Hello, my dear readers! It’s so good to have you here today. This is my first alcohol recipe to share on my blog: the blueberry soju recipe. I am more of a social drinker and don’t drink regularly. But when I am with a good group of friends or at a family gathering (my parents love to order an alcoholic drink or two), I like to drink some. And because I am not a huge drinker, I love to get some good drinks, like this homemade blueberry soju. I think it’s so lovely to craft some drinks at home to enjoy with your loved ones!
Then should we get into the blueberry soju recipe you can enjoy drinking and making? Let’s go!
Introduction to Blueberry Soju Recipe
Pomegranate, grapefruit, peach, lemon, and blueberry sparkling soju from Joeunday.
Fruit Soju in Korea
Have you ever tried straight soju? They are as strong as wine, nearly 16% alcohol, and taste similar to vodka. It is the most popular type of alcohol in Korea. And as it doesn’t have a particular scent or flavor (other than alcoholic smell and taste, of course), it can go with any dish.
Then suddenly, around 2020, there came some fruit-flavored soju! They are like flavored vodka. They are sweet, flavored, sparkling, and usually have less alcohol, making them perfect for newbies to alcohol.
Blueberry and pomegranate soju from Joeunday.
Blueberry Soju
So you might have heard of blueberry soju from Joeunday Blueberry Sparkling Soju. The blueberry soju has a light blue color and has blueberry flavors.
I would say this is more like a soju cocktail than a blueberry soju though, as the alcohol is 7%, has sparkles, and tastes sweet.
Homemade Blueberry Soju Recipe
You might like the Joeunday Blueberry Sparkling Soju, but this tastes more like a cocktail or a blueberry-flavored drink. But what we are going to make is homemade blueberry soju with real blueberries that you can keep for a while because the soju can age nicely! This homemade liquor recipe is, in fact, how people make traditional liquor at home.
Are you excited to try this blueberry soju recipe? I am!
Other Popular Soju Recipes
Here are some other popular soju recipes in Korea. I want to share these recipes with you all as well!
- Yakult Soju: It’s a simple cocktail mixing a Korean drink, Yakult, and soju.
- Perilla Leaf Mojito: Instead of using regular mint, this recipe uses perilla leaf, which is a popular Korean herb, to make mojito.
- Misugaru Soju: Misugaru is powdered roasted grains in Korea, and people like to mix it with sweeteners and water or milk to drink. In this misugaru soju recipe, you use soju instead of water!
What do you think? Personally, I would love to try the Yakult Soju cocktail!
To Make the Best Blueberry Soju Recipe
Here are two important steps for making the best blueberry soju: store it and let it age.
1. Make Blueberry Cheong
First of all, we are going to make the blueberry cheong first. Then, from a blueberry cheong, we will add soju and let it do its magic for years to come.
Cheong is a Korean preservation method that mixes sugar with fresh fruits, often mashed.
Unlike jam, where you need to cook the fruits, you use fresh fruits to preserve with Cheong. That makes the fruit cheong taste fresher but lasts shorter than a jam. It’s also different from syrup, as you would let the sugar and fruit mix ferment when making Cheong.
We call Cheong a “fruit extract” in Korea.
You can learn more about the cheong and the blueberry cheong recipe below.
Blueberry Cheong Recipe | How to Make Korean Blueberry Syrup
Make raw Korean syrup with the superfood blueberries! Here is a versatile blueberry cheong recipe. It can be used for lots of desserts, drinks, and dishes.
2. Add Blueberry Extract
Lorann Oils Blueberry Bakery Emulsion
You can let the blueberry soju develop its flavor for years. But if you don’t have the time or the patience (I feel you), you can add a little bit of this blueberry flavoring to the fresh blueberry soju.
Health Benefits of Blueberries
We have all heard of blueberries as “superfoods.” So what kind of health benefits do blueberries have? Let’s find out!
- Anti-Aging & Anti-Cancer: Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables. This incredible amount of antioxidants in blueberries keeps us young and helps protect us from DNA damage and cancer development.
- Brain Health: Berries were known to improve brain functions. There has been a 6-year study of over 16,000 people who found links between berry consumption and delaying cognitive decline by up to 2.5 years!
- Muscle Recovery: A small study has found that eating blueberries may have played a role in faster muscle recovery.
Blueberries have many more health benefits, but these were the top ones I found very interesting!
How about a glass of homemade blueberry soju with friends and family?
Blueberry Soju | Korean Soju Recipe with Blueberry Cheong
Blueberry Soju Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Bottle for blueberry soju
Ingredients
To Wash Blueberries
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1 tsp Vinegar
Blueberry Soju Ingredients
- 7 oz Blueberries 200g
- 7 oz Sugar 200g
- 64 oz Soju, 16% alcohol 2 Liter
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice Optional, for flavor
- 1 tsp Blueberry flavoring Optional, see recommendation
Instructions
Washing the Blueberries
- In a washing bowl, put the blueberries. Sprinkle the baking soda on top of the blueberries.
- Add cold water to the bowl until the blueberries submerge. Then add vinegar. Mix.
- Lightly rub the blueberries in the water. Then take them out and rinse them thoroughly with running water.
Disinfecting the Glass Bottle
- In a pot, add water again. Take the glass bottle you want to put your blueberry cheong in and put it upside down.
- Slowly bring the water to a boil. Let the glass bottle be disinfected with boiling water. Once the water starts to boil, turn down the heat to medium-high. Let it boil for about 5 minutes.
- Take out the glass jar and let it completely dry.
Making Blueberry Soju
- Dab the water out of the blueberries. Let them dry completely.
- Put all the blueberries into the disinfected glass bottle. Pour the sugar inside. With a dry wooden spoon, mix the sugar and blueberries.
- Then start mashing the blueberries with the spoon so the blueberry juices ooze out and the sugar is well mixed.
- Optionally, you can add a tablespoon of lemon juice. It helps with preservation and enhances the flavor.
- Now you have made a blueberry cheong! Let it sit there in a dark, chilly place for a day until the sugar dissolves.
- The next day, pour the soju into the glass bottle. Your blueberry soju is ready! We recommend leaving it for at least a year to develop its flavor. But if you can’t wait, you can add a teaspoon of the blueberry flavoring to the fresh blueberry soju.
- Before serving, strain the blueberries with a fine mesh. Enjoy!
Summary of Blueberry Soju Recipe
I hope you enjoyed this blueberry soju recipe! The bitter taste of blueberry soju makes a beautiful harmony with the sweet, floral, fresh taste of blueberries. Inspired by the latest popular sparkling blueberry soju, this blueberry soju uses traditional brewing methods to make a drink that can be stored for years. The longer you let it sit, the more taste it develops.
I am not a huge drinker, but I enjoy having a special drink like this with people I love. I hope you follow this blueberry soju recipe and enjoy drinking with special people.
I will see you again with another delicious post soon!
Other Recipes You Might Be Interested In
Blueberry Latte Recipe | With Blueberry Cheong and Syrup
You can make blueberry latté with blueberry cheong and syrup. Or you can make some blueberry paste to make some delicious blueberry latté! Learn more.
Strawberry Cheong Recipe | For Korean Desserts and Drinks
Strawberry cheong is a great way to preserve fresh strawberries. It’s a versatile dish that can be used to make lots of desserts and drinks! Read more here.
Lemon Cheong Recipe | How to Make Korean Raw Lemon Syrup
This zesty, citrusy, and vibrant lemon cheong recipe can be used in many Korean cuisines! Learn how to make Korean raw lemon syrup packed with vitamin C.
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