[Scone Exploration] Sweet and Sweet, 2022 Ghana Chocolate House♥

Choco Enthusiasts! You’ll Regret Missing This

Editor's NoteWords like ‘special·hot place·limited-time popup store’ instantly make your heart race. It’s because you’re curious what makes them so special and different that so many people seek them out. You might not want to revisit places you’ve already been, but you don’t want to miss out on the HOT spots others are going to. If you want to visit somewhere truly special, you’ve come to the right place. Drinkit editors explore each store and deliver the experience as it is. We call it Scon Exploration (Special Concept Store Exploration)! Were the editors able to truly catch the ‘special scent’ at the places they visited?

Ghana Chocolate, launched in March 1975. More than four bars are sold every second?what more could you ask for? Undisputedly the most beloved chocolate in Korea, Ghana Chocolate offers a smooth yet rich taste and aroma. By the way, it’s the editor’s favorite chocolate. But! We heard there’s a place where you can enjoy Ghana Chocolate in a more diverse and delicious way, so we rushed there. Inspired by the 18th-century London chocolate houses, a space was created in Seongsu-dong called 2022 Ghana Chocolate House. Just hearing the name makes you crave the sweetness?let’s go see what it’s like!

Located in an alley in Seongsu-dong, Ghana Chocolate House doesn’t immediately catch your eye from the outside, but a closer look reveals its charm. Even the door handle is shaped exactly like a Ghana chocolate bar, boasting a visual that makes you want to snap it off and pop it into your mouth. Worried it might melt in the hot weather, I opened the door and stepped inside.

Once inside, the chocolate-shaped door handle on the right wall whets your appetite again. You came for dessert, but this place delights your eyes as well. “Don’t eat it, save it for photos!” I kept reminding myself of this and resisted the urge. It was a moment that made me even more excited about Ghana Chocolate House.

Next to it, brown interior accessories and limited-edition goods in the same color as Ghana Chocolate showcase their own charm. Even just looking at them, I already felt sweetness taking over me. The chocolate shapes we usually just eat are now on memo pads, mirrors, masking tapes, and more, greeting us, so be careful not to eat them by mistake!

Just when I was frustrated not to have tasted the sweetness properly yet, I got to sample Ecuadorian cacao beans, the raw material of chocolate. As soon as I put the peeled cacao nibs in my mouth, the aroma of 98% cacao lingered, and the more I chewed, the more bitterness rose. Then, eating sugar cubes together added sweetness, creating a fascinating experience that tasted like chocolate.

After tasting the sweetness once, I was determined to fulfill the purpose of my visit quickly and headed to the counter. Inside the showcase were various menus created in collaboration with professionals. These are not just simple desserts but can be considered a luxurious meal you might enjoy at a hotel. There are also many products perfect for gifting to lovers, friends, and family along with bottled drinks.

Among them, I ordered donuts in collaboration with Wet Donut and two types of bottled drinks. I expected the Con Choco Latte to taste like rich chocolate milk, but it had a salty note that puzzled me. However, as I drank it, the sweetness seemed to be enhanced, making it enjoyable without getting tired of it. The Coconut Chocolat felt smoother thanks to the coconut aroma. It tasted like eating cream from a chocolate cake, but both products were somewhat different from what we expected, so opinions may vary.

The chocolate filling inside the donut makes up about one-third of it, and plenty of chocolate crunch powder is sprinkled on top. I liked that a piece of Ghana chocolate was placed on the donut to clearly define the character, and that the chocolate coating was hard and didn’t melt easily. The taste is closer to milk chocolate than dark chocolate, softer, and instantly uplifting.

Going upstairs past various posters, you’ll find spacious seating and a giant chocolate with a bite taken out of it catching your eye. In front of it is a photo booth, a must-visit spot for the MZ generation. For just 1,000 won, you can leave a record of your visit to Ghana Chocolate House?there’s no reason not to stop by.

There is also a Heritage Zone where you can see the evolution of Ghana Chocolate. From the first release, ‘Chocolett,’ to the current packaging we know as ‘Ghana,’ you can feel the flow of changing times. Above all, it was fascinating to see the very first Ghana Chocolate advertisement. Not just a thin LED monitor, but even better!

“Chocolate never disappoints♥” is what the editor said after visiting the 2022 Ghana Chocolate House. No more adjectives are needed for chocolate. I almost couldn’t leave, intoxicated by the sweetness of the 2022 Ghana Chocolate House, and I hope everyone enjoys this sweetness before it’s too late. You can visit until May 12, so hurry before it’s over!

Four-character review: “Why is it disappearing?”

Photos by Yoon Eun-ae, Kim Bomi