Incoming Midwinter CSAT, Surge in Launch and Popularity of Food and Beverages Good for Condition Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] As the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) approaches, examinees and their families nationwide are desperately managing their health due to concerns about the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). With the CSAT being held for the first time amid the COVID-19 situation, it is expected to be challenging for students to maintain their condition. In response, the food and beverage industry is gaining consumer favor by introducing various products that help boost immunity and relieve fatigue. In particular, beverage products such as traditional teas brewed with domestic ingredients and fermented milk rich in probiotics are receiving positive responses.

According to the related industry on the 21st, Ediya Coffee has launched three types of traditional teas?‘Ssanghwa Tea,’ ‘Jujube Tea,’ and ‘Ginger Tea’?brewed with domestic ingredients like peony root and jujube, which help improve immunity and relieve fatigue.

Ediya’s ‘Ssanghwa Tea’ features a sweet and slightly bitter aroma and a pleasant sweetness, made with various raw materials such as cnidium officinale, white peony root, angelica, jujube, and licorice. Additionally, domestic pine nuts and dried jujubes are added on top to enhance the chewing texture and nutty flavor. The ‘Jujube Tea’ contains plenty of domestic jujubes, blending a fragrant aroma with a sweet taste, and dried jujubes are added to enjoy a chewy texture. The ‘Ginger Tea’ combines the rich flavor of domestic ginger with sweet yuzu and honey to create a rich aroma.

Ediya’s three traditional teas are gaining popularity not only among the older generation but also among young people, becoming a hit on social media platforms. Especially, the ‘Traditional Tea,’ which features a subtle sweetness, has sold about 100,000 cups within two weeks of its launch, receiving great acclaim.

An Ediya Coffee representative said, “Noticing the growing public interest in health, we introduced traditional tea products suitable for winter weather,” adding, “With a newtro concept, these products can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders, offering the fun of choosing according to personal taste.”

Shinsegae Food, in collaboration with the California Walnut Commission, has introduced a nutritious snack called ‘Walnut Mongttang Cake’ to help students manage their stamina and condition. The Walnut Mongttang Cake harmoniously combines a buttery pound cake with caramel sauce and the nutty texture of California walnuts. Rich in choline and omega-3, which protect brain cells, the cake is topped generously with walnuts that are good for brain health, improving memory and concentration, making it an ideal nutritious snack for students tired from irregular meals and busy daily life. It is sold at bakery stores operated by Shinsegae Food within Emart.

Purmil is currently selling ‘ProBio,’ a premium functional fermented milk focused on students’ gut health and immunity. ProBio contains probiotics beneficial for gut health and prebiotics (oligosaccharides, dietary fiber) known to help these beneficial bacteria settle in the intestines. It includes CJ CheilJedang’s patented probiotic strain ‘CJLP243,’ which has excellent survivability and adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells, gaining high popularity and surpassing 2 million units in cumulative sales within two months of launch. Probiotics, meaning beneficial bacteria for the body, are known to help maintain gut health and immune management when consumed regularly.

KGC Ginseng Corporation’s ‘CheongKwanJang iPASS H’ is also popular as a health food for the CSAT. CheongKwanJang iPASS H uses domestically grown 6-year-old red ginseng as the main ingredient and contains astragalus, angelica, calcium, and other sub-ingredients. It is designed to help high school students exhausted from studying and stress by boosting immunity, relieving fatigue, and improving memory. Oats and brown rice are added for examinees who need fatigue recovery.

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