Korean Scorched Rice Tea | Nurungji · Sungnyung | 누룽지차
Korean scorched rice tea (nurungji cha, 누룽지차) is a naturally caffeine-free Korean grain tea made from 100% Korean-grown scorched rice, brown rice, corn, and Solomon's seal — the taste of traditional sungnyung in a tea bag.
What is nurungji tea?
Nurungji (누룽지) is the golden, toasted layer of rice that forms at the bottom of a Korean rice pot. Pour hot water over it and you get sungnyung (숭늉) — the savory, gently sweet drink Koreans have sipped after meals for generations.
This blend recreates that flavor in a paper tea bag: 50% Korean scorched rice and 25% Korean roasted brown rice, rounded out with Korean corn and Solomon's seal root (dunggulle, Polygonatum odoratum). No tea leaves and no caffeine — only toasted grains and roots.
Ssanggye (쌍계명차) has been making tea since 1975 in Hwagae, Hadong — Korea's historic tea country at the foot of Jirisan. The brand was founded by Kim Dong-gon, designated Korean Food Grand Master No. 28 for his traditional green-tea craft.
Origin & authenticity
Product of Korea. All four ingredients are Korean-grown, and the tea is produced by Ssanggye Myeongcha Co. in Hadong, South Korea, in a HACCP-certified facility — Korea's national food-safety standard. Kosbee imports it directly and ships from New Jersey.
The tea comes in boxes of 50 or 100 paper filter tea bags, portioned at 1.5 g each — an easy way to keep a Korean pantry classic on hand.
Key facts
- Origin
- Product of Korea — made by Ssanggye Myeongcha Co., Hadong, South Korea
- Ingredients
- Scorched rice 50%, roasted brown rice 25%, corn, Solomon's seal root (Polygonatum odoratum) — all Korean-grown
- Sizes
- 50 tea bags — 2.65 oz (75 g), or 100 tea bags — 5.29 oz (150 g); 1.5 g per tea bag
- Tea bag material
- Paper filter bags
- Caffeine
- Naturally caffeine-free — no tea leaves, only grains and roots
- Certification
- Produced in a HACCP-certified facility
- Storage
- Keep sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
How to enjoy it
How do you brew Korean scorched rice tea?
Steep 1 tea bag in a cup (about 8 fl oz / 240 ml) of hot water at 194°F (90°C) for 2 minutes. For a stronger, sungnyung-style cup closer to the rice-pot original, use two bags or less water.
In Korea, sungnyung is traditionally enjoyed warm after a meal, in place of coffee or dessert. Since the tea is naturally caffeine-free, it also works as an evening cup.
Can you drink nurungji tea iced?
Yes. Brew it double strength and pour it over ice, or drop 2–3 bags into a pitcher of cold water and refrigerate for a few hours. The toasty, savory-sweet flavor holds up well chilled.
Safety & allergens
This tea is produced in a facility that also handles buckwheat, peach, milk, and soybean, so trace cross-contact is possible. It is not certified allergen-free — if you have a related food allergy, please check the printed package label before drinking.
How it compares
Sungnyung vs genmaicha — what's the difference?
Genmaicha is a Japanese blend of green tea leaves and roasted rice, so it contains caffeine and keeps a grassy green-tea note. Sungnyung — the drink this nurungji tea recreates — contains no tea leaves at all: it is pure toasted grain, deeper and more savory, and naturally caffeine-free.
Nurungji tea vs barley tea (boricha) — which one is for you?
Both are caffeine-free Korean grain teas found in everyday Korean homes. Barley tea drinks lighter with a dry, roasty edge, while nurungji tea is rounder and subtly sweet, closer to the taste of the rice pot. Many households keep both — try it alongside Ssanggye Korean Black Barley Tea.
FAQ
Is this nurungji tea made in Korea?
Yes. It is made by Ssanggye (쌍계명차), a Korean tea company founded in 1975 in Hadong, South Korea, and produced in a HACCP-certified facility. All four ingredients — scorched rice, brown rice, corn, and Solomon's seal — are Korean-grown, and it ships to you from New Jersey.
How do I brew Korean scorched rice tea?
Steep one tea bag in about 8 fl oz (240 ml) of hot water at 194°F (90°C) for 2 minutes. For a stronger, sungnyung-style cup, use two bags or less water. For iced tea, brew it double strength and pour it over ice.
What is the difference between sungnyung and genmaicha?
Genmaicha is Japanese green tea blended with roasted rice, so it contains caffeine and a grassy green-tea note. Sungnyung, or nurungji tea, contains no tea leaves — it is made only of toasted grains and Solomon's seal root, tastes deeper and more savory, and is naturally caffeine-free.
How fast does this tea ship in the US?
Kosbee ships from its New Jersey warehouse within 1 business day. Each box holds 50 or 100 individually portioned paper tea bags and is shelf-stable, so it travels well and stores easily in your pantry — keep it sealed in a cool, dry place.
A Korean pantry classic, from Hadong to your cup
Each box brews 50 or 100 cups of the tea Koreans grew up with. Explore more Ssanggye Korean tea bags, or brew the same Solomon's seal root whole with Korean Solomon's Seal Root.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
