When the weather turns cold, many Koreans warm their hands around a cup of ssanghwa tea (쌍화차, ssanghwa-cha). It is a dark brown, bittersweet herbal tea with cinnamon and licorice notes, and in old Korean teahouses it comes topped with pine nuts and jujube slices. We carry it in two forms: a Korean Ssanghwa Tea whole-herb mix that you simmer on the stove, and Danongwon Macadamia Ssanghwa Tea, an instant powder stick that takes only hot water. Here is how they differ and how to make each one.
What is ssanghwa tea?
Ssanghwa-cha is one of Korea's most familiar traditional teas. The name means "the harmony of two," and the brew is a balanced blend of roots such as angelica, cnidium, peony, rehmannia and astragalus, sweetened naturally by licorice and jujube and finished with cinnamon. Simmered for a long time, it turns deep brown and fragrant. In winter it is a teahouse staple, and many families keep a pot or a box of sticks at home for cold evenings.
Whole herbs vs instant powder: which should you pick?
| Whole-herb mix (Kosbee) | Instant sticks (Danongwon) | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Dried, cut herbs in a resealable pouch, 3.5 oz (100 g) | Powder sticks, 10 × 0.53 oz (15 g) |
| What's inside | Herbs only, no added sugar | Sugar, maltodextrin, two ssanghwa herb concentrate powders, walnut, almond, macadamia and jujube |
| Time | About 1 hour or more of simmering | Under a minute |
| Makes | A large pot from one pack | One cup per stick |
| Taste | Deep, earthy, bittersweet and strong | Sweet and spiced, with a nutty finish |
| Contains | No nuts in the ingredients | Tree nuts (walnut, almond, macadamia) |
| Pick it if | You want a traditional, unsweetened pot to share or keep in the fridge | You want a quick sweet cup at home or at the office |
Both are made in Korea. Neither lists coffee or tea leaves in its ingredients, so both are herbal teas rather than black or green teas.
What is in each one?
The Kosbee whole-herb mix is a pre-balanced blend, so there is nothing to measure. The herbs printed on the pack are licorice root (감초), cinnamon (계피), angelica root (당귀), peony root (작약), jujube (대추), prepared rehmannia root (숙지황), cnidium rhizome (천궁), astragalus root (황기), pueraria root (갈근), tangerine peel (진피) and Solomon's seal rhizome (황정). It is a Product of Korea with no sugar, dyes or preservatives. Not sure what an herb is called in English? See our Korean herb names glossary.
The Danongwon macadamia sticks start from extracted and dried ssanghwa herbs: angelica root and cnidium rhizome from Korea, white peony root, astragalus root, prepared rehmannia root, cinnamon and licorice. Crushed walnut and almond (USA), macadamia (Australia) and jujube (Korea) go right into the stick. Sugar is the first ingredient, and each stick is about 60 kcal (61.78 kcal printed on the Korean package) with 8 g of sugars.
How to make ssanghwa tea from whole herbs
- Rinse: rinse all the herbs from one pack briefly under cold water.
- Add water: put the whole pack in a large pot with about 2 quarts (2 liters) of water.
- Boil, then simmer: bring it to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer for an hour or more, until the liquid reduces by about half and turns deep brown.
- Strain and serve: strain out the herbs and pour the tea into cups while it is warm.
- Teahouse style: float a few pine nuts, jujube slices or walnut pieces on top. For jujube slices, pit and thinly slice dried red dates.
- Sweetness: the brew is bittersweet on its own. Stir in a little honey if you like it sweeter.
- Strength: it is a strong, concentrated tea, so start with a small cup or add hot water to taste.
- Leftovers: cool the tea, keep it covered in the refrigerator and warm up one cup at a time.
- In cooking: you can also add the pack when making samgyetang for a deeper, more aromatic herbal broth.
How to make instant ssanghwa tea
| Style | How to make it |
|---|---|
| Hot | Stir 1 stick into about 2.7 fl oz (80 mL) of hot water, as the package directs |
| Ssanghwa latte | Add warm milk for a smoother, richer cup |
| Iced latte | Dissolve the stick in a little hot water, add milk and pour it over ice |
| Affogato | Spoon the hot tea over a scoop of vanilla ice cream |
The nut pieces float to the top like a teahouse cup. Mix each stick right after you open it, and use a little less water for a bolder taste.
Ssanghwa-tang vs sipjeondaebo-tang
These are Korea's two classic herb blends, and they share several roots. Ssanghwa is peony-led with cinnamon, licorice and jujube, so it brews darker, sweeter and more aromatic: the cup you sip on its own. Sipjeondaebo-tang is built around ginseng, astragalus and atractylodes, so it is earthier and more savory and is often used as a broth base for samgyetang. Choose ssanghwa for tea and sipjeondaebo for cooking.
Good to know
- Whole-herb mix: it contains angelica and cnidium, so it is not recommended during pregnancy or nursing. Store the opened pouch sealed in a cool, dry place.
- Instant sticks: contain tree nuts (walnut, almond, macadamia). They are made in a facility that also processes peach, wheat, milk, soy, buckwheat and peanut. Store the box in a dry, cool place.
If you are pregnant or nursing, take any medication, or are under medical care, consult your healthcare provider before use. Enjoy in moderation.
Quick answers
Is ssanghwa tea the same as ssanghwa-tang?
Yes. Ssanghwa-tang (쌍화탕) is the traditional name for the simmered herb brew, and ssanghwa-cha (쌍화차) is the name you see on teahouse menus and instant tea boxes. Both refer to the same dark, spiced herbal tea.
Which one is less sweet?
The whole-herb mix has no added sugar, so its sweetness comes only from licorice and jujube. The instant sticks list sugar as the first ingredient and have 8 g of sugars per stick.
Does ssanghwa tea have caffeine?
Neither product lists coffee or tea leaves in its ingredients, so both are herbal teas rather than black or green teas. If you add an espresso shot to a ssanghwa latte, that adds caffeine.
How long does one pack of the whole-herb mix last?
One 3.5 oz (100 g) pack simmers into one large pot. Kept in the refrigerator, that pot gives you several warm cups over the following days.
Are they made in Korea?
Yes. The whole-herb mix is a Product of Korea, and Danongwon makes the macadamia sticks in Korea in a HACCP-certified facility. We ship both from our New Jersey warehouse within one business day.
Explore more simmering herbs in our Traditional Korean Herbs collection, or find tea bags and instant teas in Korean Herbal Teas & Wellness. Looking for a bright, tart cup instead? Read how to make omija tea. Free shipping on orders of $60 or more.
