The humble coffee - shots of espresso served over ice and diluted in water - has become South Korea's unofficial national drink, outselling its hot counterpart even in the dead of winter, according to Starbucks data.

Office worker Lee Ju-eun, bundled up in a puffer jacket to her ankles, shivers on a sidewalk in central Seoul clutching her iced coffee during the polar cold snap - down to -17 degrees - that hit on the city in January.

"I'm cold but I'm fine. I can take it," she breathes.

For his part, Lee Dae-hee, an accountant, tells AFP that he exclusively drinks frozen americanos because it is a faster and more effective dose of caffeine, which is essential in the work culture. "ppalli-ppalli!"

- quick quick!

- from South Korea.

“I quickly drink an iced americano to wake up and work,” says Mr. Lee, trying to protect his large cup of coffee from the snow as he rushes to his office after lunch.

Lee Dae-hee, accountant, drinks an iced americano, during an interview with AFP on a street in Seoul, January 26, 2023 in South Korea © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

"I'm not cold because I go straight to the office and I don't spend a lot of time outside."

"Ah-Ah"

On average, a South Korean consumes 353 cups a year, more than double the global average, according to a 2019 study by the Hyundai Research Institute.

Coffee culture has even spawned its own jargon.

Employee Lee Ju-eun holds a cup of iced americano during an interview with AFP on a street in Seoul, January 26, 2023 in South Korea © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

The ice-cold Americano is known as "Ah-Ah" and its die-hard drinkers are called "Eoljukah", a contraction of a new proverb proclaiming that they would freeze to death for their drink.

This trend was noticed by industry giant Starbucks Korea, which launched an "ice challenge" promotion in which "Eoljukah" customers received a larger coffee size for free if they ordered in sub-zero temperatures at the end of the month of January.

In 2022, frozen drinks accounted for 76% of total Starbucks banner sales in South Korea, according to the company.

Even during the January cold snap, they sold more frozen americanos - 54% - than hot drinks.

"The tendency of people to consume goods, food and beverages regardless of the weather seems to have become a new trend," Park Han-jo of Starbucks Korea told AFP.

Same story with independent cafes.

Kim Bum-soo, owner of a cafe in central Seoul, said about half of his coffee sales are iced Americanos year-round.

"It seems that Koreans prefer cold drinks," Kim told AFP, adding that foreign tourists, especially Chinese, tend to order hot tea even in summer.

Cafe owner Kim Bum-soo during an interview with AFP on January 26, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

The consumption of cold water and iced drinks is prohibited in traditional Chinese medicine.

However, "Koreans drink whatever they want, whether it's cold or hot outside," Kim says.

- Cold noodles -

According to him, one of the reasons why office workers in Seoul like frozen americanos could be that their workspaces are too hot and stuffy.

Jeong Jae-won, 30 and self-proclaimed "Eoljukah," agrees.

Office worker Jeong Jae-won holds a cup of iced americano during an interview with AFP on a street in Seoul, January 26, 2023 in South Korea © Jung Yeon-je / AFP

"It's hot in the office, so I'm going to drink it here," she said.

Office workers aren't the only ones who love this drink.

K-Pop superstar BTS's Suga is often pictured with an ice-cold americano in his hand, despite telling his fans he wants to cut down on his caffeine intake.

Overseas K-pop fans have long commented on NCT Dream's Jaemin's favorite dosage in online forums: eight shots of espresso served over ice.

South Korea's addiction to "Ah-Ah" may be linked to its cuisine, believes Jang Jun-woo, a food columnist who runs a tapas bar.

Foods such as naengmyun, noodle soup served with ice cubes, are an integral part of local tradition but are rarely seen elsewhere.

"Even in Japan, people don't really put ice cream in their cold udon noodles," Jang told AFP.

"Cold food culture is more extreme in Korea and this may explain the popularity and prevalence of iced coffee here."

© 2023 AFP