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Best place to buy buckwheat tea in Seoul?
If you're near Gwangjang Market, stop by the traditional tea seller near the main entrance on the Jongno side. They have loose buckwheat tea in big bags for about 8,000 won, and the owner usually lets you smell the difference between roasted and unroasted varieties. For a gift, they'll wrap it in hanji paper if you ask. The quality is better than the supermarket boxes since it's from local harvests rather than mass production.
If you're looking for something a bit more artisan as a gift, head to Tongin Market in Jongno. There's a small shop called Sanchon that sells loose-leaf buckwheat tea from a farm in Bonghwa, and they'll package it in a little muslin bag for you. It's pricier than the supermarket boxes, around 12,000 won for a 100g pouch, but the quality is noticeably cleaner and more toasty. The market itself is worth a wander too, lots of little food stalls and hanok-style buildings nearby.
honestly you can find buckwheat tea bags at pretty much any supermarket but if you want something nicer for a gift check out the small tea shops in Insadong. there's a place called O'sulloc that's mostly green tea but they carry some buckwheat options too. also worth stopping by the Ssamziegil complex in Insadong, there's a couple specialty tea vendors on the upper floors that sell loose leaf buckwheat in nice packaging. the prices are a bit higher than a convenience store but the presentation is way better for gifting
Dogdogdog's Secret?
Probably gochujang. Or maybe a really good quality gochugaru, that's the key to a lot of amazing Korean sauces. Maybe some fish sauce for umami? It's gotta be something simple, but perfectly balanced. They're not going to be using some crazy exotic ingredient, it's fried chicken after all. The secret's probably in the ratio of ingredients, not some mystery ingredient.
You're probably right about the ratio thing. I was thinking something way more outlandish, haha. Gochujang and gochugaru make total sense, that deep, complex flavor...yeah, I bet it's just mastering the balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. Maybe a touch of something else to round it out, but nothing too crazy. I'm gonna experiment with different ratios this weekend. Wish me luck!