Travel Vibes Galore! Jeju Gamgyulju Tasting Review

Let's Go, Just the Two of Us, Leaving Everything Behind ♬

Since around December last year, I have been obsessed with traveling to Jeju Island. As it is said that the song you listen to at the start of the new year will grant your wishes, I listened to Taeyeon's "Jeju-do Pureunbam" with a heartfelt desire to definitely take a flight this year.

Like the lyrics of the song, I want to "leave everything behind" and go, but since I can't, I decided to soothe my longing by drinking Jeju tangerine liquor. Citrus' "Hondiju" and Jeju Winery's "Gyulroman" are today's stars.

Hondiju

"Hond?," meaning "together" in Jeju dialect, is the name of this tangerine liquor made by fermenting freshly squeezed tangerines. Hondiju means a drink that tastes better when shared. It has an alcohol content of 12%, making it a mild liquor that you can enjoy pleasantly.

Hondiju is clear and transparent like soju. I thought it might have a strong alcohol taste, but contrary to expectations, it boasted a refreshing flavor. After two or three sips, I could feel the tangy tangerine flavor spreading like waves. The taste of tangerine juice remains intact without any artificial sweetness, so it doesn't leave a heavy feeling in the mouth, and the finish is clean. The smooth and crisp throat sensation makes it perfect for a light drink.

▶ Let's enjoy it even more deliciously!

The fresh and light Hondiju is recommended to be paired with greasy foods. Taking a sip of this liquor after eating oily food clears the greasiness and refreshes the palate. It tastes even better when served with ice or chilled.

Gyulroman

Gyulroman is a fruit liquor made by fermenting Jeju tangerines. As the name suggests, it is made using only tangerines without any grains. The liquor in the PET bottle has a clear orange hue, resembling tangerine juice. It has an alcohol content of 10%, milder than soju.

Expecting the sweet and sour aroma of tangerine juice, I poured it into a glass, but the alcohol scent stings the nose. Upon taking a sip, the bitter taste typical of alcohol is stronger than the fresh tangerine flavor. If you close your eyes and savor it slowly, you can faintly detect the bitter taste of tangerine peel along with a very subtle tangy aroma, but the flavor and scent are so mild that you wouldn't know it contains tangerines. It is closer to a cheongju (clear rice wine) with a hint of tangerine aroma than a fruit wine with a refreshing sweetness.

▶ Let's enjoy it even more deliciously!

This liquor, which hides a mature taste rather than being sweet like juice, is recommended to be mixed with a sweet carbonated drink like cider to make a cocktail rather than drinking it alone. You will be able to feel the fresh tangerine flavor that was masked by the strong alcohol taste rushing in.

How about a glass of tangerine liquor that gives you a full Jeju vibe today?

Photo by Kim Bomi

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.