Is the Basics Truly the Truth After All...
There is a unique routine I follow when shopping at the mart. I first put the ingredients into my shopping cart, then move on to convenient foods like ramen, instant rice, tuna, and Spam. Next, I naturally head to the snack aisle. Normally, I would have filled my cart with my favorite snack bags, but today, the thought of my empty office desk drawer led me to choose boxed snacks instead. While enjoying my snack shopping, something happened that made me doubt my eyes. It was definitely a snack I have known very well since childhood, so why did it look so different? Unable to resist my curiosity, I filled my cart and finished shopping. Aren’t you curious about the different flavor of the snack you know? I’ll satisfy your curiosity right away.
Sand Ace Jin Choco
As an editor who usually enjoys strong Americano coffee, sometimes I recall mix coffee (commonly called “dabang coffee” in Korea). That’s when I eat Ace snacks. The savory flavor of oil and the salty taste of salt blend perfectly in this snack. So, when I heard there was a chocolate version adding sweetness, my curiosity skyrocketed. “Is this truly a snack that delivers the sweet and salty combo?” I thought as I picked it up. You can see chocolate filling sandwiched between the familiar Ace crackers. How did it taste? Since it’s an Ace with chocolate flavor, I expected the sweet and salty charm, but unfortunately, I couldn’t taste the salty and savory notes of the original Ace at all. Also, the chocolate flavor and aroma were not strong. In short, it felt like neither here nor there. Each bag contains two pieces, so keep that in mind.
Ivy More Deep Cheese Cracker
I think Ivy crackers are truly snacks you can finish in no time. They’re delicious on their own, and fantastic when topped with tuna or salmon as canap?s. Sometimes, I prepare Ivy crackers with cheese and wine to enjoy together. When I saw Ivy More Deep Cheese Cracker, I thought the bothersome preparation might be reduced a bit. It contains soft and sweet mascarpone cheese, richly flavorful Camembert cheese, and salty, savory yellow cheese, so I was really curious about the taste. But the moment I took a bite, the phrase that flashed through my mind was “Where is the cheese flavor?” I expected a strong cheese taste, but it was really subtle. Only the savory note of the yellow cheese came up slightly at the end, so I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
Cham Grain Sand
Just because the editor likes snacks doesn’t mean I only like sweet chocolate ones. That’s not true. I don’t discriminate against snacks. It’s also called a grandmother’s palate, so I love snacks with mild flavors or grain tastes too♥ How could I miss this snack illustrated with five types of grains: whole wheat, rye, brown rice, oat bran, and quinoa! Plus, it combines milk cream and mascarpone cheese flavors... this is actually the snack I had the highest expectations for today. Its shape is similar to Sand Ace Jin Choco, with cream sandwiched between crackers. The savory cracker flavor was very impressive. After that, the subtle sweetness of the milk cream was quite charming. This one also contains two pieces per bag, making it perfect for office snacks!
Hotteok-Filled Cham Bungeoppang
One of the editor’s favorite snacks is bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastry). It’s delicious any time of year, so I couldn’t resist when I saw bungeoppang with hotteok (Korean sweet pancake) flavor. Inside the bungeoppang is hotteok mix and glutinous rice cake. Compared to regular bungeoppang, it has a slightly chewy texture and a mild cinnamon flavor. Although honey doesn’t drip like in the image, it tastes sweeter and slightly bittersweet, making me crave coffee. Isn’t it true that bungeoppang tastes best when warm? I heated it in the microwave for about 10 seconds, and it tasted even better.
Photo by Yoon Eun-ae
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