The tea fields
Green rows to the horizon.
Matt Kieffer — CC BY-SA 2.0 · LIUCKIM8 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 골뱅이 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Christian Bolz — CC BY-SA 4.0
A tea museum set among the Seogwang plantations, the largest green tea fields on Jeju, opened in 2001. Rows of clipped tea bushes stretch from the building to the horizon; the island's volcanic soil and heavy rain make it one of the best tea-growing areas in Korea. The museum is small and free: a hall on the history of Korean tea with old cups and teapots, a corner where leaves are roasted in front of visitors, and a rooftop deck over the fields. What most people come for is the café, with green teas of every kind and green tea ice cream, cakes and rolls, all from the estate's own crop. You may walk between the rows of tea in the field opposite the museum, the best-known photo spot here. The finest time is spring, from April to May, when the new leaves come out pale green and picking begins. The tea itself suits everyone; if you want to be sure about the desserts, ask about gelatine. It gets busy in the afternoon, so come in the morning if you can.
Green rows to the horizon.
Tea and ice cream from the estate.
A view over the plantations.
Seogwang-ri, Andeok, south-west Jeju Island
Yes, the museum and the fields are free; you pay only for what you order in the café and shop.