Can Korean Pear Juice Really Cure A Hangover?

From popping hydration supplements to eating a pre-night out greasy meal, there are all sorts of tricks people swear by for preventing a hangover. But in Korea, pear juice has long been viewed as the ultimate hack for swerving alcohol-induced headaches. And now, we have our first British version of the drink, the recently launched Nashi Pear Juice, which is designed to ‘support alcohol metabolism and reduce hangover severity’. But are the claims founded?

Korean Pear Juice: Is This The Ultimate Hangover Cure?

What Is Korean Pear Juice?

Korean pear juice is a drink made from nashi pears, which are native to Korea, China and Japan. Also known as Asian pears, the nashi variety are rounder and more apple-shaped than European pears, and renowned for their crisp, juicy flavour. In Korea and other parts of the world, nashi pear juice is touted as a miracle drink which can help metabolise alcohol more quickly, reducing the severity of hangovers. 

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London-based sisters Taya and Lucy discovered the drink while living in Sydney. Upon returning to the UK, they noticed a gap in the market and decided to launch their own brand, Nashi Pear Juice. ‘We created Nashi because we believe life is for living, whether that means hitting the gym, enjoying time with family, or simply getting through the workday without a pounding headache,’ said Taya. ‘We’re not about encouraging excessive drinking – we’re about making it easier to enjoy a balanced lifestyle so you can have the night before and the morning after.’

The website instructs people to drink at least 220ml twenty minutes before consuming alcohol in order to feel fresh the next morning. But what does the science say?

 

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Does Korean Pear Juice Prevent Hangovers?

There are a few scientific studies to back up the claims. Back in 2013, researchers conducted a trial which saw half the participants drinking Korean pear juice before drinking 540ml of spirits alcohol, while the other half were given a placebo. Their blood and urine were tested over a 15-hour period, and reduced hangover symptoms were reported in the group who drank the pear juice, with scientists concluding the average hangover was reduced by 16 to 21 percent. There were noticeable improvements in factors like sensitivity to light, memory loss, and trouble concentrating – although the effectiveness varied depending on how each individual processed alcohol.

Australian researchers, meanwhile, looked into the nutritional benefits of Korean pears, pointing out an enzyme called dihydromyricetin, which can speed up alcohol metabolism. Interestingly, their study also found the toxin thought to be responsible for morning-after regret – as well as nausea, sweating and sickness – is reduced by Korean pear juice. 

So it seems knocking back a can of Nashi Pear Juice could reduce the symptoms of overdoing it on the cocktails. But ultimately, medical experts and nutritionists maintain that there’s no magic pill for preventing a hangover. Alcohol is a toxin, and if you drink too much of it, you’re going to feel it the next day. However, you could also try this nutritionist-approved hangover meal plan, or consider zebra striping: the buzzy drinking hack which involves chasing each alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic.