Pumpkin tea for face puffiness, cold-brewed over ice: Preetea Hobaksu

Why I tried Preetea Hobaksu

Preetea Hobaksu is a pumpkin tea bag made from old pumpkin (neulgeun hobak), known as a "puffiness tea". You know those mornings when your eyelids feel heavy the moment you wake up, or the evening commute when your shoes feel too tight because your legs have swollen up? Fellow K-office workers, I know you feel me 😂 (= this is about me, haha)

Especially the day after spicy, salty food, the shape of my face in the mirror just collapses and I'm genuinely startled,, For busy, lazy modern people like me, I found a real cheat-code item for keeping daily condition in balance. It's Preetea Hobaksu 🙌

Honestly, I already love the nutty, mild flavor of pumpkin tea itself, so I've been a secret fan since childhood, effects or not. And when I heard this nutty stuff is supposedly great for tidying up body lines, how could I not try it 🤣

I also have many friends going through pregnancy and childbirth who struggle with pregnancy swelling and post-birth puffiness, so I'd had my eye on it. After trying it myself, I'm convinced it makes a light everyday gift, or a thoughtful gift for an expectant mum.

I heard it became famous as a pre-makeup routine drink for celebrities at salons in Cheongdam, and that it has finally landed at Olive Young as a recommended item, so I quickly gave it a go 😉 I filled my precious beer glass with ice and drank it brain-freeze cold, Korean "iced-coffee-in-winter" style. Here's my honest Preetea Hobaksu review, neatly briefed 💻✨

What is Preetea Hobaksu made of?

Preetea Hobaksu is said to be made only from 100% Korean old pumpkin, with no secondary ingredients. According to the brand, the formula was designed by the head tea master of a 5-star hotel 🎃

It's said to be a formula carefully developed after long research by the head tea master of a 5-star hotel. The point is that there's no secondary-ingredient mix: it's made honestly from 100% Korean old pumpkin, rich in potassium, said to help flush out sodium, and pectin, said to clear waste from the body.

Old pumpkin is warming, unlike red bean tea

Old pumpkin, the ingredient in Preetea Hobaksu, is traditionally known as a warming food. Many people drink red bean (pat) tea or other puffiness teas, but unlike cold-natured red beans, old pumpkin is warming, so people who are usually cold, or new mums who need to keep warm, can reportedly drink it comfortably, starting from the stomach.

It's also a zero-sugar, 0-calorie, caffeine-free, additive-free tea bag with no artificial sweeteners, so it works as an all-day water substitute instead of coffee. The brand also says the tea bag uses a natural-material PLA filter that passed tests showing no microplastics, heavy metals or lead, so pregnant women can enjoy it with peace of mind.

How does Preetea Hobaksu taste? Does it brew in cold water?

Preetea Hobaksu tasted deep and nutty with no fishy note, and it brewed well in cold water the moment I dropped it in. Some pumpkin teas taste watery or have a slightly fishy finish, and you get sick of them halfway through. Perhaps thanks to the brand's own roasting, Preetea Hobaksu had a deep, nutty flavor with the fishiness gone ✨

I usually prefer drinking things cold, so I filled a big beer glass with ice cubes, poured in cold water and dropped in a Preetea Hobaksu tea bag 🍵 Normally tea leaves just float around in cold water, but even in more than 1L of cold water, Preetea Hobaksu spread a clear, rich golden color right away and brewed nicely.

Take a brain-freezing sip and a clean, nutty aroma that tidies up your mouth lingers pleasantly all the way down. It's a light, mild taste, so it's an excellent spec for keeping up daily hydration and daily puffiness care at the same time 👍

My morning empty-stomach routine for puffiness

The writer drank Preetea Hobaksu at the office on an empty stomach in the morning instead of water, and felt their face line become more defined. As for why it's famous, there's a story that idols and actors are served this tea at makeup studios in Cheongdam to manage face-line puffiness right before makeup 💅

I too was always bummed by my puffy morning face, but after steadily drinking Preetea Hobaksu instead of water on an empty stomach at the office, I definitely noticed my line looking more defined. Even the day after a late-night binge on ramen or spicy tteokbokki, a cold glass of this puffiness tea kept me feeling lighter and fresher all day 🤤🍺

Who is Preetea Hobaksu recommended for?

I'd recommend Preetea Hobaksu to people who love salty, intense food, people who need a caffeine-free tea instead of coffee, and people wondering what to give an expectant mum.

• People who enjoy a spicy, indulgent food life and worry about feeling heavy
• People who need a body-friendly alternative to coffee for staying hydrated
• People who want to naturally take care of a collapsed face shape

If a friend's pregnancy news or the coming weekend has you looking for a thoughtful, classy gift for an expectant mum, do put Preetea Hobaksu in your cart. Have a dry, light day! 🎃🧡