CJ Launches Happy Bean Fluffy Tofu Balls and Maxbong Grilled Skewer Bars

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] CJ CheilJedang announced on the 2nd that it has recently launched ‘Haengbokhan Kong Pokshin Pokshin Tofu Balls’ and ‘Maxbong Direct Flame Grilled Skewer Bar’ in response to the increased consumption of snacks at home, which are easy to eat and highly versatile for cooking.

‘Haengbokhan Kong Pokshin Pokshin Tofu Balls’ are made by shaping tofu and finely minced pollack meat into round balls. The outside is chewy with pollack meat, while the inside offers the soft texture of tofu. You can cook it in the microwave for 1 minute with the bag on, or if you prefer a crispier texture, cook it in an air fryer for about 5 minutes. Additionally, it can be used as an ingredient in dishes such as udon or tteokbokki instead of fish cakes, or in salads.

‘Maxbong Direct Flame Grilled Skewer Bar’ is grilled directly over an open flame to add a smoky flavor and aroma. It is seasoned with ginger and garlic to eliminate the meat’s odor, and onions for sweetness, then aged for more than 12 hours to achieve a tender and chewy texture. Also, the hot bar is divided into bite-sized pieces so it can be conveniently eaten down to the bottom.

The prices at large supermarkets are 2,980 KRW (150g) for ‘Haengbokhan Kong Pokshin Pokshin Tofu Balls’ and 1,800 KRW (90g) for ‘Maxbong Direct Flame Grilled Skewer Bar’.

CJ CheilJedang expects the ‘4th Meal’ trend, which involves enjoying late-night snacks or snacks outside of the three main meals, to spread this year. In particular, while the tofu and processed meat markets in the side dish category are stagnant, processed tofu and skewers classified as snacks are showing growth. In fact, skewer-type hot bars have grown by an average of 30.3% over three years since 2017 based on internal sales.

A CJ CheilJedang official said, “‘Haengbokhan Kong Pokshin Pokshin Tofu Balls’ and ‘Maxbong Direct Flame Grilled Skewer Bar’ are products designed to suit tastes from children to adults, and are expected to be very popular not only among families with children but also single-person households. As demand for snacks at home expands, we plan to continuously introduce various products that reduce cooking fatigue and meet consumer needs.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.