Low-sugar walnut pastry gift set for grandparents, Gyeongju: Buja Hodu

I was out in Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju over the weekend and it felt like a waste to walk past Buja Hodu without stopping in! Lately whenever I travel to Gyeongju I like to pick up a tasty dessert or gift from Hwangnidan-gil, and with Chuseok coming up, I decided to grab a walnut pastry (hodu-gwaja) gift set from Buja Hodu to share with family!

Where is Buja Hodu in Gyeongju, and what are its hours?

Buja Hodu is located at 38 Poseok-ro 1095beon-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, right inside Hwangnidan-gil. It's open daily from 9:30 to 20:00.

Why 100% Korean rice flour and low-sugar filling suit a gift for grandparents

One thing I really liked about Buja Hodu was that the walnut pastries are made with 100% Korean rice flour. They use rice flour instead of wheat flour, and the red bean filling is low-sugar too — so it tastes good while being a bit healthier. I thought it'd make a solid gift for older family members.

Besides the walnut pastry gift sets, they also sell walnut ice cream affogato, coffee, and more! There are outdoor tables too, so it's a nice spot to sit and take a quick break at Buja Hodu.

What's in the 24-piece mix set, plus the craft-blended coffee

What I ordered was the 24-piece mix set! I picked three flavors: low-sugar red bean / pea cream cheese / matcha filling. Compared to a single-flavor set, being able to try a variety of flavors made it nicer to share with family members who all have different tastes.

Buja Hodu also sells good coffee alongside the walnut pastries. I heard it's blended by a Gyeongju coffee craftsman, so out of curiosity I packed one to go.

Bojagi gift wrapping for Chuseok

If you're looking for a Chuseok gift, you'll probably love that they offer bojagi (wrapping cloth) gift packaging too. Wrapping it up nicely really brings out that holiday-gift feel! I thought this would make a nice, not-too-heavy snack gift for family or acquaintances this Chuseok.

Such a classy package for a Hwangnidan-gil shop! And honestly, whoever named it 'Buja' (rich) did a great job haha — these handmade walnut pastries kind of make you feel like you'll get rich just eating them. The coffee I packed to go with the pastries was tastier than I expected too — it went really well with the sweet, nutty walnut pastries.

How the three walnut pastry flavors tasted

First, the basic low-sugar red bean was nice because the sweetness wasn't overwhelming — true to its name, it was mild and easy to eat without feeling too sweet. The walnuts were big and chunky too! And the red bean filling packed the inside more than the rice-flour crust did.

The matcha filling had a gentle, slightly bitter matcha flavor and wasn't very sweet, so I think even people who aren't into sweet desserts could enjoy it comfortably.

Personally, my surprise favorite was the pea cream cheese! The nutty, soft flavor of the pea filling combined with cream cheese gave it a clearly different feel from a regular red bean walnut pastry. It felt more moist and soft overall!

I was also curious about Buja Hodu's almond praline flavor, but it's limited-quantity and wasn't available when I visited. A bit disappointing, but I'll definitely try the almond praline next time I'm in Gyeongju!

Sharing the Buja Hodu box with family at home

Once I brought them home, they were easy to take out and eat one at a time, and with 24 pieces there was plenty to share with the family. Walnut pastries in particular are a snack that both adults and kids tend to like, so I think they'd be great to put out when everyone gathers for the holidays. I also liked that instead of a generic holiday gift, this was a dessert I picked out myself in Gyeongju, so it carries a bit of the trip with it too.

If you're wondering what souvenir or gift to bring back from Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju, a walnut pastry gift set seems like a solid choice! Since it's made with 100% rice flour and low-sugar filling, it's especially well-suited to older family members' tastes. And with the pretty bojagi wrapping available, it'd make a great gift to prepare for this Chuseok. Eat some Buja Hodu and get rich (buja) too~~ give Buja Hodu on Hwangnidan-gil a visit ☺️