By Honorary Reporter Andrea Chavez Ruiz from Mexico

Photos = Asiaon Mart, Doksuri, Andrea Chavez Ruiz

Mexicans and Koreans don't have a lot in common, but one similarity between them is love of drinking. 

Though Mexicans are considered great drinkers and their booze is world famous like tequila, Corona beer and wine, I believe Koreans are No. 1 when it comes to prolific drinking. This is why the world's top-selling liquor brand is Jinro Soju, with sales in 2020 of 95.3 million cases, more than double its closest rival. This number might have surged in the last few years thanks to the global spread of Hallyu.

Jinro brand soju is the world's best-selling alcoholic drink. 

Today in Mexico, many online stores offer delivery of Korean products, and over the last two years, soju can be found at every 7-Eleven in the country. Other kinds of Korean booze are also available with a single click.

Makgeolli is considered less unhealthy than other alcoholic drinks thanks to its ingredients.

I was curious to try the booze I saw in the many K-dramas I've watched. So I bought a bottle of original soju (traditional clear liquor) and one of makgeolli (milky rice wine) plus ramyeon (instant noodles).

Soju tasted a bit like vodka to me, something I didn't expect, and it was also stronger than I thought. So I decided to prepare soju cocktails like the ones I saw on TikTok, and the combination of soju, yakult (probiotic beverage) and a bit of lemon soda was so good. I later mixed it with beer to make somaek, (soju plus maekju, or beer) and it tasted OK.

Makgeolli gave me a similar experience. This rice wine is said to have 100 times more nutritional fiber than any dietary drink and is good for treating constipation and cardiovascular disease. Surprisingly, however, I didn't like the taste but it wasn't strong and did have a strong fermented-type flavor. As I didn't want to throw the bottle away, I researched on the internet about how to make cocktails with it. I found out that clubs and restaurants in New York noticed the boom in the drink's popularity and gave it a modern twist by making cocktails with it. So I made a frozen mango-makgeolli cocktail and it was so delicious that I ended up finishing the bottle.

Bokbunja is traditional raspberry wine.

On a visit to the U.S., I realized how easy it is to find Korean alcoholic beverages there. I bought a small bottle of bokbunja (raspberry wine), and as a lover of sweet wine, I enjoyed it immediately. And the good news is that it's now available in Mexico. 

As a light drinker, I have yet to get drunk on soju, so I have no idea if the hangover is as bad as they say, and the same goes for makgeolli or bokbunja. But let's not forget that Korea also has a host of hangover cures.

kalhong617@korea.kr 

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.