Experience of Royal refreshments at the Saenggwabang in Gyeongbokgung palace
After walking around on Gyeongbokgung palace grounds, we sat down and had some tea and refreshments in the Saenggwabang. The Chinese characters of Saenggwabang mean "fresh fruit room" and it is the building, where they made tea and small snacks for the Royal family.
After ordering our teas and refreshments and paying at the cash register, we were taken to a large and beautifully decorated room. Before entering, you need to take off your shoes and leave them on the stone stair steps. There are no chairs and tables. You can just sit cross legged on the sitting pillows.
We were served by a waitress wearing traditional clothing for kitchen servants like the one that Dae Jang Geum wore in the Korean TV series Jewel in the Palace.
From the Royal tea range, we chose the Samgyulcha (ginseng and mandarin orange tea) with ginseng, mandarin orange peel, and jujube (5,000 won). It is a medicinal tea made from ginseng and mandarin orange peel and it is effective in boosting stamina and enhancing energy flows.
From the Fruit teas, we ordered 3 tea pots of Yujacha (yuzu tea) for 5,000 won each. It is a citrus fruit tea brewed in honey that helps to prevent flu and colds.
The Royal Confectionery platter has a variety of royal sweets and cookies, such as moyakgwa (square shaped, brown, fried dough pieces and colorful twists or bundles of strings covered with honey), junggwa (fruits and herb roots, such as lotus, glazed in honey or sugar), gangjeong (fried glutinous rice crackers with sesame seeds or stuffed with beans), and songpyeon (half moon shaped rice cakes often eaten during Chuseok). I was actually hoping for the round tteok with pretty dried flowers on top, but because I went around Chuseok, they were replaced by these pink, green, and brown songpyeon.
After ordering our teas and refreshments and paying at the cash register, we were taken to a large and beautifully decorated room. Before entering, you need to take off your shoes and leave them on the stone stair steps. There are no chairs and tables. You can just sit cross legged on the sitting pillows.
We were served by a waitress wearing traditional clothing for kitchen servants like the one that Dae Jang Geum wore in the Korean TV series Jewel in the Palace.
From the Royal tea range, we chose the Samgyulcha (ginseng and mandarin orange tea) with ginseng, mandarin orange peel, and jujube (5,000 won). It is a medicinal tea made from ginseng and mandarin orange peel and it is effective in boosting stamina and enhancing energy flows.
From the Fruit teas, we ordered 3 tea pots of Yujacha (yuzu tea) for 5,000 won each. It is a citrus fruit tea brewed in honey that helps to prevent flu and colds.
The Royal Confectionery platter has a variety of royal sweets and cookies, such as moyakgwa (square shaped, brown, fried dough pieces and colorful twists or bundles of strings covered with honey), junggwa (fruits and herb roots, such as lotus, glazed in honey or sugar), gangjeong (fried glutinous rice crackers with sesame seeds or stuffed with beans), and songpyeon (half moon shaped rice cakes often eaten during Chuseok). I was actually hoping for the round tteok with pretty dried flowers on top, but because I went around Chuseok, they were replaced by these pink, green, and brown songpyeon.
Royal Confectionery platter 20,000 won
Saenggwabang in Gyeongbokgung palaceAssorted teas: royal tea range and fruit teas 5,000 wonTraditional confectionary platter 10,000 wonRoyal confectionery platter 20,000 wonOpening hours: 10:00 - 17:00
