Home / Green / South Korea / Korean Sejak

Green tea · "Thin sparrow"

Korean Sejak

세작, Boseong green tea

7.5/10 editor's score

Korean green tea of the second spring pick, made from small, young leaves. Boseong, with the country's largest tea gardens, is its home.

SpringNuttyKorea
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Korean Sejak, top-down

What you need

2.5 g leafKorean Sejak
250 ml water70 to 80°C
Steep 1:003 steeps
LiquorPale yellow-green
Served inCeramic teapot and small cups

At a glance

Korean green tea of the second spring pick, made from small, young leaves.

CaffeineLow to medium~20 to 40 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit8.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestLate April to early MayBefore the "grain rain" around 20 April.
Pairs withRice cakes, Steamed vegetables, Kimchi pancakes (light)Less good with very spicy stews
Grown atTerraced hills near the south coastBoseong, South Jeolla
Served inCeramic teapot and small cupsKorean way of serving

About Korean Sejak

What sources say about the taste

Sources group Korean green tea by flush: earlier picks such as ujeon and sejak are the most delicate 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

BoseongSouth JeollaSOUTH KOREA
Grade
Sejak, "thin sparrow", second of four spring grades 1
Region
Boseong, Hadong and Jeju are famous for tea 1
Gardens
Boseong has Korea's largest tea gardens 2
Grades
Ujeon, sejak, jungjak, daejak 1

More from Boseong and South Korea.

History and culture

Boseong has grown green tea for many centuries and is called the green tea capital of Korea 2.

Editor's score

7.5/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 7.5Origin & heritage: 8.0Availability: 6.5Value: 7.5Beginner-friendliness: 8.5Versatility: 7.0Flavour 7.5Heritage 8.0Availability 6.5Value 7.5Beginners 8.5Versatility 7.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Korean Sejak~20 to 40 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Grades follow the spring picking calendar 1. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Camellia sinensis var. sinensis.

How it is made
01Plucking

Small young leaves.

02Pan-firing or steaming

Both styles exist.

03Rolling

Rolled and twisted.

04Drying

Dried gently.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafSmall, twisted dark green leaves.
LiquorPale yellow-green.
After steeping
Wet leafSmall, soft green leaves.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Rice cakes
  • Steamed vegetables
  • Kimchi pancakes (light)

Best avoided

  • Very spicy stews

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and smells.
  • Green tea fades fastest: aim to finish it within 3 to 6 months of opening.
  • Unopened sealed packs can go in the fridge. Let them reach room temperature before opening.
Grades and fakes

Ujeon (earliest), sejak, jungjak, daejak (latest) 1.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Look for the grade and harvest year.
  2. Hadong and Boseong are reliable origins.
FAQ
What does sejak mean?

"Thin sparrow", for the small young leaves 1.

Find it inGreen teasTeas from South KoreaBoseongSpringNuttyKorea

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Korean tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_tea
  2. Wikipedia, "Boseong County". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boseong_County
  3. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.