Testing Korean Sikhye and Misutgaru Drinks from GS25 and CU

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The afternoon humidity in Seoul this week was hovering right around 34 degrees Celsius, so I ducked into the GS25 convenience store near my apartment in Mapo-gu to grab something icy. Usually, I fall back on an iced Americano in one of those plastic ice cups, but today I walked right past the espresso machine and headed straight for the bottom shelves of the drink fridge. Tucked right next to the canned green teas and banana milk were two traditional beverages every local in South Korea grows up drinking: sikhye and misutgaru. If you visit any convenience store here—whether it is GS25, CU, or 7-Eleven—you will find these classic beverages packaged up in modern cans, pouches, and bottles for quick grabbing. For international K-food fans browsing the aisles or shopping at an overseas Asian market, they can look a little mysterious. One has soft rice grains floating at the bottom of a golden amber liquid, while the other looks like a thick, beige roasted grain shake. Here is my honest rundown of what these traditional Korean sikhye and misutgaru drinks taste like, which branded options are worth your money, and how locals actually drink them.

What Are Sikhye and Misutgaru?

Before cracking open a can, it helps to understand what makes these two drinks so foundational to Korean culinary culture. They represent two completely different beverage categories: one is a fermented sweet rice malt drink, while the other is a multi-grain roasted power drink.

Sikhye (식혜) is a traditional sweet Korean rice drink made by pouring malt water onto cooked rice, allowing it to ferment at a gentle temperature until the starch breaks down into simple sugars. Once fermented, the liquid is boiled with a touch of sugar and often ginger, then chilled completely. The result is a light, golden liquid with a naturally sweet, malty grain profile and soft, floating cooked rice grains resting at the bottom.

Misutgaru (미숫가루), on the other hand, is a traditional Korean multi-grain powder drink. It is made by steaming, drying, roasting, and grinding a blend of anywhere from 7 to 20 different grains, beans, and seeds—typically including steamed barley, brown rice, white rice, soybeans, glutinous rice, black sesame, and job’s tears. When mixed with cold water or milk and sweetened with honey or condensed milk, it turns into a thick, nutty, intensely satisfying drink that Koreans have used for centuries as a quick breakfast or a hot-summer cooling meal substitute.

The Convenience Store Taste Test

1. Paldo Birrak Sikhye (팔도 비락식혜)

This is the undisputed icon of canned sikhye in Korea. If you ask any Seoul local to name a store-bought sweet rice drink, this yellow-and-green Paldo can is what pops into their head immediately. I grabbed a standard 238ml can from the GS25 fridge for around 1,200 won.

Taste & Texture: Pouring Paldo Birrak Sikhye into a clear glass, you will see a pale straw-colored, translucent liquid with a small cluster of tender white rice grains sinking to the bottom. The first sip gives you a clean, crisp sweetness with a distinct malted barley undertone. It is surprisingly refreshing, carrying a delicate herbal note from the barley malt extract. Compared to western soft drinks, it is far less syrupy than Coca-Cola or Dr Pepper, carrying a lighter body similar to iced apple juice or sweetened green tea.

Sweetness Level: Sweetness sits around a 6 out of 10. It is sweet, but not cloying, making it exceptionally easy to gulp down on a hot day.

How Locals Drink It: Paldo Birrak Sikhye is the ultimate post-meal digestive drink. In Korea, after eating a heavy meal of Korean BBQ, spicy army stew (budae jjigae), or fried chicken, people love finishing off with a cold sikhye because the natural malt enzymes are believed to soothe the stomach. It is also an absolute staple at Korean saunas (jjimjilbang), paired with hard-boiled smoked eggs.

2. GS25 YouUS Hand-Made Style Sikhye (GS25 유어스 수제식혜)

Convenience store private labels in Korea have taken off over the past few years, and GS25’s proprietary line (YouUS) offers a bottled, premium-style sikhye that claims to taste closer to homemade recipes. A 500ml bottle usually runs around 1,800 to 2,200 won depending on current promotions.

Taste & Texture: This bottled version has a noticeably darker, amber hue compared to the canned Paldo version. The taste is deeper and less artificially floral, with a stronger presence of warm ginger and toasted malt. You also get a much higher volume of cooked rice grains at the bottom. The texture feels slightly heavier in the mouth, giving it a more substantial, authentic feel.

Sweetness Level: Sweetness is slightly toned down to about a 5 out of 10, leaning heavier into the earthy malt and faint ginger warmth.

How Locals Drink It: People buy these bigger bottles to keep in their office fridge or bring home to pair with savory afternoon snacks like tteokbokki or savory mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok).

3. CU / Convenience Store Pouch Misutgaru Latte (미숫가루 라떼)

In the warmer months from May through September, every major convenience store chain in Korea fills its open ice chest with single-serve drink pouches. You grab a plastic cup filled with solid ice cubes from the freezer, buy a drink pouch, and pour it over the ice. Misutgaru lattes in pouch form are a massive hit for commuters.

Taste & Texture: This ready-to-drink misutgaru latte is pre-mixed with milk or dairy creamer and sugar. The taste is deeply roasted, creamy, and profoundly nutty. Think of it as a liquid combination of toasted oats, peanut butter, brown rice, and roasted soybeans. The texture is velvety but carries a microscopic, grainy grit that is characteristic of real ground grain drinks. It is smooth enough to sip easily through a straw without clogging.

Sweetness & Spice Level: Zero spice, of course. Sweetness lands around a 7 out of 10 because commercial misutgaru drinks use condensed milk or sugar to balance the naturally dry, bitter undertones of roasted barley and soybeans.

How Locals Drink It: Misutgaru pouch lattes are considered a rapid liquid meal. Office workers in Gangnam and Yeouido who skip breakfast frequently grab one on their morning walk from the subway to fuel up until lunch.

4. Damtuh 12-Grain Roasted Misutgaru Powder Sticks (담터 미숫가루)

While ready-to-drink options are everywhere, many Koreans still prefer mixing their misutgaru from dry powder packs. Damtuh and Ottogi dominate this market, sold both as individual stick pouches in convenience stores and in large boxes at supermarkets like E-Mart or Lotte Mart.

Taste & Texture: When prepared with cold milk and a couple of ice cubes (the way I strongly recommend), the flavor is infinitely richer than pre-mixed drink pouches. You get a bold, smoky, deeply satisfying grain aroma. You can taste the black sesame, barley, and roasted soybean flour distinctly. The texture is thick and hearty—almost like a thin smoothie.

Sweetness Level: Variable depending on how you mix it, but standard pre-sweetened stick packs land around a 5 out of 10 in sweetness, letting the nutty roasted grain flavor take center stage.

How Locals Drink It: At home, Koreans shake misutgaru powder with cold milk and a drizzle of real honey or maple syrup using a mini protein shaker cup. On sweltering midsummer afternoons, families pour sweet misutgaru over crushed ice to make an old-school grain shaved ice dessert.

Product Comparison Overview

Drink Name	Primary Flavor	Texture
Paldo Birrak Sikhye	Sweet barley malt, subtle ginger	Light, watery liquid with soft cooked rice
GS25 YouUS Sikhye	Deep malt, pronounced ginger	Medium body with generous rice grains
Store Pouch Misutgaru	Toasted cereal, milk, honey	Creamy, slightly micro-grainy latte
Damtuh Grain Sticks	Rich roasted soybean, black sesame	Thick, customizable smoothie-like texture

How to Get It Abroad

You do not need to fly to Seoul to sample Korean sikhye and misutgaru drinks. These classic beverages have expanded globally thanks to the global popularity of Korean food and convenience culture.

• H Mart and Local Asian Supermarkets: The refrigerated and beverage aisles of H Mart, Zion Market, or regional East Asian grocery stores almost always stock canned Paldo Birrak Sikhye in multi-packs. Look in the tea and instant beverage aisle for boxed Damtuh or Ottogi misutgaru stick packs.
• Amazon and Online Asian Grocers: Canned sikhye (Paldo and Lotte brands) is readily available on Amazon. Misutgaru powder sticks are also easy to order online; search for “Korean roasted multi-grain powder” or “Damtuh misutgaru.”
• Local Korean Restaurants: Many traditional Korean barbecue spots, porridge shops, and Korean saunas overseas serve house-made sikhye in chilled brass bowls at the end of a meal as a complimentary digestif.

Verdict

If you are looking for pure, sweet refreshment after a spicy meal like ramyun or buldak, canned Paldo Birrak Sikhye is an absolute must-try staple. It is light, thirst-quenching, and uniquely Korean. If you want something hearty, filling, and deeply nutty that functions as a delicious liquid snack or iced breakfast, grab a bottle of misutgaru latte or mix Damtuh grain powder with cold milk.

Overall Category Score: 9/10 — Traditional Korean convenience store drinks are high-quality, surprisingly nostalgic, and offer a fantastic break from standard sugary sodas.

FAQ

Are you supposed to eat the rice grains in sikhye?

Yes, absolutely. The soft, cooked rice grains at the bottom of the can or bottle are completely edible and considered an integral part of the sikhye experience. Give the can or bottle a gentle shake before opening so the rice mixes evenly into the liquid rather than staying stuck at the bottom.

Does misutgaru contain caffeine or dairy?

Traditional misutgaru powder is naturally caffeine-free because it is made purely from roasted grains, beans, and seeds (such as barley, brown rice, and soybeans). The dry powder packs are naturally dairy-free, but check the ingredient label as some commercial mix sticks include non-dairy creamer or milk powder. Ready-to-drink convenience store pouches almost always contain milk or creamer.

How do I mix misutgaru powder without it clumping?

Misutgaru powder is very fine and roasted, meaning it can clump easily if stirred lazily with a spoon in cold liquid. The best method is to use a protein shaker bottle or a handheld milk frother. Pour your cold milk or water into the shaker first, add the misutgaru powder on top, add ice cubes, and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds for a perfectly smooth, frothy grain latte.

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