A female farmer picks mugwort in her field on Geomun Island, South Jeolla, which is one of the two most famous regions in Korea for the bitter green herb. By Kim Seong-ryong

Its name sounds like something out of a Harry Potter novel, and it could even be used to make one of the magical potions the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts would concoct, but mugwort, or suk in Korean, is actually a spring herb with a strong scent and a bitter and slightly pungent taste. 

When spring comes, mugwort sprouts all over the country, along walls and in rice paddies and fields. Traditionally, Korean women in rural areas would set out with a basket and pick mugwort leaves, a tradition that still survives in some areas.

The fresh young leaves of the mugwort plant are mostly used for cooking but it also has medicinal properties. 

Although mugwort can, and does, grow almost anywhere, island-grown mugwort is particularly popular throughout the country for its added nutritional and medicinal value.

The two islands in Korea that are the most famous regions for mugwort are Geomun Island, South Jeolla and Ganghwa Island, Incheon.


Mugwort concoctions

Mugwort can be used in a seemingly infinite number of ways. It is an ingredient in soup, banchan (side dishes), juice and tea. It can also be made into soap and cosmetics.

The herb can also be used to alleviate physical ailments. “Donguibogam,” a Korean medical encyclopedia from the Joseon Dynasty, describes mugwort as an “herb with a bitter, spicy taste that stimulates blood circulation and cures coldness in the lower abdomen. Mugwort doesn’t have poisons and can cure all diseases. It is especially good for the diseases of women and helps women bare children.”

Mugwort tea is good for allergies and ulcers. A mugwort bath helps with circulation and skin care. Moxibustion, in which heat is transferred to the body with a stick or cone, that uses mugwort is said to be effective in curing piles or athlete’s foot. 

Jeong Seon-ah, a researcher at the Ganghwa Agricultural Technology Service Center in Ganghwa County, Incheon, echoed the benefits of mugwort, saying it is “rich in calcium and Vitamins A and C. Mugwort improves the immune system and prevents flu. Recent research also indicates that mugwort works to prevent obesity, cancer and diabetes.”