Would you try this traditional Korean makgeolli workshop in Wanju, near Jeonju?
Hi everyone!
I recently found a really interesting traditional alcohol workshop in Wanju, near Jeonju, and honestly it felt very different from typical tourist experiences in Korea.
It’s run by a young local brewing community that grows its own organically grown rice and makes traditional Korean alcohol using natural spring water from the mountains.
You can make makgeolli yourself, try filtering traditional Korean alcohol by hand, and learn how traditional Korean brewing works.
One thing I found especially interesting is that they don’t use artificial sweeteners at all. They only use rice, water, and nuruk, a traditional Korean fermentation ingredient similar to a natural yeast starter. Everything is made through slow fermentation and traditional brewing methods. I was surprised because the makgeolli tasted much cleaner and lighter than I expected. Some people even compare it more to natural wine than the sweet makgeolli they imagined before.
The part that looked the most fun is the makgeolli workshop using “ppongtwigi(뻥튀기), Korean puffed rice snacks. The funniest moment is when the person making the puffed rice suddenly shouts “Ppeong-i-yo!” and everyone immediately covers their ears waiting for the loud pop.
The brewery itself is tucked away deep in the countryside, surrounded by forests and winding mountain roads, so even the drive there feels peaceful and relaxing.
We are actually thinking about organizing a small meetup around June or July combining Jeonju travel with local experiences like this in Wanju for international residents and visitors. Would anyone actually be interested in joining something like this?
Samsandoga (삼산도가)
Naver Map: https://naver.me/FgET81dw
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MoJfN24BNHzZ6Gad8