Christmas in Seoul | Ginger Lattes | Stollen and Snow | Coffee Montage Roastery

2017 is coming to an end and with its farewell we also say goodbye to sunshine and outdoorsy days in South Korea. It’s been beautiful to witness the landscape transform in to a winter wonderland. As I have mentioned previously, winter is usually one of fun in the sun for me. My home town is along the coast of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. With, the Indian Ocean running past it, we enjoy beautiful moderate weather.

December saw me wrapping up my first year in Korea, changing jobs as well as planning a trip to Vietnam. I felt homesick despite the environment not conjuring up the usually ‘Christmasy feel’ I get. So, I decided to embrace December in all of its frostiness and enjoy the wonderland on offer during Koreas winter. Here is how…

 

Step 1?

Christmas nails!!

Nothing feels more festive than bling bling Christmas Nails. I went to a nail Salon, Nail4U in Dongtan and got these gel beauties done.

Step 2?

Christmas desserts Christmas coffee..

I am not a fan of sweet syrupy lattes. There is however something about the taste and aroma of ginger that makes one feel instantly cosy and comforted. As far as I know, Korea does not have pumpkin spice lattes on its menu in Starbucks (no complaints from me as I don’t like the sickly sweet lattes) I recently found the MOST delicious ginger latte from one of Seoul’s leading coffee roasters, Coffee Montage. Their ginger syrup is more subtle than the chainstore lattes.  Christmas style lattes are usually made using flavoured milk and very little, if any, espresso. The combination of Coffee Montage’s spicy lite ginger syrup with the espresso was sublime.

Coffee Montage, is somewhat famous for their ‘pickiness’. This means that they are quite selective when it comes to they beans and roasts. There beans are bought from auctions at high prices, yet sold at reasonable prices. To test this theory I ordered an espresso and was totally blown away. I enjoyed reading this article from La Marzocco below, about how a good espresso should taste… Coffee Montage’s blend, Bitter Sweet, definitely hit the sweet spot. The espresso went well with a slice of Stollen. Stollen always makes me think of the European markets I’ve seen in movies. (They are on my bucket list!) I didn’t grow up eating Stollen, but the dried fruit and icing sugar in Stollen also always remind me of the Christmas mince pies I grew up eating around December. If you need some cheer this Christmas season in Seoul, I highly recommend a ginger latte from Coffee Montage.

Coffee Montage Adress:

Seoul, Gangdong-gu, Olympic-ro 48-gil, 23-12
서울시 강동구 성내동 555-5

Gangdong-gu Office Station (Line 8, Exit 3).

Directions: Walk straight and take the first left. Take your third left and walk until you see Coffee Montage on your right.

https://www.instagram.com/coffeemontage/

 

Step 3?

Family calls, christmas shopping! (and some more Christmas desserts)

Lotte department store in Jamsil is the perfect place to get your christmas shopping done. I merrily wondered around, got a few odds and ends, went crazy at H&M home, marvelled at the Lotte Tower and enjoyed a slice of Christmassy cake at Dore Dore. I called my family and had a mammoth chat whilst enjoying my dessert. I might not have been able to sit with them at that very moment but thank goodness for technology enabling us to connect virtually. The combination of family and cake? Yes please!

 

https://doredore.co.kr

Lotte Department Store Jamsil

240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul-si
(Line 2 Jamsil Station)
서울특별시 송파구 올림픽로 240 (잠실동)

So, what do you do to create Christmas cheer during December?

I hope that you and your family have a blessed Christmas season and that the new year brings wonderful new adventures and experiences for you. I have felt beyond blessed this year with Gods favour and protection! He has been blessing me all year around, and not only on Christmas. What an honour to have such a kind and caring Heavenly Father.