Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Green tea (nokcha) in South Korea is produced in a small set of well-known southern regions, with Boseong (Jeollanam-do), Hadong (Gyeongsangnam-do), and Jeju Island frequently referenced as key origins. The domestic market includes premium, seasonally timed first-harvest teas (e.g., ujeon) that are closely associated with spring plucking around the traditional solar term Gogu (around April 20). South Korea is also an active tea-import market, and imported tea/infusion-tea shipments may face strengthened controls, including MFDS inspection orders for certain origins. For market access, regulatory compliance risk is dominated by MFDS import-declaration/inspection requirements and conformance to Korean Food Code specifications (including heavy-metal limits for tea types).
Market RoleDomestic producer with active imports
Domestic RolePremium specialty beverage raw material with a distinct domestic origin segment (Boseong/Hadong/Jeju) alongside imported tea supply for broader consumption
SeasonalityPremium first-harvest green tea (ujeon) is associated with plucking before Gogu (around April 20), with broader spring harvest activity visible in key producing regions such as Boseong.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Green tea is classified as not fermented; Korean Customs notes green tea is made by heating young leaves, rolling, and drying.
Grades- Ujeon (first harvest before Gogu)
- Sejak
- Jungjak
- Daejak
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Tea cultivation in key regions (Boseong/Hadong/Jeju) → spring leaf plucking (including premium pre-Gogu harvest) → heat treatment/rolling/drying (green tea) → sorting/packaging → domestic distribution and limited export
Risks
Food Safety HighNon-compliance with MFDS import safety controls can block clearance or trigger enhanced scrutiny for tea products, including (i) conformance to Korean Food Code specifications for tea types (e.g., heavy-metal limits) and (ii) MFDS inspection-order regimes applied to higher-risk imported foods such as infusion tea designated for certain origins (e.g., China).Confirm MFDS foreign facility registration status before shipment, align the product’s tea type to the relevant Korean Food Code specifications, and maintain pre-shipment test documentation (e.g., heavy metals and relevant residues) that can be submitted immediately if the item/origin is under an MFDS inspection order.
Documentation Gap MediumMFDS requires pre-registration of overseas manufacturing facilities for exports to Korea; if pre-registration is not completed, the import declaration may be rejected.Complete and verify MFDS Imported Food Information Maru registrations (importer/foreign facility as applicable) before booking shipments, and ensure shipment paperwork consistently matches the registered facility and product details.
Seasonality MediumPremium Korean green tea supply is seasonal and closely tied to a short spring plucking window (e.g., ujeon harvested before Gogu around April 20), which can constrain availability and increase price/lead-time risk for origin-specific procurement.Contract volume early for spring harvest lots and qualify alternative Korean origins (Boseong/Hadong/Jeju) or product grades to reduce single-window supply exposure.
FAQ
Where are South Korea’s main green tea producing regions?Commonly referenced Korean green tea origins include Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do), Hadong-gun near Jirisan (Gyeongsangnam-do), and Jeju Island (including the Seogwang tea plantation area associated with O’sulloc).
What is the single biggest trade risk for green tea entering Korea?Failure to meet MFDS import-safety requirements can block clearance or trigger enhanced controls, including compliance with Korean Food Code specifications for tea types (e.g., heavy-metal limits) and, for certain origins/products, MFDS inspection orders that require safety test results before import declaration (infusion tea has been included for China in MFDS notices).
When is “ujeon” (first-harvest) Korean green tea typically picked?Ujeon is associated with tea leaves harvested before the solar term Gogu, which is around April 20; Korea.net’s Boseong photo report (Apr 19, 2021) describes harvesting the day before Gogu and calls it ujeon tea.