In this regard, Dr. Jo Hui Sung of the History Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences told KCNA:

The Korean nation has cultivated tea plants and liked to drink tea from the period of the Three Kingdoms (early 3rd century B.C.-middle 7th century A.D.)

It is the Koryo period (918-1392) when tea plants had been cultivated on a nationwide scale.

At that time, a government office in charge of the production of tea leaves and their cooking and sale came into being with the development of the tea culture.

The Koryo tea was famous as a specialty and Koryo people paid a deep attention to teacups, together with taste and flavor of tea.

The tea culture was inherited by the Feudal Joson Dynasty (1392-1910). People in the period liked to drink infusion of various medicinal fruits, roots and leaves. According to a book published in the middle of the 19th century, typical of Koreans' favorite teas were chrysanthemum, insam, barley and ginger teas.

The tea culture of the nation has been further developed in the era of the Workers' Party.

Various kinds of teas like Unjong tea associated with the great leaders' love for the people are now served at public catering outlets and teahouses across the country.

Unjong tea has been cultivated in Kangryong County of South Hwanghae Province and Kosong County of Kangwon Province.