[Report] Nostalgic Chocolate? A Unique Dessert!… Visiting Lotte Confectionery's 'Gana Chocolate House'

Gana Chocolate Popup Store 'Gana Chocolate House' Opens in Seongsu-dong, Seoul

Interior view of the pop-up store 'Gana Chocolate House' opened by Lotte Confectionery in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] "Chocolate is love. Everyone who comes to the class has a bright expression. They are happy because they come to make chocolates to gift someone."

On the 19th, Lotte Confectionery opened a pop-up store for Ghana Chocolate called ‘Ghana Chocolate House’ in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. Ghana Chocolate House, which started from the idea of ‘bringing together various pleasures that can be enjoyed with chocolate in one place,’ is the first pop-up store introduced by Lotte Confectionery since the launch of Ghana Chocolate in 1975.

When visiting Ghana Chocolate House on the afternoon of the 20th, the first thing that caught the eye was the wall decorated with a familiar pattern. It was a wall shaped like the rectangular brown Ghana chocolate that appears when you unwrap the silver foil packaging, something seen since childhood. A person in their 20s, Mr. A, who took a photo of the familiar signature chocolate wall, said, "Ghana Chocolate is a familiar brand, but seeing it decorated like this looks fresh," and smiled, "I craved a sweet dessert, so I came here, and I think I made a good choice."

Interior view of the pop-up store 'Gana Chocolate House' opened by Lotte Confectionery in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.

Ghana Chocolate House offers various experience programs. At the ‘Dessert Pairing Bar’ inside the store, visitors can enjoy five courses of chocolate desserts and beverages developed with advice from famous dessert p?tissiers, along with explanations.

At the ‘DIY Class’ on the second floor, visitors can make their own chocolate with the help of a chocolatier. Kim Sungmi, CEO of the Korea Chocolatier Association, who operates the program, said, "You can make two types of chocolate: milk and white," adding, "Participants are highly satisfied as they listen to explanations about the process of cacao becoming chocolate, as well as the history and culture of chocolate, and then make it themselves." The classes, held twice on weekdays and three times on weekends, are already fully booked for April, and inquiries about the classes continue on-site, showing their popularity.

The exterior view of the pop-up store 'Gana Chocolate House' opened by Lotte Confectionery in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.

In addition, signature drinks such as Caramel Sesame Latte and Coconut Chocolat, as well as limited-edition chocolate desserts like Ghana donuts, financiers, and fresh cream cakes, were sold. Visitors could also purchase over 30 types of goods, including phone cases and pot holders shaped like Ghana chocolate.

A Lotte Confectionery official said, "We prepared the pop-up store to enhance the brand’s scalability by combining Ghana Chocolate with various desserts and to grow it into a premium dessert brand in the long term," emphasizing, "Through the ultimate dessert experience, Ghana will provide the experience that ‘chocolate can also be enjoyed as these kinds of desserts.’"

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