Additional Blogs for Pumpkin Lovers
If you love pumpkin, here are some other blogs that will help you find tasty pumpkin treats that will delight you.
- 3 Fall Korean Foods for Pumpkin Lovers with Pyeongtaek Locations
- Pumpkin Spice Season in Pyeongtaek, South Korea
- Pumpkin Duck
What pumpkin drinks should I try in Pyeongtaek?
As mentioned in the previous blog 3 Fall Korean Foods for Pumpkin Lovers with Pyeongtaek Locations, hobak is the Korean word for pumpkin. Koreans love pumpkins in the fall as much as any American. Here are three pumpkin drinks you can find in South Korea to satiate your thirst for fall. They are best consumed while wearing a sweater and fluffy scarf and walking through the trees breathing in the cool fall air.
How are Korean pumpkin drinks different from western pumpkin drinks?
In South Korea, the pumpkin-flavored items are made with a Korean pumpkin generically called hobak. The Korean pumpkin has a strong flavor and tastes quite sweet. The difference in pumpkin creates a slightly different, richer flavor profile than western pumpkin lovers may expect.
The texture of Korean pumpkin drinks is often thicker than its North American counterparts. Koreans love a hearty texture to their drinks so pumpkin drinks (including coffee and lattes) may be slightly thinker than expected. It may feel like drinking soup at times.
Finally, let’s talk about Pumpkin Spice. Such a spicy flavor profile derives from North America and pumpkin drinks in Korea don’t often include such spices. In South Korea, you may find pumpkin drinks that include pumpkin spice near USA military bases such as Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Force base.
What pumpkin Korean pumpkin drinks should I try during the fall?
Although you might not be able to find pumpkin drinks that taste exactly like home, there are some pumpkin drinks that may help you with your home-sickness for familiar, fall flavors and connect you with the local culture. Finding Korean pumpkin drinks to fill in your Thanksgiving holiday void can be an amazing way to build a feeling of home. We now look forward to November rolling around so that we can have a big hobak latte (not spiced and no coffee) or a homemade pumpkin and spice latte near a military base.
1. Hobak-sikae 호박식혜
Hobak-sikae (shikae, shikye, sikye) is a very sweet and light drink made by boiling rice and hobak. This drink isn’t all that common so you do have to seek it out. This is the lightest of all the pumpkin drinks and super sweet. I repeat… it’s going to be VERY sweet… and delicious. It can be served cold or warm depending on the season and where you order it. Here is where you can try it near Pyeongtaek Station:
Pyeonghwadabang Cafe
0316538703
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A cafe with a variety of unique drink options.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 평택1로 10
2. Hobak latte 호박라떼
Hobak lattes are NOT pumpkin spice lattes. We can’t stress this enough. If you are going to enjoy a pumpkin latte you need to know that it will likely have no coffee or North American spice mix added. Like David Pumpkins, the Korean pumpkin latte is its own thing. Sometimes I’m a fan and sometimes I’m not. Every place I have tried the pumpkin latte it has been different. Some hobak lattes are thick and heavy while others are light and creamy. I recommend starting your pumpkin latte journey at this stunning cafe on the edge of a picturesque pond near Pyeongtaek:
Cafe Emerald Green
A stunning cafe next to a beautiful pond.
Hangul Address
경기 안성시 원곡면 칠곡호수길 22
3. Pumpkin Spice Latte
The pumpkin spice lattes in South Korea are quite a bit different than the ones in the states because they are often homemade. Attractive Coffee in Pyeongtaek is known for its sweet pumpkin spice latte that brings back memories of North America while also adding some local flavor. Their lattes are perfect for those with a sweet tooth and fall fetish. If you are in Sinjangdong you can grab pumpkin spice at Counting Stars starting around the 2nd week of September:
Counting Stars Bakery Cafe
031-662-7741
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
A pocket sized cafe with the best small-batch desserts around. The selection changes regularly and the cookies are the best in Korea.
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 쇼핑로 8-1
There are more pumpkin drinks in South Korea, so keep on the lookout.
Once you know what to look for, you can find hobak (pumpkin) hiding all around you ready to be discovered. Don’t be afraid to try it and see how it tastes. You will be surprised by what you find.
Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.
