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Drink

Soju

Distilled Spirits

Soju is a clear distilled spirit that originated in Korea, traditionally made from rice, though modern mass-market soju is often distilled from other starches such as sweet potato, wheat or tapioca and diluted to a lower, more sessionable alcohol content than most other spirits. It is typically consumed neat in small shot glasses, often shared communally with food and accompanied by drinking customs and etiquette that carry real social weight in Korean culture. Soju is the most widely consumed distilled spirit in South Korea by volume and has become increasingly popular internationally alongside the broader global spread of Korean food and culture.

Facts
Earliest Documented Use, From (Year)
from 1200 1
Origin Period, From (Year)
1231 to 1259 1
Origin Region
Korea 1
Connections

Expresses Tradition

Uses Ingredient

Rice, Ingredients
In the Other Atlases

Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Sources
1. Soju - Wikipedia
  • Lead section
    The origin of soju dates back to 13th-century Goryeo. The Yuan Mongols acquired the technique of distilling arak from the Persians during their invasions of the Levant, Anatolia, and Persia, and in turn introduced it to the Korean Peninsula during the Mongol invasions of Korea (1231-1259).
  • History and production
    The origin of soju dates back to 13th-century Goryeo.
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