Gangneung dessert shop with a photo exhibition: Gangneung Sand

When you travel, there's always at least one regional dessert or souvenir you end up buying, right? Gangneung Sand, whose very name evokes Gangneung, is already famous as a Gangneung souvenir. The packaging is pretty and the flavors feel distinctly local, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a Gangneung travel gift or a simple dessert!

Gangneung Sand Main Branch: the building and the store inside

Gangneung Sand Main Branch is a souvenir dessert shop spanning 1st to 3rd floors on Seonggokgoyang-gil 5beon-angil in Gangneung. The exterior has a Santorini-like vibe and, true to being the main branch, it was quite grand.

Take the elevator up and you'll reach the second-floor store, which had a cozy atmosphere and plenty of seating — a decent spot to take a break.

What's on the second floor: Gangneung photo exhibition and awards

The Main Branch also hosts a Gangneung photo exhibition, which was nice to browse quietly. In one corner of the store you can check out product samples, and various award certificates are on display.

• 2025 Gangneung City Tourism Souvenir Contest, Silver Award — Gangneung Breakwater Bread
• 2022 Gangneung City Tourism Souvenir Contest, Gold Award — Gangneung Sand
• 2021 Gangneung City Tourism Souvenir Contest, Bronze Award — 'For You' Persimmon
• 2020 Gangneung City Tourism Souvenir Contest, Bronze Award — Gangneung Coffee Tart

Gangneung Sand flavors and canned drinks

Gangneung Sand sells a variety of desserts featuring Gangneung's local character. With flavors like coffee, persimmon, Chodang corn, black sesame, strawberry, and sweet potato, there's plenty to choose from depending on your taste.

They also sell canned drinks like persimmon latte and strawberry latte. I got a free canned Americano for leaving a receipt review! If carrying things around while traveling feels like a hassle, courier shipping is available too.

Coffee and persimmon sand, 10 pieces per box: taste and packaging

This time I picked the Gangneung Sand coffee box (10 pieces) and the Gangneung Sand persimmon box (10 pieces).

The packaging is pretty, and it even comes with a cookie engraved with the Gangneung Sand logo — a set that clearly has some care put into it.

Both the coffee and persimmon flavors have a mild, gentle sweetness, so they pair well with coffee and make a gift with no strong preferences either way — great for parents or coworkers.

How long do Gangneung Sand cookies keep?

Storage is fairly flexible: 14 days at room temperature, 30 days refrigerated, or 90 days frozen.

All 4 official Gangneung Sand branches and addresses

• Main Branch (Seongdeokgoyang-gil): 31 Seongdeokgoyang-gil 5beon-angil, Gangneung
• Branch 1 (Wolhwa Street): 6 Geumseong-ro 12beon-gil, Gangneung
• Branch 2 (Chodang): 249 Nanseolheon-ro, Gangneung
• Branch 3 (Cookie Lab): 23 Namgu-gil 30beon-gil, Gangneung

Is Gangneung Sand worth it as a Gangneung souvenir?

Gangneung Sand tastes great, but it's the thoughtful packaging that makes it a smart gift for someone you care about. It's the kind of gift that leaves the giver feeling proud and the receiver satisfied — I'd recommend it to anyone in Gangneung looking for a Gangneung souvenir with a twist. If you love dessert or want something special to bring home from Gangneung, definitely stop by Gangneung Sand ꔛ♡