Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LDJS]

It's like marmite; you either do it to excess or you don't do it at all.

I have a love / hate relationship with the devil's own water.

I hate it. It tastes like nail polish remover. Has given me the worst hangovers of my life, ones where I've been in my bed alll day long begging for the merciful release of death.

BUT! Mix it with (for me) coca cola and you have - shazaam! - a vodka coke substitute that gets you more drunk despite being half as strong and costs literally around a tenth of the price! And its true what they say - nothing gives you that quick, airy, electric buzz that soju imparts.

But there are still those hangovers though.

I've noticed that the new O2 one is less heavy with the stomps to the cranium the next day, but it's still worse than a beer hangover.

So - how do you like your Toad Juice?

[Linda868]

I don't mind soju when it is made into a cocktail. My two favorites are:
1/3 yogurt (those little containers that have the foil)
1/3 cider
1/3 soju
You can't even taste the soju:)

or
2/3 cider
1 packet of lemonade (can find it Lotte Mart, they look like the coffee packets)
1/3 soju

[AsiaESLbound]

Not natural. Natural drinks are things like sugar palm toddy and Myanmar beer. You can drink those without hangover, because they are genuine food grade drinks. Soju is not food grade, it's altogether something badly artificial. One soju hangover is one too many.

[Rothbard]

Since when was vodka and coke a drink?

I usually wash it down with another beverage. At the moment it is "Dream of Ceylon" iced tea.

At the moment I've sworn off it. Gin & Tonic is cheap to make at home. At about 400won each, I'm sticking to those for now.

[LDJS]

[Louis VI]

I used to imbibe it with Korean friends over samgyopsal in restaurants.
These days I make them t-bone steaks and serve rum at home.

[interestedinhanguk]

I've gotten to the point where it doesn't taste much different from water for me. I don't like to think about it, but I could probably chug a bottle with very little problem. Strong enough to have an effect, not strong enough to make me wheeze (like vodka).

[peppermint]

I drank a little too much of it one night, and ever since, anything more than a sip is sufficient to make me puke for several hours. . .

[PatrickGHBusan]

Its good when mixed. There are interesting varieties of Soju that go well with Korean bbq.

[LDJS]

[discostu333]

Can anyone confirm or deny this story?

I heard that proper soju is made with rice, similarly to Japanese sake. During a rice shortage in the 70's or 80's, the Korean government allowed 'artificial' soju to be made from sweet potato mash, grain alcohol, and any other source of ethanol manufacturers could find.

The pure ethanol (essentially everclear) is diluted with water and artificial flavour. Hey presto - modern day soju. Apparently the recipe has never changed and the stuff you buy for a chon a bottle is nasty artificial slop.

[teachingld2004]

For the price of 1,000 - 1,456 won (the higher price at the local family mart)
soju is a great cleaner. My class room floor was filthy, and 2 bottles of soju later (not in me, 50% soju plus 50% water) the floor looked great.
I used one of those sponges that are dark green on one side and yellow on the other. Scrubbed with the green side, and rinsed with the yellow side.
I changed into my old clothes, moved the chairs and desks over, and 3 hours later I did a better job then the cleaning people could.
I do not want to get started on how all the other rooms but mine are washed, but I got sick of the filth and did it myself. Good job. Me and 2 bottles of Soju.

[Rothbard]

[interestedinhanguk]

[paulandsilas]

Soju isn't horrible, but it isn't the best thing either. Whoever said it tasted like nail polish, it didn't taste that way to me. My friend told me that before I drank it, I should be warned that it was very strong. LOL...not! It wasn't strong to me at all, and I rarely drink. I have the occasional social drink, but it was okay, like I said.