The Korean Citrus Drink I Always Stock up on at Costco

I've never been much of a January person. In fact I hate January—it's a terrible month! As a summer baby, I'll take long warm days over cold days and I prefer that rays of sunshine kiss my face the moment I wake up.

Now, as a person who lives in an area with four seasons, endless summer isn't really something I can have. Winters are a dull, dry and lifeless period of time where I'm on energy-saving mode, which requires stocking my kitchen with easy, soul-revivifying foods and beverages.

One such item for me is one of my favorite Korean grocery items from Costco: Korean honey citron and ginger tea, also known as yuja tea.

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What is Yuja Tea?

Yuja-cha, or yuja tea in English, is a traditional tea that's been consumed in Korea since the Joseon dynasty. The key ingredient for the tea is made by preserving the yuja citrus fruit (familiar to some as yuzu in Japanese) in sugar or honey to create a thick marmalade. The marmalade, or yuja-cheong, is mixed with hot water to make a comforting tea. Because the whole yuja fruit—the flesh and peel—is preserved, yuja tea is packed with essential oils, which provide tons of flavor and a punch of Vitamin C.

Related: What is a Sumo Citrus (Dekopon)? How to Eat This Orange

I was first introduced to yuja tea as a kid. It was what my parents brewed me whenever I caught a cold. I loved the sweet and puckery citrus flavor that hummed in a backdrop of honey, plus the bits of candied peel were fun to chew.

Because the yuja fruit is rather hard to source outside of Asia, many people in the diaspora opt to buy big jars of premade sticky tea marmalade from grocery stores such as Costco. Depending on your Costco stock, you may find two brands of yuja tea: Balance Grow and Vonbee. I have enjoyed both.

Related: Different Types of Tea: Everything You Need to Know

How to Prepare Yuja Tea

For every one cup (8 ounces) of water, I add two to three heaping tablespoons of the Korean honey citron and ginger tea. When it's not brutally cold out, you can catch me making an iced yuja tea sparkler. To make that, add two to three heaping tablespoons of the Korean honey citron and ginger tea followed by a handful of ice to a glass. Top it off with a can of sparkling water, like La Croix. I don't drink, but you can certainly add in a little booze if you'd like to spice up your drink a bit.

Related: 10 Best Green Teas to Drink, Ranked

Other Ways to Use Yuja Tea

Yuja tea is a great cozy drink, but you can use the ingredient in other fun ways. I love to use it as a marmalade on buttered toast or a scone, spread is on salmon or chicken for a quick and flavorful glaze, or whisk it into salad dressing. You can also use yuja-cha to sweeten and flavor your iced tea.

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