#OSULLOC
2017.04.20
Chapter 2. OSULLOC’s Greenish Dream – Seogwang Tea Garden
This column is a story about the naturally blessed nature of Jeju and the tea gardens of OSULLOC, the great tea made with authenticity.
ColumnistBumjin Lee
Amorepacific OSULLOC BM Team
Hello, everyone. Which flower first comes to your mind when you think of 'spring'? In Jeju, cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival recently took place. Interestingly, Jeju's cherry blossoms were the motif of OSULLOC's Cherry Blossom Blending Tea. I sincerely hope you enjoy a most wonderful spring time. I would like to start off with the story of Seogwang Tea Garden, OSULLOC's second tea garden.
Seogwang Tea Garden is the most well-known one among OSULLOC's tea gardens, as the OSULLOC Tea Museum is located on the site. Therefore, OSULLOC Tea Museum is probably more familiar to you than Seogwang Tea Garden.
Seogwang Tea Garden is the most well-known one among OSULLOC's tea gardens, as the OSULLOC Tea Museum is located on the site. Therefore, OSULLOC Tea Museum is probably more familiar to you than Seogwang Tea Garden.
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Jeju OSULLOC Tea Museum (left ) / Green tea roasting showcase (right )
The museum was first established on September 1, 2001 to help spread tea culture throughout Korea. Since then, it has become a hot place representing Jeju with 1.8 million visitors who came last year and a total of 15 million since its opening.
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The location of Seogwang Tea Garden
Seogwang Tea Garden is located in Seogwang-ri, where Sanbang Mountain can be seen in the distance. For centuries, the Seogwang-ri area was considered to be one of the three most barren areas in Jeju, which was not suitable for farming because there were too many pebbles and thorn bushes.
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Before & after photos of cultivation of Seogwang Tea Garden
In 1980, OSULLOC started to reclaim the barren land where even water was hard to find by picking up stones by hand and filling the land with soil. Why did Suh Sungwhan, the founder of Amorepacific, chose this abandoned land? I met the senior fellows of OSULLOC, who had been involved in the cultivation of land at that time and heard Suh Sungwhan's thoughtful consideration.
In 1979, when OSULLOC first began cultivating tea gardens, the land for farming was completely insufficient in Jeju. So Suh Sungwhan believed that reclaiming the foothills and pursuing mutual growth with Jeju people was what an entrepreneur should rightfully do. That is why OSULLOC chose the Seogwang-ri area for its tea garden.
Now, it is time to tell you the terroir story of Seogwang Tea Garden. Among the five factors that Jeju offers for the best condition for raising tea plants, 'soil' and 'fog' are the two key features of Seogwang Tea Garden.
In 1979, when OSULLOC first began cultivating tea gardens, the land for farming was completely insufficient in Jeju. So Suh Sungwhan believed that reclaiming the foothills and pursuing mutual growth with Jeju people was what an entrepreneur should rightfully do. That is why OSULLOC chose the Seogwang-ri area for its tea garden.
Now, it is time to tell you the terroir story of Seogwang Tea Garden. Among the five factors that Jeju offers for the best condition for raising tea plants, 'soil' and 'fog' are the two key features of Seogwang Tea Garden.
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5 factors of Jeju nature for tea plant cultivation and the unique feature of Seogwang Tea Garden
The soil and fog of Seogwang Tea Garden help give tea its outstanding color.
Green tea is green because it is not fermented. Although taste and aroma are important, "how green the color of green tea is" is also an important quality factor in green tea cultures like Japan and Korea. I would like to elaborate on the special reason why the color of green tea from Seogwang Tea Garden is more vivid and darker green.
1. The fog over Seogwang – Cover the light and add shade
There is a period called 'bracken rainy spell' in Jeju. It refers to the period when a period of drizzling falls in the foothills of Jeju from April to May. The drizzle is not overly heavy but not that slight, so it makes you wonder if you need an umbrella or not. In this period, the buds of OSULLOC's tea plants grow rapidly. The cloudy and humid weather without much sunshine during the rainy period creates an important feature in the tea leaves of Seogwang Tea Garden.
It tends to rain a lot in Jeju, which is the perfect condition for growing tea plants. However, various climatic conditions including precipitation vary depending on the location even on rainy Jeju Island. The main reason for such a difference is Halla Mountain, which means 'high enough to attract the Milky Way.'
It tends to rain a lot in Jeju, which is the perfect condition for growing tea plants. However, various climatic conditions including precipitation vary depending on the location even on rainy Jeju Island. The main reason for such a difference is Halla Mountain, which means 'high enough to attract the Milky Way.'
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Source : Jeju Weather Service
If you examine the relationship between annual precipitation and altitude above sea level in Jeju, you can find that the amount of rainfall becomes larger as the altitude increases. This meteorological phenomenon occurs as moisture-laden wind moves up along Halla Mountain, forms clouds and turns to rain. In Jeju, the regions with much precipitation are mostly located in the southeastern area of Halla Mountain.
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Weather pattern of April and May in Jeju caused by the wind from the southeast
As a whole, Korea is under the influence of westerlies. From April to May, however, Jeju is mainly affected by southeasterly winds. When this humid wind blowing from the southeast reaches the bottom of Halla Mountain, it rises up along the mountain and forms rain. Then clouds without rain move over the Seogwang Tea Garden. Also, since the tea garden is located at the lowest altitude among the tea gardens and there are no obstacles like mountains, even the wind from the southwest passes over Seogwang Tea Garden as clouds without forming any rain. As a result, the unique meteorological phenomenon, a lot of clouds but low precipitation, occurs frequently in the tea garden area.
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Seogwang Tea Garden with thick fog
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Average amount of sunshine in April & May (h/month)
Because of this phenomenon, the sunlight hours in Seogwang region are less than those of other parts of Jeju and other parts of the mainland, which ultimately affect the quality of the tea (You must have been quite lucky if you experienced a sunny and bright day in April or May at the OSULLOC Tea Museum of Seogwang Tea Garden).
If so, how does such weather with scant sunshine affect OSULLOC's tea? You may have heard of 'photosynthesis' in biology class back when you were in school. Unlike animals that derive energy from food they obtain while moving around, plants like tea plants cannot move, so they get the energy they need from the sun. Plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air into oxygen (O2) and the energy they need to survive. This process is called photosynthesis.
If so, how does such weather with scant sunshine affect OSULLOC's tea? You may have heard of 'photosynthesis' in biology class back when you were in school. Unlike animals that derive energy from food they obtain while moving around, plants like tea plants cannot move, so they get the energy they need from the sun. Plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air into oxygen (O2) and the energy they need to survive. This process is called photosynthesis.
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Plant's photosynthesis
Meanwhile, the action of photosynthesis takes place in chlorophyll, the pigment of plant leaves. This chlorophyll is a greenish colored substance that allows plants to have a greenish color. Since the fundamental energy of photosynthesis comes from sunlight, plants can hardly get any energy if they cannot get enough sunlight. And eventually they produce lots of chlorophyll in order to utilize scarce sunlight more effectively. As a result, the plants grown in an environment with insufficient sunlight tend to exhibit a darker green color. Likewise, as clouds formed by Halla Mountain and bracken rainy spell create natural shade from sunlight from April to May every year, Seogwang Tea Garden appears darker green than other tea gardens.
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Chloroplast and chlorophyll which create photosynthesis
2. The soil of Seogwang – The gift for diligent farmers from Jeju's nature
One day, while cultivating the tea garden and tending tea plants, OSULLOC's researchers discovered that there was a reason other than fog and clouds for the dark green color of tea leaves from Seogwang Tea Garden. The secret was its soil.
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Molecular model (left ) & formula (right ) of chlorophyll
I mentioned earlier about the chlorophyll that makes plants green. To make chlorophyll, a mineral called magnesium (Mg) is essential and must be present in the core area. That means, to produce more chlorophyll, a plant needs more magnesium. However, the mineral can be absorbed only from the root, so plants must take it from the soil. The soils of Jeju vary in color and shape depending on the geological period they formed and the soil composition. OSULLOC's tea gardens are very wide, so various soil layers and types exist for different areas even in the same garden.
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Diverse Soil Series of Seogwang Tea Garden
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Soil distribution in Seogwang Tea Garden
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Magnesium content in the soil of Seogwang Tea Garden (left ) / Abundant chlorophyll of tea leaves from Seogwang Tea Garden (right )
The soil series that is the most widely distributed throughout Seogwang Tea Garden is the dark brown soil called Jungmun series, which is rich in magnesium. The abundant magnesium in the soil of Seogwang Tea Garden is absorbed into tea plants through the roots, making the chlorophyll become a dark green color, and thus the chlorophyll makes the tea leaves of Seogwang Tea Garden more greenish. In the end, the deep green of Seogwang Tea Garden was another gift Jeju gave to the industrious farmers of OSULLOC who picked away the stones with their bare hands and cultivated the ground.
3. Technology and Care by People – Shading Cultivation & The Only Tea Powder Production Facility in Korea
OSULLOC studies the terroir story, but not just to understand the nature of Jeju. The true purpose is to fully understand the climate characteristics of the tea gardens caused by Halla Mountain and the sea around Jeju. Furthermore, based on the mysterious characteristics of the tea gardens, OSULLOC aims to provide our customers with specialized tea with outstanding quality. Therefore, OSULLOC has put forth the best science and sincerity that one can commit to the environment of Seogwang Tea Garden and sought to fully utilize the unique environment. The first effort is Shading Cultivation, which enhances color and taste to the highest level in the world.
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The green color of tea leaves becoming darker by shading cultivation
Can you see the darker color of tea leaves that are being cultivated by shading? In this way, Shading Cultivation makes the green light of tea leaves more vivid and helps produce the raw material of premium tea with enhanced flavor. OSULLOC's second effort is Korea's first tea powder production facility dedicated to preserving the color and nutrients of premium tea leaves for customers.
Unlike general leached tea which is produced through repeated roasting and mixing, the production process for tea powder has been minimized to convey the color and components of the tea leaves. So, for exclusive ingredients of tea powder, OSULLOC steam-roasts the tea leaves, cools them down with wind, lays them one by one on a net and let them dry quickly.
Unlike general leached tea which is produced through repeated roasting and mixing, the production process for tea powder has been minimized to convey the color and components of the tea leaves. So, for exclusive ingredients of tea powder, OSULLOC steam-roasts the tea leaves, cools them down with wind, lays them one by one on a net and let them dry quickly.
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Manufacturing process of tea powder and processed tea leaves dedicated for tea powder
4. Major Products of Seogwang Tea Garden – Ok Ro, Sejac Tea Powder
If the terroir with fog and soil in Seogwang Tea Garden is the gift from Jeju for the green tea leaves, diligent farmers and scientists add sincerity and science to the terroir to create a higher level of premium tea. Through double shading cultivation, OSULLOC cultivates premium teas with darker green leaves and richer flavor.
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Double shading tea garden dedicated to OSULLOC's Ok Ro
Premium Tea with Gorgeous Tea Color Raised in Shade – Ok Ro
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OSULLOC Ok Ro
To raise Ok Ro, a tea plant is covered with a double layer of black shade to keep it away from the glare of sunlight for 3 weeks when the first tea leaf comes out. With the shading cultivation, catechin/caffeine makes the bitter taste become reduced and the green chlorophyll increases, resulting in a color of tea that becomes a beautiful green leaf shade. The tea leaves then are steamed to deliver the rich flavor and nutrients and in a fine green color to customers.
Premium Tea Powder made with young green leaves – OSULLOC Sejac Tea Powder
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OSULLOC green tea powder in dark green color
This premium green tea powder is made by finely ground tea leaves which contain the freshness and cleanliness of Jeju. The low-temperature ripening adds a soft flavor and makes the time of tea drinking more enjoyable.
5. OSULLOC Tea Stone
In Korea, the extra-long weekend of May is just weeks away. Many of my friends are planning to visit Jeju Island during this holiday period. I would like to introduce one of the best tips to enjoy Jeju OSULLOC Tea Museum. It's known as 'Tea Stone' in the Tea Museum.
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The entrance of Jeju Tea Stone and its interior
Tea Stone, which resembles tea and ink stone, is an extraordinary space that you surely have never seen before. Here you can attend a tea class in the room with gorgeous scenery, try various kinds of teas and visit the Samdayeon tea aging cellar. You will definitely form unforgettable memories in this place. If you are visiting Jeju during the coming holidays, be sure to pay a visit and have a great experience at Tea Stone.
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