Quick facts
| Founded | 1950 in South Korea |
|---|---|
| Country | South Korea |
| Made by | Lotte Chilsung Beverage |
| Dietary status | Vegan-suitable; caffeine-free |
About Chilsung
Chilsung Cider was launched in 1950 in South Korea and is one of the longest-running domestic Korean beverages still in continuous production. The "Cider" in the name is a Korean usage for lemon-lime soda rather than apple cider (which is unfamiliar to most Korean drinkers), inherited from Japanese soft-drink naming conventions where "cider" became the generic term for clear lemon-lime sodas in the early 20th century. Lotte Chilsung Beverage, the producer, is named after the drink itself. The brand has consistently outsold Sprite and 7Up in Korea for decades, holding the dominant position in the Korean clear-soda category.
The Chilsung range we stock
Chilsung Cider variants in the standard Korean can and bottle formats.
| Variant | Profile |
|---|---|
| Chilsung Cider Original 250ml can | The 1950 lemon-lime original recipe. Clean, crisp, dry-ish citrus profile |
| Chilsung Cider 500ml bottle | Larger sharing format of the same recipe |
| Chilsung Cider Zero 250ml | Sugar-free version using sweeteners |
Ingredients and allergens
Standard Chilsung Cider contains carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, natural and artificial lemon-lime flavourings, sodium citrate and carbon dioxide. Vegan-suitable. Caffeine-free. Not formally halal certified but contains no obviously haram ingredients. The recipe profile is drier and less sweet than American Sprite or 7Up, which is often noted as a positive by drinkers who find Western lemon-lime sodas overly sweet. Always check the back of each individual can or bottle for the most accurate allergen and dietary information.
Who Chilsung is for
Korean food culture enthusiasts: Chilsung is the standard accompaniment to Korean fried chicken, Korean BBQ and spicier Korean dishes where the dry citrus profile cuts through fatty and spicy notes more effectively than sweeter sodas.
Drier-profile soda fans: shoppers who find Western Sprite and 7Up too sweet often prefer Chilsung's cleaner, less sugary recipe. The Zero version is the driest variant.
Pick-and-mix Asian drinks builders: Chilsung pairs naturally with Samyang Buldak ramen as the Korean drink-and-noodle pairing that locals favour.
Caffeine-free shoppers: Chilsung is caffeine-free, useful for evening drinking or for caffeine-sensitive households.
Buy Chilsung online in the UK
Build your basket from across the Chilsung range and our wider imported drinks selection to qualify for free UK delivery over £20. Chilsung pairs especially well with our Milkis Korean cream soda and Samyang Korean noodles for a Korean-themed build. Order before our daily cut-off for same-day dispatch.
Chilsung Cider: frequently asked questions
Is Chilsung Cider alcoholic?
No. Despite the "Cider" name, Chilsung is a non-alcoholic carbonated lemon-lime soft drink. The "Cider" usage comes from Korean and Japanese soft drink naming conventions where "cider" became the generic term for clear lemon-lime sodas in the early 20th century, rather than the apple-based alcoholic cider familiar to UK drinkers. There is no alcohol content in any Chilsung variant.
What's the difference between Chilsung and Sprite?
Both are clear lemon-lime sodas. Chilsung is meaningfully less sweet than Sprite, with a drier and cleaner citrus profile, and is the Korean domestic market leader (outselling Sprite in Korea). Sprite uses high fructose corn syrup in the US and sugar plus sweeteners in the UK, while Chilsung uses real sugar with a different citric-to-sweetness ratio. Korean food culture commonly pairs Chilsung with fried chicken and BBQ in the same role Sprite occupies in Western markets.
Who makes Chilsung Cider?
Chilsung Cider is made by Lotte Chilsung Beverage, the beverage division of South Korea's Lotte Group. The drink launched in 1950 and the company was named after its flagship product (the company's name translates loosely as "Lotte's Chilsung"). Lotte Chilsung also makes Milkis and various other Korean drinks.
Is Chilsung vegan?
Yes. Chilsung Cider is vegan-suitable across the range with no animal-derived ingredients. The recipe is also caffeine-free and contains no obvious haram ingredients, though it is not formally halal certified.