Food & Drink
Hadong Wild Tea Culture Center strengthens its role as Korea’s premier tea tourism hub
Haps Magazine Korea
October 28, 2025
(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
The Hadong Wild Tea Culture Center has recorded a remarkable 120% year-on-year revenue increase, reaffirming its position as the heart of the Hadong tea industry and a leading destination for tea tourism in Korea.
Located in Hwagae-myeon, Hadong, the birthplace of Korean tea, the center offers a blend of traditional and modern tea culture through its museum, experience hall, retail shop, and healing programs.
Visitors can immerse themselves in exhibitions, hands-on experiences, and a variety of tea-related activities designed to showcase Hadong’s centuries-old tea heritage.
This year, the center expanded its offerings with new experiences such as temple stays at Ssanggyesa Temple, prenatal tea retreats, and collaborative wellness programs with Kensington Resort.
These initiatives significantly boosted visitor satisfaction and repeat visits. Among the most popular attractions is the “Tea Sommelier” program, where guests taste and compare teas such as Hadong rock tea, Jaksal tea, and matcha with a local tea master, gaining insight into their aromas, flavors, and craftsmanship.
Healing programs like the green tea foot bath, known for its fatigue-relieving effects, continue to draw steady crowds, alongside meditation sessions, tea ceremonies, and creative activities like tea leaf dyeing and three-color tea blending.
The center’s family-friendly and international appeal has made it a year-round destination for visitors seeking both relaxation and cultural depth.
At “Tea Café Hadong,” the use of locally grown matcha has become a standout feature, with drinks like matcha lattes, strawberry matcha lattes, and matcha ice cream earning rave reviews from younger visitors and international tourists alike. The café’s creative menu has helped position it as one of Hadong’s must-visit spots.
The center’s tea shop, which collaborates with 37 local vendors, offers 348 varieties of teas and tea utensils. As of October, sales surpassed 157 million won, over 130% higher than last year’s 118 million won, reflecting strong consumer demand and the success of its competitive, quality-driven approach.
Overall revenue has grown from 237 million won last year to 286 million won this year, driven by the center’s focus on enriching experiences and diversifying programs. This growth has not only boosted the local economy but also enhanced Hadong’s reputation as the epicenter of Korean tea culture..
Further cementing its prestige, the Hadong Wild Tea Culture Center was recently selected as Gyeongsangnam-do’s only representative in the “2025 Excellent Wellness Tourism Destination” program by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.
The Hadong Wild Tea Culture Center (571-25, 27 Ssanggye-ro, Hwagae-myeon) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Mondays, with extended hours during peak tourist seasons and local festivals.