Walk into any Korean restaurant and look at the tables. Somewhere between the grilling meat and the side dishes, you’ll spot a small green bottle. That’s soju. Locals drink it at family dinners, office parties, and late-night street stalls, and the bottles are cheap enough that nobody thinks twice about ordering another. Known worldwide as Korean soju, it’s one of the best-selling spirits on the planet, and plenty of people outside Korea still haven’t tried it.

So what is it, how strong is it, and why does it matter so much to Korean drinking culture?

Soju: South Korea’s Spirit of ConnectionRead More »

When I lived in Eastern Europe, before moving to Canada, I had no idea that Canadian drinks came with such a variety of traditions. I knew the country was famous for its winters. I certainly did not imagine that learning about my new home would include discovering its wineries.

Good wine from the True North? That was a lovely surprise. Finding out about Ontario’s vineyards, especially in the Niagara region, made me realize how much my picture of Canada had left out. There were local wines to discover, distinctive spirits, and drinks with stories that reached into different parts of the country’s history.

Canadian Cheers: A Toast to Canada’s Traditional DrinksRead More »