[In-Depth Look] Smoothie King’s 'Vegan Bakery' Breaks the Prejudice That "All-Plant-Based Bread Tastes Bad"

Eggs, Milk, and Butter-Free... Featuring a Soft and Moist Texture
Capturing Both Taste and Health with Only Plant-Based Ingredients

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] Until just a few years ago, the word 'vegan' was unfamiliar to domestic consumers, but it is rapidly emerging as a trend. This is thanks to the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), who are leading recent consumption trends and emphasize health, environment, and ethical consumption. Accordingly, various food companies are launching a wide range of vegan products such as bread, ice cream, and hamburgers.

However, in the domestic market where the stereotype of ‘vegan = vegetarian food’ is still strong, expanding the target audience for vegan products among general consumers is not an easy task. This is because of past disappointments with the taste of products released under the vegan label and the limited benefits gained from choosing vegan products.

◇No Eggs, Milk, or Butter Added... Emphasizing Healthiness

In this situation, I recently heard that Shinsegae Food’s beverage brand ‘Smoothie King’ launched vegan bakery items. I was curious whether the taste would be significantly different from regular bakery products. Compared to vegan patties and sausages, there was less fear or aversion regarding the taste.

On the 14th of this month, I visited a Smoothie King store near my home. Next to the appetizingly displayed vegan bakery items in the showcase, there was a poster with messages saying NO-EGG, NO-MILK, and NO-BUTTER. In line with the characteristics of vegan bakery, no animal-derived ingredients essential for making bread, such as eggs, milk, or butter, were used. Instead, only purely plant-based ingredients like soy milk and canola oil were used, emphasizing healthiness.

Enjoying vegan bakery with Smoothie King's healthy drink Kombucha allows you to fully savor the feeling of becoming healthier.

◇Moist and Soft Texture... Breaking the Prejudice that Vegan Means Dry

I ordered two newly released items, the ‘Vegan Apple Crumble Cake’ and the ‘Vegan Choco Chip Muffin,’ along with a beverage. The prices were 4,200 KRW and 3,500 KRW, respectively. Taking a bite of the vegan apple crumble cake, I experienced a harmonious flavor with the sweet apple and subtle cinnamon aroma filling my mouth. The crumble and almond slices sprinkled on top of the cake added not only to the visual appeal but also to the rich texture.

The vegan chocolate chip muffin had a deep chocolate color at first glance, with chocolate chunks embedded throughout, making it hard for chocolate lovers to pass by. When I cut into it with a fork, I could feel the rich chocolate aroma and a dense, chewy texture. It felt like eating a brownie with a high chocolate content. Additionally, large vegan chocolate chunks were included, allowing one to enjoy both the deep taste of cacao and the fun of chewing.

It was surprising that such a moist and soft texture could be achieved using only purely plant-based ingredients. There has been a common prejudice that vegan bakery items are dry and tasteless, but these products delivered a taste comparable to regular bread. The only downside was that they were somewhat filling to enjoy as a dessert with a smoothie. They might be better paired with coffee or tea or even as a meal replacement.

◇TIP. Discount When Purchased with a Beverage

Not only vegetarians or those seeking vegan bakery for health reasons but also anyone wanting to enjoy a healthy dessert without burden on the body can try vegan bakery at Smoothie King stores nationwide without having to visit a specialty vegan shop. When purchasing bakery items together with a beverage, you can receive a discount of 500 KRW on coffee and 2,000 KRW on smoothies.

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