Korean Ginseng Tea
Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) [1] has been used for millennia, and was first described as a medicinal herb in the Shen Nong Pharmacopoeia, written in China in 196 AD.
Because ginseng is referred to so frequently as a ‘magical cure-all’ and superior ‘health tonic’, when I saw this lovely box in a local Korean grocer, I thought to try it. Of course people in Asia have been enjoying this forever, and I have seen it referred to on occasion in K dramas. I was curious about the flavour, believing it would probably be bitter, but I was wrong; it has a lovely, slightly sweet scent and taste. When the granules are added to hot water they completely dissolve and froth up - like the head of a beer - and the colour is similar (see photos below).
Panax ginseng
Panax ginseng grows in mountainous areas in East Asia and Russia. It is highly cultivated now, but the wild version is considered quite threatened. It is on CITES Appendix II regarding international trade, but only for the Russian population.[2]
For the gardeners in Canada, Red ginseng (Panax ginseng) can be purchased from Richters Herbs, but only in bulk form, not for planting. They do offer seeds though for American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) [3], and variously Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), and Java Ginseng (Talinum paniculatum). The latter two are not considered true ginseng however, belonging to difference genera.
As always, I recommend everyone do their own research before trying any new supplement, including tea. I share my tea experiences only for interest, not as a recommendation for any particular health benefit.
If you have a favourite tea that you would like to recommend I try, please share it in the comments section below.
[1] Panax ginseng is also variously referred to as Asian ginseng, Red ginseng, or Chinese ginseng.
[2] List of species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_species_protected_by_CITES_Appendix_II accessed Mar 27, 2025.
Panax ginseng - CITES https://cites.org/eng/taxonomy/term/8005
The IUCN Red List only shows one species of Panax - Panax zingiberensis (native to China) which is listed as Endangered - last assessed in 2004. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/46465/11058460 , accessed Mar 27, 2025.
[3] Panax quinquefolius is listed as Endangered in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and the “harvesting, possession, and export of wild American Ginseng in Canada is prohibited.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_ginseng It is listed on the Canadian Species at Risk Registry here: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/217-173
More information on Panax quinquefolius regarding its status and trade can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/factsheets/american-ginseng.html
Other Reference:
Potenza, MA, Montagnani, M., Santacroce, L., Charitos, IA, Bottalico, L (2023) Ancient herbal therapy: A brief history of Panax ginseng. Journal of Ginseng Research, Volume 47, Issue 3, May 2023, pp. 359-365, ISSN 1226-8453, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2022.03.004
