[Product Review] Rice Bowls and Doganitang: How 'Healthy Convenience Foods' Differ... CJ's 'The Bibigo' Shows the Evolution of HMR

'The Bibigo' Chadol Ureong Gangdoenjang Rice Bowl Sauce, Doganitang Review
Premium Ingredients Used... Reduced Sodium and Improved Quality
Quantity Twice That of Market Products... Excellent Cost-Effectiveness

'Chadol Ureong Gang Doenjang Deopbap Sauce' (left) and 'Doganitang'

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] Home Meal Replacement (HMR) has become a familiar part of consumers' daily lives. Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of 'home meal' enthusiasts has notably increased this year, leading more people to prepare meals conveniently through HMR. The domestic HMR market size is expected to exceed 5 trillion won in the near future.

While HMR has made meal preparation easier, many still harbor distrust toward products that emphasize only 'taste' and 'convenience.' A large portion of consumers worry that HMR might be less healthy than home-cooked meals. Interest in 'healthy convenience foods' is rapidly growing. In response, CJ CheilJedang, a leading domestic HMR company, ambitiously launched the healthy convenience food brand 'The Bibigo,' opening a new era of HMR. The products reduce sodium and cholesterol, which are concerns for excessive intake, while adding protein and dietary fiber?nutrients often lacking in typical diets?to promote health. Additives have also been significantly reduced.

I cooked 'Chadol Ureong Gang Doenjang Deopbap Sauce' (left) and 'Doganitang' myself according to the recipes.

The Bibigo product line includes 12 items: 4 types of soup dishes, 4 types of rice bowl sauces, and 4 types of porridge. Among them, the 'Chadol Ureong Gangdoenjang Rice Bowl Sauce' and 'Doganitang' have attracted the most attention, so I prepared a meal using these two. The total cooking time was 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Including the time to heat the multigrain rice, which I usually keep frozen in the freezer, it took about 5 minutes in total.

As expected from HMR, both products were quickly ready just by heating. Since they are stored at room temperature, no thawing was necessary. For Doganitang, I opened the package, poured it into a pot, and boiled it for about 3 minutes and 30 seconds. For the rice bowl sauce, I tore open the top of the pouch, microwaved it for 2 minutes, and then evenly poured it over the rice.

The rice bowl had a rich and savory Gangdoenjang flavor. Rather than the typical earthy smell of Gangdoenjang, it had a savory and sweet taste similar to hayashi rice, making it enjoyable for children without any strong likes or dislikes. The main ingredients?chadol (thinly sliced beef brisket), ureong (freshwater snails), and tofu?were plentiful, adding a satisfying chewiness. It was much less salty than similar products on the market, so my stomach felt comfortable even after eating. It would also pair well with leafy vegetables for wraps.

The Bibigo Beef Knee Soup

Doganitang was also generously filled, like the rice bowl sauce. Large pieces of dogani (ox knee cartilage) and sinew had a pleasantly chewy texture that lingered nicely in the mouth, and they were tender and smooth, making swallowing easy. It was not salty at all, so even when you have no appetite, a bowl of Doganitang alone without rice would make a great meal. This product is high-protein (providing over 20% of the daily protein intake standard) and has lower cholesterol than similar products on the market, making it clean-tasting yet delicious. Adding chopped green onions or scallions enhances the aroma and flavor even more.

CJ CheilJedang explained, "If raw materials are frozen more than once or stored refrigerated for a long time, their original texture disappears. To preserve the texture of dogani and sinew as much as possible, Doganitang is differentiated by manually removing inedible parts on the day of manufacture or the day before, then using them after room temperature or refrigerated storage." The broth is also not an extract but is made by simmering the raw materials for a long time to extract the flavor.

From a housewife’s perspective, the cost-effectiveness is also excellent. Compared to existing HMR products, higher-priced raw materials are used, and the quantity is about twice that of similar products on the market, but the price difference is not significant. The Chadol Ureong Gangdoenjang Rice Bowl Sauce weighs 200g and costs 3,980 won, while Doganitang weighs 500g and costs 9,980 won, which is cheaper or comparable to other brand products.

The Bibigo products are currently being trial-sold at department stores and the food specialty mall ‘CJ The Market,’ and will gradually be available through various distribution channels.

◆You Must Try This

#Consumers who want to eat convenience foods healthily

◆One-line Impression

#Proper home-cooked meals realized with top-quality ingredients

◆Price

#Chadol Ureong Gangdoenjang Rice Bowl Sauce 3,980 won, Doganitang 9,980 won

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