Hadong
Korea's oldest tea — wild seed-grown jaerae bushes giving a nutty, savoury-sweet green tea.
Hadong, in the foothills of Jirisan in South Gyeongsang Province, is the cradle of Korean tea. By tradition, tea was first planted here in 828 CE from seed brought from Tang China, and wild tea has grown in the Hwagae valley ever since — some bushes descend from plantings over 1,100 years old.
Hadong tea is largely wild, seed-grown native jaerae rather than clonally planted rows, which gives it a distinctive character — nutty, savoury-sweet and gentle, different from both Chinese and Japanese green teas. Hand-finished and graded by picking date (Ujeon before the spring rains, then Sejak), Hadong green tea is the spiritual and historical heart of Korea's artisan tea tradition.
Signature teas
- Hadong wild green tea (Ujeon, Sejak)
Tea types produced
Cultivars grown
- Korean Jaerae
Processing focus
Harvest seasons
- Spring (April-May)
Flavor signature
Notable producers & areas
- Hwagae Valley
- Ssanggyesa
- Jirisan slopes
Brands carrying Hadong tea
Brands in our directory that carry tea types this origin produces. Direct-sourcing brands shown first.