Gangneung dessert shop taste test: strawberry vs persimmon sand

One-line verdict: the cherry blossom box and individual wrapping were great for gifting, and between the two, strawberry suited my taste better than persimmon.

While traveling in Gangneung, I stopped by Gangneung Sand Main Branch to pick up a gift for my in-laws too. I was looking for a dessert with a real travel-destination feel, and Gangneung Sand caught my eye. This time I picked strawberry and persimmon flavor! Trying them side by side, the impression of flavor was quite different even though they're the same sand cookie. Let me walk through the gift-friendly packaging, prices, storage, and the main branch space itself.

※ Please check business hours before visiting. Prices and sales methods in this post are as of the time of my visit.

Where is Gangneung Sand Main Branch, and what does it look like?

Gangneung Sand Main Branch sits a bit off the main strip, tucked inside Seonggokgoyang-gil5beon-angil in Gangneung. On the way in I kept thinking 'is this really the right place?' but following the road further in, a big building appeared with white walls and blue accents. The blue window frames and the winding outdoor stairs naturally brought Santorini to mind. I came here to buy a Gangneung travel gift, but the exterior caught my eye and I ended up admiring the building too.

Inside the 2nd-floor shop and photo zone at Gangneung Sand

Going up to the 2nd floor where the counter is, the white-and-blue theme continued indoors. Tables lined the windows, and potted plants were scattered around, giving it a clean feel. Gangneung Sand Main Branch sells drinks as well as sand cookies, so it seemed like a decent spot to rest for a bit during a trip.

On one side there was a photo zone decorated with flowers and a bench. My kid sat on the bench holding a giant stuffed dog and got some photos taken.

Gangneung Sand prices and what to know before you buy

At the time of my visit there were six flavors, and each box contained 10 pieces. The strawberry and persimmon flavors we picked were each ₩17,000 per box.

※ Based on the menu at the time of visit. There were a few things worth knowing before buying — single pieces aren't sold, and mixing flavors into one box is not really available either, according to the signage. If you want to try a little of many flavors, keep this in mind.

Orders are placed via kiosk, and there was courier shipping signage at the counter too. The drink menu included things like strawberry latte, persimmon latte, and americano.

The cherry blossom gift box and individual wrapping

Since this was a gift for my in-laws, I cared quite a bit about the packaging too. The one I chose had a pink base with cherry blossoms printed on it, giving it a bright, cheerful feel. The flavor was labeled on top, so you could tell strawberry from persimmon without even opening the box.

Inside, each sand cookie was individually wrapped and neatly arranged in two rows. It looked easy to eat one at a time or share among family. The cookie surface had 'Gangneung Sand' engraved on it in large letters. With the name on both the box and the cookie itself, it really felt like a gift bought in Gangneung.

What does the strawberry sand taste like?

With Gangneung Sand's strawberry flavor, the strawberry flavor came through strongly with the first bite. The outside had a crisp, cookie-like texture that paired well with the soft filling inside. The pink filling was thick, and looking inside there were bits of red fruit scattered throughout too. I liked the combination of crisp cookie and soft filling together. Of the two flavors I tried, strawberry was more to my taste.

Can you taste the dried persimmon in the persimmon sand?

Gangneung Sand's persimmon flavor had brownish bits visible inside a light-colored filling. However, when I actually ate it, the persimmon flavor wasn't very strong. If I hadn't known it was persimmon flavor, I don't think I'd have picked it out right away. Since I was expecting the distinctive persimmon taste, this was a bit disappointing personally. Comparing the two, strawberry, with its more distinct flavor, suited my taste better.

How long does Gangneung Sand keep, and how should you store it?

Since this was a dessert meant as a Gangneung travel gift, I also checked the storage instructions. The in-store signage listed 14 days at room temperature and 30 days refrigerated. The back of the box said to store at room temperature below 25°C and to check the separately printed expiration date. If you're passing this along as a gift, it's good to check the expiration date and storage instructions printed on the box you bought. The packaging also mentioned freezing it in the freezer as an option. I didn't try freezing it this time.

The 3rd-floor Sandbox zone and 5th-floor observation deck

On the 3rd floor of Gangneung Sand Main Branch there's a sandbox play zone and event zone. It's a space decorated with sand where you control heavy equipment models with a controller from outside. A sign said for safety reasons you can't enter the set itself. At the time of my visit, the space charged fees in 30-minute units. Children 10 and under were advised to use it with a guardian. If your kid likes heavy equipment models, this could be a fun stop.

On the 5th floor there's an observation deck entrance. Looking out from above, the surrounding houses, green trees, and mountains stretching in the distance all came into view. I came here just to pick up some sand cookies, but ended up exploring the café, the play space, and the observation deck too.

Strawberry or dried persimmon: which sand makes the better gift?

Gangneung Sand as a Gangneung travel gift was a dessert I liked for its bright box and individual wrapping. The strawberry flavor I tried had a rich flavor and crisp texture, while the persimmon was more subtle than I expected. Since you can't mix flavors in one box, it's worth thinking about the recipient's taste before choosing. This visit to the main branch ended up being both a gift-shopping trip and a chance to look around the space. If I had to choose between the same two flavors again, I think I'd go with strawberry again. And I'd like to try the other flavors too.