A Dessert Journey to Jeju

The Taste of Jeju Felt on the Mainland

If you read the ‘Jeju Tangerine Liquor’ tasting review, you would know that I have been singing about wanting to go to Jeju Island since last December. I had planned to go before it got any hotter, but due to various circumstances, I haven’t been able to leave the mainland even after May passed. Could it be that the algorithm felt sorry for me? Recently, it has been subtly recommending posts like ‘Authentic Jeju Travel Restaurants’ and ‘Jeju Photo Spots.’

For now, I decided to take a trip through desserts that capture the flavors of Jeju. I tried Jeju-themed desserts from Baskin-Robbins, Mega Coffee, and Hongruizen, which are easily found nearby.

Baskin-Robbins
Jeju Omegitteok Red Bean Bingsu

Baskin-Robbins launched three Jeju-themed bingsu (shaved ice) varieties for summer: ‘Jeju Omegitteok Red Bean Bingsu,’ ‘Jeju Hallabong Mango Bingsu,’ and ‘Jeju Green Tea Chocolate Bingsu.’ I chose the bingsu with Omegitteok. It features whole red beans and various nuts including pecans on top of milk ice, along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The main ingredient, Omegitteok, is sliced thickly.

‘Jeju Omegitteok Red Bean Bingsu’ is perfect for those who enjoy traditional flavors like red beans, black sesame, and mugwort. The chewy texture of the rice cake, the sweetness of the red bean powder, and the nuttiness of the nuts create a perfect harmony. The bingsu isn’t overly sweet, allowing you to fully appreciate the savory yet sweet charm of Omegitteok. Although it contains a generous amount of red beans, it doesn’t have a heavy aftertaste. The chewy vanilla ice cream balances the unique heaviness of the red beans and adds a subtle sweetness. While the texture and taste are not very smooth despite the milk ice, I want to give it high marks for bringing out the flavors of Omegitteok and red beans well.

Mega Coffee
Basalt Stone Bread & Jeju Carrot Egg Mayo Sandwich

Mega Coffee introduced ‘Basalt Stone Bread’ and ‘Jeju Carrot Egg Mayo Sandwich.’ The ‘Basalt Stone Bread’ is a dessert that visually resembles Jeju’s basalt rock. It has a black color from squid ink and is layered like a pastry inside. True to its name, the texture is firm rather than fluffy. The outer part is closer to a cookie than bread. It tastes like a chocolate-enhanced version of the cookie ‘Mom’s Hand Pie’ and pairs perfectly with a mild iced Americano. The crumbly texture similar to soboro (streusel) is also a plus.

Next is the ‘Jeju Carrot Egg Mayo Sandwich.’ It comes in a cute carrot-shaped pouch filled with a conch-shaped bread stuffed generously with egg mayo. The egg mayo contains finely chopped Jeju-grown carrots, but the taste is more ordinary than expected. It tastes just like the egg mayo we know. Although it contains carrots, the distinctive carrot flavor is not strong, so it can be enjoyed by everyone without much preference. Since it’s not a strong flavor, it’s also good as a breakfast substitute.

Hongruizen
Jeju Green Tea Cream Sandwich

If you like green tea desserts, head to Hongruizen. You can try the ‘Jeju Green Tea Cream Sandwich,’ which combines Jeju-grown green tea cream and milk cream. This product was created in collaboration with Jeju Air, so the packaging resembles an airline ticket.

One side of the bread contains green tea cream, and the other side contains milk cream. The milk cream tastes like sweet custard, while the green tea cream feels like Osulloc green tea spread with the sweetness removed and the smoothness enhanced. The slightly bitter green tea cream balances the rich taste of the milk cream well. This product is highly recommended for green tea lovers who seek desserts that highlight the unique bitterness of green tea rather than sweet green tea desserts.

If you can’t leave right away, take a trip to Jeju through desserts...☆

Photo by Kim Bomi

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