Soju is a national drink, and a big part of Korean culture, so it’s no surprise that there are a ton of varieties of soju. But every soju drinker knows that the flavor of soju depends on the type of fruit that’s been used as a flavoring agent. There are few more popular flavored soju options available than strawberry soju.
What is strawberry soju?
As you might have guessed from the name, it’s a type of soju that is flavored with strawberry, and as a result, it has a strawberry flavor.
As one of several types of flavored soju on the market, it’s popular with many people who don’t want their soju to taste purely of alcohol.
It is also popular with people who don’t like the taste of alcohol, but still want to drink on a night out with their friends.
How does strawberry soju taste?
Shock, horror – strawberry soju tastes of strawberry. The most popular variety, made by Jinro Chamisul, includes both strawberry flavorings and concentrated strawberry juice in the ingredients, for that strong, sweet strawberry taste.
Of course, the main part of any variety of soju is still the alcohol, so there’s a definite boozy taste underneath the fruity top notes.
But don’t just take our word for it. Amazon reviewers have said that Jinro Chamisul’s strawberry soju has a “very strong strawberry smell and taste”, and tastes “amazing”.
We’ve written before about how soju tastes, in case you want to make sure before you try it, and you can read that here.
How do you drink strawberry soju?
Strawberry soju is most commonly drunk neat. With Korea’s drinkers tending to drink soju in shots, served chilled and poured straight into a shot glass, this is no exception.
Of course, the flavor profile of strawberry soju, with additional fruity sweetness compared to Original or Fresh varieties, gives you more options than just drinking it straight up.
Why not try using it to make a cocktail? We’ve listed some of our favorite recipes below – but do let us know if you have any other great recipes we haven’t listed!
Strawberry soju and Yakult
OK, this one ranks fairly high on the ‘easy and straightforward’ list when it comes to making a cocktail.
But with soju and Yakult being a popular simple cocktail, why not use strawberry soju when making this trendy drink, for an extra fruity twist on a favorite?
Warning: these are incredibly easy to drink, so treat with caution.
If you want to learn more about soju and Yakult cocktails, we’ve written about them in further detail here.
Strawberry soju daiquiri
With cocktail drinking growing in popularity worldwide, but particularly in Korea where sharing a bottle of soju (or five) was the cultural norm, why not try this version of an old favourite?
Daiquiris are particularly popular in the summer, as they’re best served chilled. The good news is, so is soju! That’s why it makes particular sense to swap in the traditional rum for a shot or two of strawberry soju.
You’ll also need sugar syrup, lime juice, strawberries (either frozen or fresh is fine), as well as ice if you want the frozen variety.
Simply blend together 2 oz of soju, 1 oz of sugar syrup, half oz of lime juice and as many strawberries as you fancy. If you’re serving more than just yourself, simply up the quantities of the ingredients accordingly.
If you’re a fan of strawberries – and perhaps that’s why you’re here – this is definitely the recipe for you.
How much alcohol is in strawberry soju?
As we’ve said above, the most popular brand of strawberry soju on the market is Jinro’s Chamisul brand. Their version of this spirit weighs in at 13% abv.
Chamisul is a pretty popular brand in Korea, and they’re a big seller in bars and liquor stores.
Indeed, according to Statista, Chamisul are the most popular soju variety in Korea as of July 2021, with nearly 30% of South Korean drinkers preferring Jinro’s flagship brand.
However, if you fancy an alternative, you can also regularly find Lotte’s Chum Churum’s version in bars and liquor stores. Chum Churum, or ‘Like The First Time’, comes in at a slightly lower alcohol content, at 12% abv.
Both brands are normally sold in 360ml bottles.
If you want to read more about the alcohol content of different types of soju, click here to find our complete guide.
Where to buy strawberry soju? Where can I find strawberry soju near me?
The good news if you’re in Seoul or elsewhere in South Korea, the answer is – pretty much everywhere! Lots of bars and liquor stores stock a range of Original, Fresh, and flavored soju,.
This ubiquity is one of the reasons why soju can be found so cheaply in Korea, which we’ve written about here.
However, I suspect you already know that if you’re in Korea.
If you’re based in the US, and you’ve not got a local Korean supermarket, you might want to try Warehouse Wines and Spirits who stock Jinro’s strawberry soju.
In the UK, it’s a bit easier to get hold of. In particular, Amazon stock both the Jinro and Chum Churum strawberry varieties.
There are also plenty of other Korean and Far East specialist retailers in the UK, such as Starry Mart and Oriental Mart, where you can source strawberry soju as well as lots of other sorts of flavored and regular soju.