[CUP]
Yummy beverages that are also good for you

Organic ginger ale. By Ser Myo-ja

I used to drink about two liters of soda, mostly Coke, every day. My parents forbade me from drinking soft drinks during my childhood, so drinking soda used to mean adult freedom - until a few years ago.

During a recent annual health checkup, the nurse struggled to collect a blood sample from my arm, saying that I was probably dehydrated. I was forced to admit that all that Coke wasn’t really doing me much good, apart from giving me a daily sugar high (necessary for tight newsroom deadlines).

That’s when I began exploring the world of healthy beverages, and discovered Cafe Sukkara’s yummy handmade ginger ale.

The cold, golden brownish drink is served with a small jug of brown sugar syrup. I am accustomed to the taste of Canadian Dry Ginger Ale, and at first the drink seemed it needed more sparkle. But as I added the syrup and had a second sip, I was instantly hooked.

Cafe Sukkara’s main entrance.

The drink tasted truly gingery, and I never knew strong ginger could be so delicious. I also detected lemon, cinnamon and some other spices that add a tangy flavor.

Cafe Sukkara in Hongdae is run by a group of journalists who produce suッkara magazine, which writes about Korean culture for Japanese readers. The journalists also wanted to provide a taste of Japan’s culture to Korea so they opened this cafe.

Everything at Sukkara is organic, including its variety of Japanese-style cafe meals. The Okinawa-style taco rice is a bowl of rice topped with everything that goes into tacos, from ground pork to salsa (8,500 won), a new kind of taste that probably only exists in Okinawa.

Another inventive dish was the cream pasta made of soy milk (9,500 won), a rare vegetarian dish in Seoul.

The cafe’s curry rice (9,000 won) is my favorite dish. It comes with rice, a drumstick and soft, creamy yet deliciously spicy red curry, inspired by Indian cuisine, but with a twist of Japan.

Sukkara only serves fair trade coffee. It also has other kinds of organic teas and sweets such as tofu cheese cake.

On the cafe’s Web site (sukkara.co.kr), a list of organic ingredients that are used to create the delicious dishes and drinks is posted, giving assurances to skeptics including myself.

What’s good for your body truly tastes good.

Sukkara

Location: 1st flr., Sanullim Building, 327-9, Seogyo-dong, Mapo District

Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight (closed third Monday of the month)

Telephone: (02) 334-5919

[myoja@joongang.co.kr]