When people think of Mangwon-dong, they usually think about the delicious and trendy restaurants. They might think about the Mangwon Market. But definitely people are familiar with the treasure trove of cafes in the area.
One such cafe is a Korean Herbal Medicine cafe. Think of it like a pharmacy for your cafe needs.
Despite being open for only a short time, it has attracted many customers and established itself as an Instagram staple.
So let's take a deeper dive into this latest addition to the Mangwon-dong cafe scene.
The cafe, Yakchowon, is located on the corner of the street in a very easily accessible location.
Just go straight all the way from the alley of Mangwon Station Exit 2 and you'll find it directly across a 7-11, one black past the CU. It is easy to find.
Unlike ordinary cafes, this one is a Korean pharmacy cafe run by a Korean doctor. The drinks sold here are mainly traditional teas.
Those who want to drink cold and sweet drinks may not find this place suitable. But if you want to take a break from traditional cafe menus and, come here.
Follow the map and you will see a semi-underground herb garden, a coffee shop, a pharmacy, and a pharmacist with a Korean medical license who runs the coffee shop here.
Isn’t it amazing?! If you really need to buy medicine, you can acquire some simple over-the-counter ones such as cold medicine and digestive medicine, which is quite convenient.
Inside, there is a very natural and fragrant smell, and the atmosphere in the store is quite comfortable. The soft, yellow light makes people feel relaxed and refreshed.
Also, you can see people with their adorable dogs int he cafe. It's very pet-friendly, so be aware of that if you have any allergies.
As for the drinks, Yakchowon sells Korean traditional drinks such as Ssanghwa tea, Omija tea, and various herbal ones like peppermint.
They are also sold in bags like real medicines ready for a vein drip. They can be bought directly or taken out and poured directly at home.
You can have it heated when you order it (It is suggested to drink most herbal teas hot) or microwave it at home.
The description for the Ssanghwa Tea · 쌍화뱅쇼 (₩3,500) reads thus: A traditional medicinal tea made by adding honey, grapes and other materials to 9 kinds of medicinal materials.
The body heats from the inside out to drive away the cold. It is a tonic for autumn and winter, or a drink you can drink when you catch a cold.
For people who don't like to rely on medicine when they are sick, drinking tea like this can be an effective way to drive away illness.
Even if you think it's not genuine, reading labels like that enough times can give you a placebo effect strong enough to drive away any illness that you might have.
So I would suggest trying it at least once in your life to experience the depth of traditional herbal medicine that can be discovered easily and cheaply.
The above is the Ssanghwa tea served alongside a hearty and warm sweet potato and apple.
Originally, Ssanghwa was a very bitter tea akin to coffee, so the shop infuses honey and grapes to the traditional medicinal mix. This makes it much sweeter and more enjoyable.
When people think of "medicine" or even "herbal remedy," they probably don't think that it can be sweet or tasty.
But this shop has gone above and beyond to make its drinks much more palatable and enjoyable at any time of the day alongside any meal or snack.
There is a balance to each beverage that leverages medicinal value, aroma, and taste wonderfully.
I know what you might be thinking. A sweet potato in a cafe? That's a little strange.
But actually, sweet potatoes themselves have quite a lot of health value as well and match up well with the idea of an "herb garden."
They are a staple of most gardens anyway and serve only to complement the medicinal value of the teas.
One feature of the herb garden is that the desserts are changed according to the season. In the cold winter, the warm, roasted sweet potatoes filled with cream and fresh fruit slices are a perfectly hearty addition to the tea.
Compared to cakes that are generally burdensome and serve only to satisfy our sugar addictions, this kind of healthy vegetable and fruit dish feels more special and in-line with the atmosphere of a "healthy cafe."
In the summer, the desserts offered were seasonal fruits such as watermelon and peaches.
But you can drinks all year-round that feature fruits such as kiwi, which is a powerhouse of healthy vitamins and minerals.
When corona begins to wind down and people are more free to move around freely, I would strongly suggest a visit here.
Or, if you're already in the neighborhood, it can be a great pit-stop this Winter season as we all try to stay warm and healthy.
INFORMATION
Address: 서울 마포구 망원로6길 50 B1
Hours:
Thu-Sun: 12:00-18:00
Pet Friendly
Special Remarks: There are a lot of different websites and blogs listing different opening hours. But the store itself said that the above hours are correct.
