Because my parents have not returned to their motherland of South Korea since 1984, my husband & I wanted to ensure a memorable experience. The itinerary included a couple days on Jeju Island, which is about an hour long flight from Seoul (Gimpo Airport). As a green tea addict & K-beauty lover, I made sure to reserve a few hours at the O’sulloc green tea fields & Innisfree Jeju House! In spite of already having dealt with me acting as Korean drama princess on our first day, my parents still happily obliged.

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Prior to the wanderlust generation, Jeju Island has long been a popular holiday destination for Koreans, especially honeymooners. Even my parents flew to this little love haven to celebrate their new marriage! Over the years, Jeju Island has become a hot spot for seafood connoisseurs & avid hikers hoping to reach the country’s highest peak on Hallasan Mountain (한라산).

Until recently, I did not know that Jeju Island was also known for its green tea, called nokcha (녹차) in Korean. My interest piqued when I purchased a highly rated pressed powder from K-beauty brand, Innisfree (now one of my favorites!). They advertised the powder as containing natural minerals & mint originated straight from Jeju Island! For beauty junkies that are familiar with AmorePacific (parent company of Laneige & Etude) you may find it interesting to know they own Innisfree & O’sulloc as well!

History of O’sulloc (오설록)

Initially, the O’sulloc green tea farm originated from a rocky volcanic field back in 1979. After recognizing the value of the ecosystems & pristine lands of Jeju Island, O’sulloc founder, Jangwon Seo Seong-wan launched a project to grow a tea field called Dolsongi. With his ambitions to revive the Korean tea tradition that was slowly beginning to fade, O’sulloc was thus developed.

Today, O’sulloc is globally recognized for its advanced organic farming methods & the production of high quality teas. The company also maintains a signature fermentation process using Korean traditional paste extracts that have aged on Jeju island. Their premium teas have even won prestigious international tea contests every year for its palatable taste! You can learn more on their website here.

Why O’sulloc Green Tea?

Jeju Island is commonly referred to as the Hawaii of South Korea due to its subtropical climate. It has an average annual temperature of 60°F degrees & more than 72 inches of rainfall each year. Additionally, Jeju Island’s volcanic soil has a unique frothy texture that acts as a natural filter & helps purify underground water. Altogether, these properties provide ideal farming conditions for cleaner tea leaves.

It is no wonder O’sulloc is known as one of the top three major green tea fields in the world, following Mt. Fuji in Japan & Huangshan in China! Its never ending rows of vibrant verdant tea fields attract millions of visitors each year.

O’sulloc Green Tea Bestsellers

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O’sulloc Tea Museum (오설록 티 뮤지엄) & Tea Roastery

The O’sulloc Tea Museum opened on September 2001 with hopes to reinvigorate the Korean tea history & its tradition. Located right next to the Seogwang Tea Field (서광 다원), it creates a zen-like atmosphere with its minimalistic interior. Its large windows allows for an abundance of natural light while providing gorgeous views of the lush green landscapes. Looking at the building from a top-down perspective, one can see that the museum is actually shaped like a teacup!

As soon as you walk in, you will be greeted by beautiful displays of traditional tea wares & utensils treasured from the Three Kingdoms period. Exhibitions illustrate the history of tea drinking in Korea over the years. Further in, there are galleries of ceramic tea cups collected from all around the world including Japan, China, & even countries in Europe.

Once you reach the retail area, you will become immersed in tea heaven! For every flavor of tea, you can sample its aroma that is provided in a small vial. Because my sense of smell is not very keen, I took my time inhaling all the different scents! After my sniff test, I ended up purchasing approximately 110,000 KRW ($94.00) worth of teas & received a free full-size O’sulloc Green Tea Cleansing Foam!

Towards the back of the store is the tea roastery where you can taste freshly brewed tea. Here, you can also watch tea-masters work a special machine to roast & pack loose tea leaves into filter bags! For several minutes I stood in awe, as I watched the tea cycle over & over on the conveyor belts.

If you are interested in more photo opportunities, there is an observation deck upstairs that provides panoramic views of Sanbangsan Mountain (산방산) & the surrounding countryside. But because the crowds at the Tea House was only growing larger, we skipped the deck & hurriedly claimed a table for four.

O’sulloc Tea House (오설록 티 하우스)

While my husband stood in line at the O’sulloc Tea House, I perused the menu & was instantly overwhelmed by the beverage selection. There were a wide variety of premium loose-leaf teas, blended teas, herb teas, tea lattes, tea ‘ades, tea cocktails, & tea o’ freddos! The menu also included roll cakes &, of course, their famous green tea soft serve! However, if you need more substantial food, I recommend holding on to your appetite until you reach the Innisfree Green Cafe (discussed below).

If you are only staying on the mainland, have no worries! There are several branches of O’sulloc Tea Houses, as well as department stores, all across Seoul! After returning from Jeju Island, we happened upon one near the National Museum of Contemporary Art & treated ourselves to more green tea goodness. Despite how much I had already spent on tea souvenirs, I still had to check it out!

Innisfree Jeju House (이니스프리 제주 하우스)

In just a few years, K-beauty has quickly spread like wildfire all across the globe! After visiting South Korea this fall, I can now fully understand why this trend is so popular amongst women (& men)! Boasting clean, natural ingredients sourced from Jeju Island, Korean skincare & cosmetics promote flawless, glass-like skin that is fresh & dewy.

As opposed to other countries that view sun-kissed, tan skin as a sign of youth, Koreans have a different perspective on what is considered beautiful. You may have heard of the coveted 10-step K-beauty routine & it may seem a bit extreme. But incorporating several types of cleansers, sheet masks, essences, serums, & moisturizers really does promote healthier & brighter looking skin! Trust me, as I am a firm believer!

Innisfree launched their first line of products in 2000 & it featured O’sulloc green tea as its main ingredient. Their skincare now features other amazing ingredients such as Cica (Centella Asiatica Extract), an anti-oxidant that boosts microcirculation of the skin. Cica allows for better absorption of nutrients & vitamins as well as the skin’s ability to repair. After learning how Innisfree products were ideal for my itchy, sensitive skin, I purchased several goodies to try back home! The only downside I found to the Jeju House location was that they do not sell their cosmetics line here.

For a fun hands-on experience, you can take part in a natural soap-making workshop. You must first purchase a soap kit for 15,000 KRW ($12.75). There are three different scents to choose from: O’sulloc Green Tea, Hallabong (Jeju Tangerine), & Volcanic Pore. Following instructions on an iPad video, you can create your own soap masterpiece & decorate it using wooden stamps. We chose to pass on this activity as our stomachs began to growl again.

Top Innisfree Green Tea Korean Beauty Skincare

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Innisfree Green Cafe (이니스프리 그린 카페)

The second section of Innisfree Jeju House features the organic Green Cafe, where you can enjoy a lovely farm-to-table brunch. While my husband & parents enjoyed a meal of Instagram-worthy burgers, I treated myself to the Halla Mountain Cake. I was intrigued by the display that was shaped like Jeju Island’s iconic Hallasan. Its frosting depicted overflowing white lava & the chocolate scoria cookies as volcanic rocks! A cute concept, but much to my disappointment, the matcha was a little stale. Even more saddening, the cake cost me 10,000 KRW ($8.50)!

Attend a Brewing Class at Tea Stone (티 스톤)

Along the garden path between the O’sulloc Tea Museum & the Innisfree Jeju House, you will come across a glass building called Tea Stone. Established in 2013, they offer classes on how to properly brew tea & gain a greater appreciation for the culture. To participate, you must register online in advance, as they only allow up to 20 students at one time. Classes range from 20,000 ($17.00) to 30,000 KRW ($25.00), depending on the type of session. There are a lot of rules & restrictions, so I recommend checking out their website here first.

Would I Recommend a Visit to O’sulloc Green Tea Fields?

Truthfully, for those who have no interest in tea, the O’sulloc green tea fields may not be worth the 30 minute drive from Jeju City. The exhibits are not extensive enough to fulfill an entire day’s worth of activities. Plus, you can only have so many selfies frolicking in the tea fields. Since the museum is one of Jeju Island’s largest attractions, you may also feel pressured to purchase souvenirs & that can get pretty costly. Besides, you can enjoy the O’sulloc green tea specialties at any one of their Tea House branches located all over South Korea.

However, if you are a tea addict or even a K-beauty lover, I highly do recommend a visit to the O’sulloc green tea fields. As a promoter of green, eco-friendly living, I thoroughly enjoyed my time. I learned about the tea harvesting process & savored various types of teas. I even scored some green tea inspired beauty products that are exclusive to Jeju Island! Despite the crowds, it felt rejuvenating (& somewhat meditative) to spend a couple hours amongst all the rich greenery. Personally for me, exploring the tranquil tea fields was a nice break from the bustling city life of Seoul.

Common Korean Words & Phrases to Use on Jeju Island

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Angella’s Travel Tips

• The O’sulloc Tea Museum is open from 9:00am – 6:00pm, all year around. The Innisfree Jeju House is open from 9:00am – 7:00pm in the summer & 9:00am – 6:00pm in the winter. Hours may change due to poor weather conditions, so please check their website before planning a visit.
• Over the years, O’sulloc has gained a lot of traffic & several tour buses make it their first stop in the morning. As with other popular attractions, plan to arrive early as soon as it opens.
• Admission into the O’sulloc Tea Museum is free! However, expect to pay a little more than the local cafes for their food & drinks. Just remind yourself that you are paying for the high quality tea as well as the experience!

Address for O’sulloc Tea Museum: 15 Sinhwayeoksa-ro Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo city, Jeju-do

Phone number: 064-794-5312~3