Neungiju

Description

Neungiju is a 13% ABV cheongju from Naeguk Brewing in Chungcheongnam-do, built on domestic rice and nuruk with neungi mushroom (Sarcodon aspratus) concentrate — a wild mushroom prized for its intense earthy aroma, even more pungent than songi. The neungi concentrate introduces a deep, almost truffle-adjacent earthiness that sets this apart from standard grain-forward cheongju. The nose is immediately distinctive: damp forest soil, dried porcini, and a faint smoky quality. On the palate, the body is medium-light and smooth, but the umami depth is substantial — it creates a long, savory finish that keeps unfolding well after the sip. The 375ml bottle encourages deliberate, mindful drinking. Serve at 10-13°C with songi-tang (pine mushroom soup) or galbi-tang where the rich bone broth's depth matches the drink's earthy backbone, or with tofu-based dishes where the mushroom note provides the savory counterpoint that plain tofu lacks.

Ingredients

Korean Rice, 능이농축액, Nuruk, Purified Water

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings