Introduction
Lychee soju is a unique variety of flavored soju that is made with flavorings from the lychee fruit. If you’re a fan of this sweet, tangy fruit, you may think that you know everything there is to know about its plump, slightly tart flavors. But have you tried lychee soju? The flavor of this popular alcoholic beverage is certainly unique, but there is more to the story. Read on to find out more…
What is lychee soju?
Right now, this drink is all the rage in South Korea. Not only does it add a fantastic citrus note to the alcohol of Korea’s most popular alcoholic beverage, but it neutralises the strong alcoholic taste and makes it easier to drink.
But not everyone has heard of the lychee. It’s a fruit that belongs to the genus Litchi and is native to China. Lychees are starchier than a grapefruit and fuller-flavored than a tangerine. The flesh is a pale yellow, with a distinctive fragrance that can range from faint to intense depending on the variety.
The fruit itself isn’t typically used when the soju is distilled. Instead, flavoring is added along with the core ingredients of the drink, such as ethanol, rice and tapioca.
There are a number of varieties of lychee soju on the market, with a few distillers getting in on the action as the drink rises in popularity. The brewers Good Day, Chateul Soorok, Chuga and Damso have all produced their own take on the fruity booze.
Of these, Good Day’s is probably the most widely available – unsurprisingly, given that they’re one of the most popular soju brands in Korea.
Where to buy lychee soju
Depending on where you live, it will be less or more difficult to get your hands on.
South Korea
If you’re in South Korea, it will be easy peasy, as a liquor store or corner shop near you is almost certain to stock it.
The widespread availability of soju in Korea is one of the reasons that it’s so cheap there. To find out more reasons why, read more here.
However, if you’re based in other countries, it will depend on whether it’s been imported.
United States of America
In the United States, there are a number of importers that stock lychee soju. Wine Searcher have helpfully compiled a list of online stores that you can get hold of it from.
Australia
In Australia, RedBottle will sell you multiple bottles, or a case of, Chateul Soorok’s lychee soju.
Singapore
Meanwhile, in Singapore, Cold Storage and Lazada stock the Chuga brand option.
Lychee soju reviews
Lychee soju almost universally gets five star reviews from those that try it out.
If you check the stores listed above, you’ll see that most of them have customer ratings giving this delectable drink the maximum rating possible.
At RedBottle, Aussies describe Chateul Soorok’s variety as having a “classic tropical sweet flavour that packs a punch”.
Meanwhile, Singaporean consumers reviewing the Chuga option over at Lazada variously describe the beverage as “really nice and smooth”, “refreshing”, and “very yummy”.
In short – lychee soju is popular with nearly everyone that tries it. Why not be next?
Is lychee soju gluten free?
The good news for coeliacs is that lychee soju is gluten free.
Because there is no wheat in the distillation process – with lychee flavoring or extract added to the alcohol, which is distilled from rice, tapioca or sweet potato, depending on the brand – lychee soju is safe for coeliacs to drink.
However – and this will come as no surprise to those with allergies – it’s important to always double check the ingredients printed on the side of the bottle.
There’s always the possibility that wheat has been introduced into the process, perhaps as a replacement ingredient, or that the distiller will be unable to ensure that there is zero cross-contamination.
How many calories does lychee soju have?
Based on our calculations, an entire 375 millilitre (ml) bottle will contain around 400 calories.
This means that each 50 millilitre shot will contain in the region of 60 calories. This assumes you’re drinking out of a regular size Korean shot glass. You can read our guide to soju shot glasses here.
However, the stronger versions of the spirit – see below – will contain slightly more calories. That won’t make a significant difference if you’re just having a shot or two, but might add up over the course of an evening.
Want to learn more, or find out how we did the math? Click here to find out more about how many calories are in soju.
What is the alcohol content of lychee soju?
The alcohol content varies by brand. Some of the most popular brands have the following alcohol by volume (ABV) content:
- Good Day: 12.5%
- Chateul Soorok: 14%
- Chuga: 12%
- Damso: 14%
To find out more about the alcoholic content of soju, click here for our article all about it!
Does lychee soju expire?
Lychee soju does not expire. In fact, no soju actually has an expiry date. This is because, as we’ve mentioned above, soju is distilled. This means that it doesn’t have any ingredients that can go off.
If you’d like to read more about why soju doesn’t expire, you can do so by clicking right here.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this little guide on how to drink lychee soju. If you like the sound of the taste and are looking for something with a little sweet touch, why not try it out.
Even better, if you like the taste of regular Original soju, but the 20% alcohol content scares you, this unique variety has a lower alcohol content. Whatever you choose to do, there’s a soju for you out there and I hope this guide helps you find it.
1 thought on “Lychee soju is one of our favorites – find out why here…”
Comments are closed.