Tangaek — Decoctions · Grains

燒酒 Soju (소주)

Soju is grain wine run through a still. The distilled kind, like Andong soju, is what the name meant; today's green-bottle soju is diluted neutral spirit, a different process. The Dongui Bogam dates the drink to the Yuan dynasty and warns that drinking much of it harms a person.

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 1

  1. 自元時始有.

    It first came into existence from the time of the Yuan dynasty.

    HomiclubSoju is a distilled spirit, made by heating brewed liquor and condensing the vapour. Andong soju and munbaeju are made this way, whereas today's green-bottle soju is diluted from neutral spirit instead.

  2. 味極辛烈, 多飮傷人.

    Its taste is extremely pungent and fierce, and drinking much of it injures a person.

Grains — more entries

See all in this section →

This is a cultural and historical record from a classical text, not a claim about any food’s effects. Nothing here is a health supplement or intended to prevent or treat disease. Consult a medical professional about health concerns. · Text: Korean Medicine Classics DB · Reading: Homiclub