• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to footer-bottom navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kimchimari

Authentic Korean recipes even YOU can cook!

Free Korean BBQ Cookbook! TAP HERE to GET IT
POPULAR: our 10 takeout favorites
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube

Authentic Korean Recipes Anyone Can Cook

  • New to Korean cooking? Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Recipes by Alphabet
    • Latest on the Blog
  • Ingredients
    • Korean Ingredient Glossary
    • Pantry Essentials
    • Pantry – Beyond Essentials
    • Korean Ingredients in Depth
  • How To
    • Cooking Basics + Tips
    • Buy + Use
    • Meal Plan
    • Make from scratch
    • Korean Veg Garden
  • Travel
  • Videos
    • Video Recipes
    • Web Stories
  • About
    • About Me
    • Press Interviews and Mentions
  • New to Korean cooking? Start Here
  • Shop
  • Free Korean BBQ Cookbook! TAP HERE to GET IT
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
Home Fruits

Primary Sidebar

dried omija five flavor berries in white bowl

5 Flavor Berries (Omija)

Korean Name: 오미자

Romanization: Omija

Scientific Classification: Schisandra chinensis

Also Known As: Magnolia Berry, Schisandra Fruit

Flavor Profile/Texture:

Salty Sweet Sour Spicy Bitter

What are Five Flavor Berries (Omija) ?

Dried Omija (Five Flavor Berry) and Tea
Dried Omija (Five Flavor Berry) and Tea

The 5 Flavor Berry or Omija 오미자 grows on the plant called Magnolia Vine that is native to the forests of Northern China, but are also found growing in Korean forests. It is a common ingredient in Korean traditional medicine, where each of the 5 flavors is said to be connected to 5 organs of the body.

"Omi" means "five flavors" - salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter. Omija is also considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs of Eastern Medicine.

In Korea, because of its beautiful ruby color, it is often used as coloring to foods like rice cakes or pickled radish. Dried Schisandra is used to brew tea(omija-cha) or fresh Omija berries are made into Omija Cheong 오미자청 (syrup) and used to make ice cold drinks with it.

However, outside of Korea, it's very difficult to find fresh and are only available in dried form.

Not To Be Confused With

Goji berries

Where and What To Buy

Korean or Asian grocery store, online and Amazon

How to Use/Cook

Dried Omija (five flavor berries) are used to make hot or ice tea. Fresh Omija berries are used to make Omija Cheong which is syrup made from sugar and berries - very similar to how Maesil Syrup is made where the berries and sugar are left to ferment for 100 days.

Because of the vivid ruby color (similar to hibiscus), it is also often used as coloring. Especially for making Omija Dasik and rice cakes.

How to Clean/Store

Store in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container

Nutrition/Health Info

Although there is not a lot of scientific research to support the claims, in Eastern Medicine, Omija berries have long been known to be good for the liver, lower high blood pressure, help with respiratory disorders.

Recipes that use it:

Matcha Green Tea and Omija Cookies (Dasik)

Korean Tea Cookies (Dasik) for Lunar New Year (White Sesame, Black Sesame, Green Tea, Sesame)

Korean Tea Cookies (Dasik) for Lunar New Year

References:

  • Benifits of Schisandra - https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-schisandra-89075#:~:text=The%20berry%20itself%20is%20often,heart%2C%20kidneys%2C%20and%20spleen.
  • Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schisandra_chinensis
Korean Ingredient Glossary!

Learn about over 100 popular Korean ingredients in our new ingredient glossary!

Explore Ingredients
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
featured on
ny times logo
  • COOK
    • Recipe Index
    • Pantry Items
    • Videos
  • LEARN
    • Starter Guide
    • Korean How To’s
    • Travel
join the kimchimari family
Receive Free Cookbook and New Recipes by Email
join now
  • Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled

free recipe ebook!

Join to get my FREE cookbook + monthly newsletters + recipe updates!

Thank you for subscribing!

You will receive an email shortly.