청주

cheongju · Cheongju (clear rice wine)

What it is

Clear rice wine drawn off from a brew like makgeolli. Under the liquor tax law many traditional clear rice wines are labeled yakju, while sake-style ones are labeled cheongju.

Typical strength

about 13–16%

Strength varies by product; this is a general range, not a specific brand. The legal drinking age in Korea is 19 (counted by birth year).

How people drink it

Served slightly warm or chilled in small cups; it's a standard drink for ancestral rites (charye).

How to order

청주 따뜻하게 한 병 주세요.cheongju ttatteutage han byeong juseyo.A bottle of cheongju, warmed, please.