Soju is a popular Korean alcoholic beverage with a rich history dating back to the 13th century. It can be made from a variety of ingredients, including rice, tapioca, sweet potato, wheat, barley and more but traditionally it is made from rice. Soju is colourless is typically consumed using one of four main drinking techniques.
Due to a rice shortage during the Korean war the government did not allow Soju to be made from rice. Tapioca and sweet potato were common replacements and remain the main ingredient for some of the green bottle Sojus on the market today. In the 1990s the ban on rice Soju was lifted and several premium brands emerged creating more traditional varieties made with 100% rice.
The Korean Wave
There has been an undeniable growth in worldwide Korean influence. The Korean series “Squid Game” was number one on Netflix for over 4 weeks. Bong Joon-Ho’s “Parasite” won the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival 2019 and Best Picture at the Oscars 2020. BTS was featured on Time Magazine’s international cover as “Next Generation Leaders”, named Time Magazine’s top 25 most influential people on the internet 2017-2019 and their “Dynamite” video was the first on YouTube to ever pass 100 million views in one day. Blackpink is the most followed girl group on Spotify, the most subscribed girl group, music act, and Asian act on YouTube, and the first music group with three videos to have over a billion views on YouTube.
While Korean media, restaurants, population, and general influence has grown dramatically in the west, the liquor industry has been slower to follow. That being said, Soju is quickly gaining popularity in restaurants and bars in the west with the emergence of new varieties, brands, and flavors. The giant Soju brands like Jinro, Chum Churum, and Good Day still hold a very strong position worldwide.
Why is Soju so Popular?
Soju has been the most sold alcoholic beverage in the world for decades and there are several reasons for its wide prevalence:
- Production process
- The manufacturing methods of the large distilleries are some of the most advanced spirit manufacturing methods in the world. Several large brands have factories are able to create thousands of Soju bottles per minute.
- Korean Prevalence
- Within Korea the vast majority of liquor consumed is Soju. This paired with the fact that, on average, Koreans drink more alcohol per person than any other country allows for very large sales numbers.
- Cheap Price
- The government in Korea subsidizes the cost of Soju within Korea to encourage its consumption over other types of spirits.
- Green Bottle Recycling
- You might notice that many of the largest brands share the same green bottles for their Soju. This is due to a recycling program that allows Soju companies to reuse any Soju bottle (after a deep cleaning). This allows the price of Soju to be even lower.
- Low Percentage Alcohol
- All around the world alcoholic beverages are trending towards lower proof spirits. With most mainstream original Sojus at between 16-25% and fruit Sojus between 12-14% Soju has been well positioned to take advantage of this trend.
In recent years due to the rise in Korea influence worldwide, Soju has become increasingly popular outside of Korea. It is now enjoyed in many different countries around the world, and it has become a popular drink at bars and restaurants. Fruit Soju in particular has become popular internationally and is immensely popular in South Asia. Many people are drawn to fruit Soju because of the wide variety of flavors and the versatility.
What Does Soju Taste Like?
Being that Soju is made from grains and starches much like Vodka, there can be a resemblance in the flavour between the two. However, most Sojus are a much lower ABV than Vodkas and include a very small amount of sugar, amino acids, and flavouring to make the drinking process as smooth as possible. In fact, many brands aim to make Soju taste as much like water as possible for the best drinking experience.
Soju VS Shochu
Both Japan and Korea have spirit offerings that, in some instances, can be quite similar. Shochu is a Japanese spirit that is made can be made from any starch much like Soju, but is commonly made with sweet potato while Soju is more often made with rice. The microorganisms used for the fermentation process are also different between the two spirits with Shochu using Koji and Soju using Nuruk.
How do you Drink Soju?
One of the most interesting aspects of Soju is its versatility. It can be enjoyed on its own, used as a drop shot in beer (somaek), or it can be mixed with other drinks to create a wide range of cocktails. The wide varieties of Soju available (ranging from 12% to 53%) allows one to use Soju in almost any type of mixed drink. Soju is also often used in traditional Korean cooking, and it is a key ingredient in many popular dishes.
Green bottles Sojus are typically chilled while more premium brands recommend drinking at room temperature.
Despite its popularity, Soju has faced some challenges in recent years. The rise of other spirits, such as vodka and gin, has led some people to question the relevance of Soju in today’s market. However, the rich history and cultural significance of Soju ensure that it will continue to be an important part of Korean culture for many years to come. Several larger brands like Jinro, Chum Churum, and Good Day are continuously innovating with new flavours (for example in 2021 Good Day launched a Chocolate Mint Soju flavour) to stay ahead of the current trends.
In general, Soju can be categorized as a Vodka made in Korea. Despite this broad categorization, Soju has a rich history and is a very culturally prevalent beverage.