Unique Bubble Tea Topped with 'Dubu Pudding' Lands in Korea...Fails as a Diet Drink [Taste Test]

Pulmuone Tofu Dessert 'Douhua' Collaboration
Tried All Three New Menu Items
Savory and Sweet Flavors Are Appealing
High Calorie Content Is a Drawback

If you were to pick a must-try dessert on a trip to Taiwan, it would undoubtedly be 'Douhua.' Known as Taiwan's national snack, this menu item is a dessert made by softly setting tofu like pudding and eating it with toppings or sauces. It is enjoyed like shaved ice in summer and as a simple meal in winter, maintaining steady popularity throughout all four seasons. Recently, it has gained much attention from vegetarians as vegan ingredients have come into the spotlight.

'Douhua' has landed in Korea. This happened through the unique collaboration between Gongcha's bubble tea and the food company Pulmuone's tofu.

Gongcha's new menu items. From the left, 'Black Sugar Tofu Milk + Mini Pearls', 'Black Sugar Tofu Crush + Mini Pearls', 'Black Sugar Tofu Milk Tea with Black Heart + Pearls'. Photo by Han Yeju

Tofu desserts are quite unfamiliar to Koreans. Although Japan has a tofu dessert called 'Mochi-ridofu,' tofu is more commonly known as a meal ingredient among Koreans. However, once you try it, the unexpectedly savory sweetness from the combination is quite satisfying. Even looking at the long lines of Korean tourists in front of famous Douhua stores in Taiwan, it is clear that tofu desserts are surprisingly not a menu that divides opinions.

Gongcha recreated Douhua using its bestseller, brown sugar bubble tea, and Pulmuone's dessert product called 'Duhwa.' The reporter's overall impression after tasting it is that it is recommended for those who want to experience Taiwanese desserts in a more familiar way. Although the style is slightly different from the original, the cold and sweet silken tofu combined with chewy pearls offers a pleasantly unique experience.

The newly released menu consists of three types: milk, milk tea, and crush. They are 'Brown Sugar Tofu Milk + Mini Pearls (5,800 KRW),' 'Brown Sugar Tofu Milk Tea with Black Sesame + Pearls (6,000 KRW),' and 'Brown Sugar Tofu Crush + Mini Pearls (6,200 KRW).'

Among the three, the most visually striking is the 'Brown Sugar Tofu Crush.' Unlike the other two menus where the tofu pudding is hidden inside, this is the only one with tofu pudding placed on top of the drink, making it the most similar in appearance to actual Douhua. The tofu pudding shaped like a flower is perfect for posting photos on SNS.

Among the three new menu items, 'Heukdang Tofu Crush + Mini Pearl'. Photo by Han Yeju

Unlike the Douhua eaten in Taiwan, the tofu here does not crumble but has a more elastic texture like pudding. Pulmuone's Duhwa is characterized by adjusting the texture between pudding and silken tofu to enhance the chewing experience. When the tofu was mashed and eaten with the drink, the sweetness of the brown sugar and the flavor of the tofu blended without any awkwardness. The sweet and savory tastes maximized each other, and the occasional mini pearls added a fun chewing texture. The taste was so familiar that it reminded me of 'Hodumaru' (Haitai) as I ate it.

The grayish 'Brown Sugar Tofu Milk Tea with Black Sesame' had the most Korean flavor. This was because the presence of black sesame was strong. However, it harmonized well with the brown sugar and tofu. Personally, I felt this paired best with tofu among the three drinks. Since it uses regular pearls instead of mini pearls, those who enjoy the chewy texture of bubble tea will likely find the most satisfaction with this menu. However, due to the nature of black sesame, it might feel a bit unfamiliar to foreigners.

Lastly, the 'Brown Sugar Tofu Milk' was the most popular and mild flavor, as it was basically brown sugar milk with added tofu. It is the menu where you can enjoy the taste of tofu and brown sugar most comfortably.

The downside is that all three menus were quite sweet. As someone who usually does not enjoy sweet flavors, I felt that the tofu did not significantly neutralize the sweetness of the existing brown sugar drinks. This might be because I chose the default sweetness level of 50%, but adjusting the sweetness is essential. Especially, the crush has a base sugar content of 60g, making the drink sweet enough on its own. Personally, I think it would have been sweet even if adjusted to 0% sweetness.

The calorie content is also a concern. After tasting small amounts of all three drinks, I felt quite full, and upon checking the calories, the crush had 521 kcal, and the other two menus exceeded 300 kcal each. If you drink it thinking it is a 'diet drink' because it has tofu on top, you might not be able to get off the treadmill for two hours.