aespa Sujeonggwa Cinnamon Punch (수정과)
Why this food?
Korea's ancient spiced punch — cinnamon and ginger steeped into a deep amber drink, served ice cold. The K-pop aesthetic drink that's been around for centuries. Like Korean chai, but bolder.
🇰🇷 K-Culture Tip
수정과 has been Korea's ceremonial punch for over 600 years — served at royal banquets, ancestral rites, and wedding ceremonies. The same spices (cinnamon, ginger) are central to Korean traditional medicine (한의학) for 'warming the body from within.' aespa's aesthetic of blending the ancient and futuristic makes this royal-court beverage a perfect visual and conceptual match.
Related Videos & Articles
Substitute Ingredients
All available at Walmart
| Original | Substitute |
|---|---|
Cinnamon sticks 계피 | Cinnamon sticks McCormick Whole sticks only — ground cinnamon turns the drink muddy Shop at Walmart |
Fresh ginger 생강 | Fresh ginger root Fresh ginger only — powdered ginger will not work Shop at Walmart |
Sugar 설탕 | Granulated white sugar Adjust to taste — sujeonggwa should be lightly sweet Shop at Walmart |
🛒 Can't find it at Walmart? Try a Korean grocery store
Your Shopping List
Walmart edition
- 3 sticks Cinnamon sticks
- 3 inches, sliced Fresh ginger root
- 1/3 cup Granulated white sugar
Instructions
- 1
Peel and slice 3 inches of fresh ginger into coins
- 2
Simmer ginger in 4 cups water for 20 minutes until deeply fragrant
- 3
Strain out ginger, add 3 cinnamon sticks to the liquid, simmer 10 more minutes
- 4
Stir in 1/3 cup sugar until dissolved, let cool completely
- 5
Refrigerate until cold — sujeonggwa is always served very cold
- 6
Serve in a cup with 2-3 raisins or a walnut floating on top (traditional garnish)
