Three New Menu Items Including Jinju Gochu Cream Cheese Burger
4th Year of Korean Flavor... Key Contributor to Local Economic Revitalization
Jinju Gochu Boasts High Capsaicin and Crispy Texture
The new 'Taste of Korea' menu item of the year, following Changnyeong Garlic Burger, Boseong Nokdon Burger, and Jindo Green Onion Cream Croquette Burger, was the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger.
This Year's Taste of Korea New Menu is the 'Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger'
On the 11th, McDonald's is launching the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger, featuring the sharp and spicy Jinju chili. This new menu item utilizes Jinju chili, which grows under the abundant sunlight of the Gyeongnam region and boasts a clean spicy flavor. The key is the 'Jinju Chili Cream Cheese,' made by processing the chili into a spicy and tangy pickle and combining it with cream cheese. It highlights both spiciness and umami. Additionally, it contains Jinju chili horseradish sauce, so when you take a bite with the beef patty, you can taste the sharp chili flavor.
Besides this, McDonald's is also releasing ▲Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Muffin ▲Yeongdong Shine Muscat McFizz as part of the Taste of Korea new menu. The Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Muffin is the first McMorning menu launched under the Taste of Korea series. Like the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger, it is topped with Jinju Chili Cream Cheese and includes a savory chicken patty and fresh tomato. The Yeongdong Shine Muscat McFizz is a sweet and refreshing carbonated drink made from Shine Muscat grapes grown in the sunny Yeongdong region, making it perfect to enjoy alongside the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger and Muffin.
Yang Hyung-geun, Director of External Cooperation at McDonald's Korea, is making a presentation at the event celebrating the launch of the 2024 Korean Taste new menu held at the McDonald's Sinsa Station branch on the 10th.
4th Year of Taste of Korea... Cumulative Sales Surpass 20 Million Units, 743 Tons of Locally Sourced Agricultural Products Purchased
These three new menu items are part of McDonald's ongoing Taste of Korea project, which has been promoted annually since 2021. McDonald's Korea started Taste of Korea to invigorate local farms by using high-quality domestic ingredients and to provide consumers with fresher and tastier menu options.
Menus introduced through Taste of Korea so far include the 2021 Changnyeong Garlic Burger, 2022 Boseong Nokdon Burger, 2023 Jindo Green Onion Cream Croquette Burger, as well as Naju Pear Chiller, Jeju Hallabong Chiller, 7-Grain Shake, and Honey Butter Injeolmi Fries.
Yang Hyung-geun, Director of McDonald's Korea, said, "The cumulative sales of Taste of Korea items have reached 20 million units," adding, "We are striving to fulfill our role as a member of society by revitalizing local farms while providing delicious food to consumers."
Through the sale of Taste of Korea menus, McDonald's has procured a total of 743 tons of agricultural products from domestic farms. Director Yang expressed pride, saying, "We have received positive feedback from the government and local authorities, and we believe this has also encouraged other brands to develop menus using local agricultural products."
Baek Chang-ho, team leader of the Korean McDonald's menu team, is introducing the new menu item 'Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger' at the McDonald's Sinsa Station branch on the 10th.
It took a full year and three months to develop this year's Taste of Korea item, the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger. The longest period was spent searching for ingredients and determining the cooking method. Baek Chang-ho, team leader of McDonald's menu team, explained, "Chili is a global ingredient consumed by 75% of the world's population, and Korea has the highest annual per capita consumption at 4 kg. We created the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger to showcase Korean spiciness."
In particular, Jinju chili is known for its high capsaicin content and thick skin, which provides a crunchy texture. It also has fewer seeds and a spiciness that does not linger long, making it suitable for burgers. Director Yang said, "Jinju leads the nation in facility-grown chili production," adding, "Compared to other major chili-producing regions, it boasts fertile soil and abundant sunlight, ensuring a stable supply." McDonald's has already purchased 5 tons of Jinju chili for this new Taste of Korea menu.
A McDonald's representative stated, "We will continue to introduce diverse and delicious new menus using high-quality ingredients while steadily practicing win-win cooperation with domestic local farms."
The price for this year's Taste of Korea new menu is 7,400 KRW for the Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Burger alone, 8,900 KRW for the set, and 8,200 KRW for the McLunch. The Jinju Chili Cream Cheese Muffin is priced at 4,900 KRW alone. The Yeongdong Shine Muscat McFizz costs 2,400 KRW for size M.
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