn your face to avoid making eye contact with the pourer, and don’t ship it, just shoot! There is a floating misconception about this, but it’s just a common practice in Korea of showing respect by not making eye contact with the senior member.
Why is soju so popular across the world?
The popularity of these low alcohol spirits is related to their history. During the Korean war, the manufacturer switched to some other starches instead of rice. They began to dilute it by adding sweeteners and flavors to make it more profitable and palatable. And the consequences? A massive hike in the South Korean alcohol industry.
Within a few years, it becomes the go-to beverage for the Koreans. Its distinct flavors, low price, and a drink that can mix well with any low-alcoholic cocktail are the reasons. This leads to the recognition of South Korea as the world’s biggest hard alcohol drinkers country — 13.7 shots of liquor per week on average — according to a news published in 2014.
Another reason for its popularity is its low alcoholic content — a better alternative than vodka — perfect for the people who don’t want any heaviness or hangover the next morning. It sits well with some low-calorie wines, light beers, and alcoholic seltzers — the most famous drinks in the US and other countries.
This is why the restaurants in New York and California can serve it to the customers without having that expensive liquor license — just the beer and wine permit, and you are ready to sell soju.
Which Soju brands should I buy?
Before grabbing that little green bottle to mix it with beer, fruit juice, or having it with some delicious BBQ, you need to know which one will be the right choice for you. So, take a look at the top 5 brands before going shopping!
1. Chamisul — Hite Jinro
Famous among all the best-selling distilled liquor — known as gukmin soju (national soju) by the Koreans. It is mostly made from sweet potatoes by Hite Jinro. It also produces Jinro fresh and Jinro original. It tastes slightly bitter thanks to the quadruple filtering through the charcoal that goes down smoothly. To get the best experience, pair it with some food only when it is extremely chilled!
Alcohol: Jinro fresh — 17% and Jinro original — 20.1%
2. Chum Churum
Want to treat each day as a fresh start? Do it with your Chum Churum. In Korea, it means ‘Like the first time’ — the second most widely sold brand — for which all Korean women can fall for. It is slightly softer than Chamisul made from rice and some other grains. If you don’t want to get drunk, this will be the right choice for you — enriched with minerals for using alkaline water in it.
Alcohol: 16.5% (Mild), 16.9% (Regular), 21% (Rich or strong).
3. Good Day
This is the most popular one in Korean universities. It contains natural mineral waters from Jirisan Mountain — supplemented with amino acids to pack a health punch. An easy-to-go choice for younger drinkers due to its low alcohol content. It comes with so many fruit flavors — the most common one is the grapefruit, and some others are pomegranate, lemon, and grape.
Alcohol: 16.9%
4. C1 blue:
The smoothest one and the #1 brand in Busan — the largest distillery city in Korea. It uses natural bedrock water that comes from Mount Gijang and Samgak-san. The specialty of this soju is the presence of aspartic acids — a type of amino acid that helps you feel better after drinking and not give any hangover the next morning.
This clean, crisp, and easy-to-swallow spirit has started to gain attention in the US mainly in Washington, California, and Hawaii — due to its unique making process — SOVIA (sound vibration aging process) — the best aging technique for soju.
Alcohol: 18%
5. O2 Linn
The only brand that comes with so many health benefits. It helps to clarify the brain and makes skin and body cells healthy and resilient. O2 Linn, also known as “oxygen soju” — contains three times more oxygen than any ordinary one. It is the go-to beverage for women due to its clean and smooth taste and is the best-selling brand in southwest Seoul.
Alcohol: 19%
Soju vs Sake vs Shochu
Let’s start the battle between these three widely used drinks that have started to gain popularity among the boozers. Don’t get me wrong. I am just going to tell you the difference between them so that you can enjoy them according to your mood!
Soju is just like the older brother of ‘shochu’ — but this is Korean, and shochu is Japanese. They are made from rice, sweet potatoes, or barley — usually consumed with foods and both are distilled spirits.
However, shochu has some strict regulations not to add any additives to it. Even some top Shochus can be distilled once to maintain its authenticity and are slightly stronger than soju.
‘Sake’ is also from Japan. But it is a brewed alcohol just like beer, made from fermented rice — a little bit different than the other two. This clear and milky beverage is lighter than soju and shochu — ABV value ranges between 14 to 16%.
Is soju good for health?
No alcohol is good for your health if you go for binge drinking or become an alcoholic. Overconsumption can lead to liver damage, depression, or some other health issues. While drinking in moderation is beneficial in some cases.
Like, according to researchers, one glass of this drink can reduce the chances of stroke. In case of some digestive problems or vomiting, mixing this liquor with water is quite effective. The mixture of soju and salt is used in coughing, swelling, chest pain, and inflammation. So, moderation is the key, if you drink your liquor within the limit it can be helpful for you or, it may cause some disease as well.
Don’t forget to read the below one also. Thanks for reading. Bye 😃
