Soju: Korea's iconic drink – history, varieties and how it is enjoyed

Green bottle, small glass and a familiar sight in Korean restaurants, films and series: Soju is firmly rooted in Korean food and drinking culture. At the same time, the drink has spread far beyond the borders of South Korea.

Alongside classic clear varieties, Soju is now also available with a range of fruit flavours. One of the best-known brands is JINRO with its Chamisul range. At looddl, you can find various varieties – from classic Chamisul Fresh and Original to Strawberry, Plum, Grapefruit, Green Grape, Peach and Lemon.

What exactly is Soju?

Soju is an alcoholic drink from Korea. Traditionally, Soju was distilled using grains such as rice as a base ingredient. Over the course of its history, different production methods and recipes developed.

Today, there is therefore no single type of Soju. Alongside classic clear varieties, you can find modern flavoured Sojus with fruit flavours. The products also differ considerably in their alcohol content.

What many varieties have in common is their clear appearance and the characteristic small bottle, which has become a well-known symbol of Korean drinking culture.

The history of Soju

Soju has a long history in Korea. Originally, it was a distilled spirit. Over the centuries, different regional production methods and styles developed.

Production changed considerably during the 20th century. Alongside traditionally distilled Soju, so-called diluted Soju became widespread, in which neutral alcohol is mixed with water to achieve the desired alcohol content. These lighter varieties now account for a large part of the Korean Soju market.

Soju thus developed from a traditional spirit into a drink closely associated with everyday Korean life and, in particular, with shared meals.

JINRO: a Korean brand with over 100 years of history

Anyone exploring Soju will find it difficult to overlook JINRO. The history of the brand dates back to 1924.

In 1998, JINRO introduced a new Soju line called Chamisul. One characteristic feature was filtration through bamboo charcoal. Since then, Chamisul has been continuously developed and expanded with new varieties.

Today, JINRO is well known far beyond Korea. According to the manufacturer, the brand has been ranked as the world's best-selling spirits brand by sales volume for many years.

Classic Soju: Fresh and Original

If you want to discover Soju in a form that is close to the classic modern style, the clear versions are a good place to start.

Chamisul Soju Fresh is clear and has no additional fruit flavour. It is therefore particularly suitable if you first want to discover the basic character of modern Korean Soju.

At looddl, you can also find Chamisul Soju Original. This variety has a higher alcohol content than the fruity Chamisul varieties and is therefore aimed more at those looking for a stronger Soju.

Fruity Soju: why are there so many varieties?

Alongside classic Soju, fruity varieties have become well established. The drink remains clear, while flavours and sweetness determine the individual character of each variety.

Strawberry, Plum and Grapefruit therefore differ not only through their labels, but above all in their aromas. The fruit varieties can be served neat, but can also be used for simple mixed drinks and cocktails.

Chamisul Strawberry

Chamisul Soju Strawberry combines Soju with strawberry flavour. Compared with the classic varieties, its fruity and sweet character is considerably more prominent.

Strawberry can be served chilled on its own or used as a base for simple drinks. It can also be combined with soda and notes of lemon or lime.

Chamisul Plum

Chamisul Soju Plum brings a fruity plum note. Compared with Strawberry, the aroma has a different character and offers another way to discover fruity Soju.

Plum can also be served chilled or used in simple long drinks.

Chamisul Grapefruit

If you prefer citrus notes, Chamisul Soju Grapefruit offers another option. The grapefruit flavour combines fruity notes with a slightly bitter character.

Grapefruit is an interesting base for simple Soju highballs with plenty of ice and soda.

More Chamisul varieties at looddl

Strawberry, Plum and Grapefruit are only part of the Chamisul selection. At looddl, you can also find additional flavours.

• Green Grape – with the flavour of green grapes
• Peach – with peach flavour
• Lemon – with lemon flavour
• Fresh – the clear variety without fruit flavour
• Original – a stronger classic variety

How is Soju enjoyed in Korea?

Soju is often served chilled in small glasses. During shared meals, a bottle is often placed in the middle of the table and shared.

There are various social traditions in Korea surrounding pouring and raising a glass. Courtesy and respect play an important role, particularly towards older people or those of higher social status.

If you visit Korea or eat with Korean friends, you may therefore see Soju being poured or received using both hands. How strictly these customs are followed, however, depends greatly on the situation, age and company.

What is Somaek?

Somaek combines the Korean terms for Soju and beer. It refers to a mixture of the two.

A smaller amount of Soju is combined with beer. There is no fixed mixing ratio, and it can vary according to personal taste.

Somaek is a good example of how Soju in Korea is not only enjoyed on its own, but is also part of various modern drinking customs.

Soju in cocktails

Beyond traditional ways of enjoying it, Soju can also be used as a cocktail ingredient. The fruity varieties in particular already bring their own flavour, making it possible to create drinks with just a few additional ingredients.

A simple combination is Soju with ice, soda and a matching citrus or fruit note. This allows the character of the respective Soju to remain recognisable while creating a light mixed drink.

Some combinations:

• Strawberry Soju: soda, ice and a little strawberry syrup
• Grapefruit Soju: soda, ice and grapefruit
• Lemon Soju: soda, ice and lemon
• Plum Soju: soda and ice
• Green Grape Soju: soda and fresh grapes as a garnish

What food goes well with Soju?

In Korea, Soju is often served with food. The term Anju refers to dishes eaten together with alcoholic drinks.

Which combination works best is, of course, a matter of taste. However, strong, spicy or fried dishes are particularly typical.

• Korean BBQ: Bulgogi, Samgyeopsal and other grilled dishes
• Fried Chicken: Korean fried chicken with various sauces
• Tteokbokki: spicy Korean rice cakes
• Kimchi: as a side dish or part of a dish
• Mandu: Korean dumplings
• Jeon: savoury Korean pancakes
• Ramyeon: particularly suitable for uncomplicated combinations at home

From Seoul to Switzerland

Soju is no longer found only in Korean restaurants and specialised Asian shops. The growing popularity of Korean cuisine and culture has helped make the drink increasingly visible in Switzerland as well.

Three of our Chamisul varieties are a good example: Strawberry, Plum and Grapefruit can now be found not only at looddl, but also in selected Coop stores. Availability may vary depending on the store.

This means that a drink which for many years was known mainly among fans of Korean cuisine has now also found its way into Swiss retail.

Soju and K-Culture

Soju's growing international recognition is also connected to the worldwide spread of Korean pop culture. In Korean films and series, the small green bottles regularly appear during restaurant visits, shared meals or gatherings after work.

As a result, many people first encounter Soju through K-Dramas or other Korean content before trying the drink themselves.

Anyone who then explores Korean cuisine in greater depth will quickly discover that Soju is rarely viewed in isolation, but is often part of a shared meal.

JINRO: the world's best-selling spirits brand

The scale of the Korean Soju market surprises many people. JINRO has been ranked for many years in international rankings as the world's best-selling spirits brand by sales volume.

The brand has existed since 1924 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. A Korean Soju producer has thus developed into an internationally recognised brand whose green bottles are now available in numerous countries.

Discover Soju at looddl

Whether you want to discover classic Soju or compare different fruit varieties, at looddl you will find a wide selection of JINRO and Chamisul Soju.

You can start with Fresh and then explore Strawberry, Plum, Grapefruit, Green Grape, Peach or Lemon – or simply choose the variety whose flavour appeals to you most.

And if you spot Strawberry, Plum or Grapefruit the next time you shop at Coop, you now know the story behind the small green bottle.

Best regards
your looddl Team