Procession of Boseong Noewoncha Truth-Seeking at Gyeonghuigung

Published 30 Mar.2023 15:19(KST)

Reenactment of Royal Tribute of 'Millennium Boseong Tea' at Gyeonghuigung Palace, Seoul

Boseong World Tea Expo BoomUP Festa Successfully Concluded

With 30 days remaining until the Boseong World Tea Expo, on the 30th, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, known as the green tea capital, held a pre-promotion event called the ‘Boom-up Festa’ at Gyeonghuigung Palace in Seoul.

At this Boom-up Festa, Boseong-gun attracted attention by reenacting the ‘Noewoncha’ tribute procession and ceremony, known as the royal tea of the Goryeo Dynasty.

[Photo by Boseong-gun]

The procession departed from Heunghwamun Gate at 1 PM, marched to Seungjeongjeon Hall, and then presented Noewoncha to the king on a special stage. The procession included about 60 participants, including Kim Cheol-woo, the governor of Boseong-gun, Son Hak-rae, co-chairman of the Boseong World Tea Expo organizing committee, and Boseong tea artisans, all dressed in traditional costumes and equipped with props.

After the tribute ceremony, a promotional ambassador appointment ceremony was held, followed by a Boseong green tea sharing event for tourists visiting Gyeonghuigung Palace. Idol groups MustB (a five-member male group) and Signature (a seven-member female group), as well as Seoul Nowon-gu council member Son Young-jun and Seoul Seongbuk-gu council member So Hyung-jun, were appointed as promotional ambassadors for Boseong-gun.

Through the reenactment of the Goryeo Dynasty Noewoncha tribute procession, Boseong-gun aimed to highlight the historical significance and excellence of Boseong tea, which has a history of over 1,000 years, and to promote the 11th Boseong World Tea Expo, scheduled to be held from April 29 to May 7, by hosting this ‘Boom-up Festa.’

The ‘Noewoncha’ used in the tribute ceremony is a royal tea used by the Goryeo royal family, with records found in historical texts such as the Sejong Sillok Jiriji, Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam, and Daedong Jiji. It is said to have been made in the autumn plains of Yaksan Village in Ungchi-myeon, Boseong-gun.

Noewoncha is a square-shaped tteokcha (pressed tea cake) characterized by its savory and smooth taste with a clean finish. It is known to have been used not only for simple drinking but also as funeral tea for deceased officials, tribute gifts sent to the Khitan, and ceremonial tea for ordinary officials.

Kim Cheol-woo, governor of Boseong-gun and co-chairman of the Boseong World Tea Expo organizing committee, said, “As a D-30 event before the Expo opening, it is very meaningful to hold a reenactment event presenting the king’s tea at Gyeonghuigung, one of Joseon’s five grand palaces.” He added, “We will do our best to ensure the successful hosting of the Expo so that the thousand-year-old Boseong tea embraces the world and moves forward into the future.”

Meanwhile, Boseong-gun, the green tea capital, boasts the largest tea cultivation area in South Korea. The terraced traditional tea agricultural system, including Boseong Green Tea, the first agricultural product with geographical indication in Korea, is managed as a nationally important agricultural heritage.