Shinsegae Food Launches ‘Gasujeora,’ a Castella Recreated from the Joseon Dynasty

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Shinsegae Food announced on the 31st that it has launched ‘Gasujeora,’ a castella cake first introduced to Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, recreated using traditional methods.

Gasujeora is a term derived from the Chinese characters used to phonetically represent castella, which was brought to Korea in the 18th century by the Joseon Tongsinsa (Joseon diplomatic missions to Japan). Shinsegae Food released Gasujeora to offer the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), who seek new pleasures, a castella cake that embodies the historical story of the Joseon era and traditional recipes.

Gasujeora is characterized by separating the egg yolks and whites before mixing the batter and baking the cake using a traditional kiln method that involves prolonged direct heat. The egg content, which determines the texture of the castella, was doubled, and no mixed additives such as leavening agents, measuring agents, or emulsifiers were used, following the traditional recipe. In particular, honey was used instead of sugar, allowing consumers to enjoy a healthier and subtly sweet castella flavor.

To commemorate the launch of ‘Gasujeora,’ Shinsegae Food is operating a concept store called ‘Danha Tea Room’ from November 1 to 5 in collaboration with the traditional hanbok fashion brand Danha, allowing visitors to experience and enjoy the old traditional sensibility firsthand. Located in Palpan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, the ‘Danha Tea Room’ offers Gasujeora paired with traditional leaf tea, and visitors can also try on Danha’s fashion hanbok.

A Shinsegae Food representative said, “We planned and launched Gasujeora based on the Joseon Dynasty story contained in castella to provide customers with a differentiated bakery experience,” adding, “We will continue to introduce various food contents that offer unique experiences to our customers.”