Gangneung café with coffee sand cookies and art exhibits

Every time I traveled to Gangneung, I always worried about what souvenirs to buy. But once I looked around, nothing felt quite right, so I ended up settling for something merely okay, haha. This time, though, I finally found something I genuinely, completely loved! I was so happy to discover a place like this on a Gangneung trip. Gangneung Sand for Gangneung travel souvenirs—this is seriously so good 🍪 If you come to Gangneung, you really have to stop by! I never thought choosing gifts for my parents and friends could be this easy.

What is Gangneung Sand?

Gangneung Sand is a sand cookie made with Gangneung’s signature coffee and dried persimmon. It is an original Gangneung souvenir that won gold in the 2022 Gangneung City Tourism Souvenir Contest! Each cookie is stamped with “Gangneung Sand,” so it feels really premium as a gift, and the packaging is beautiful too 🎁 It is so well finished that you can hand it over just as it is, without wrapping it separately.

There are so many flavors—coffee, dried persimmon, Chodang sweet corn, black sesame, and strawberry—so I loved being able to choose according to my taste! Pick one to suit the recipient, and it becomes an even more thoughtful gift, haha.

Now I understand why so many people look for Gangneung Sand as a Gangneung travel gift. Both the flavors and packaging are truly high quality for gifting. They also run a Naver Smart Store, so you can buy online, but there is something special about seeing everything and choosing in person 😊

How were the coffee and Chodang sweet corn sand cookies?

I chose the coffee and Chodang sweet corn flavors, and this combination was absolutely the best! There were so many flavors that I deliberated for quite a while before settling on these two, haha.

Rich coffee aroma, with a sweet finish

The coffee sand delivers a rush of coffee flavor from the very first bite. It felt like Gangneung’s coffee culture had been captured right in a cookie! If you love coffee, I think this will definitely suit your palate ☕ The aroma is strong, but it is not bitter; it finishes sweetly, so it is easy to enjoy.

Chodang sweet corn sand with little kernels to bite into

The Chodang sweet corn sand actually has corn kernels inside the cookie! As you chew, the kernels pop pleasantly and the corn flavor really comes through. It did not just have corn flavoring—it felt like the real ingredient had been added, which was both surprising and delicious 🌽 You really have to try this one to understand, honestly!

Both flavors use gourmet butter, and that is the real key. Even after eating several, they never became cloying; the butter aroma was lovely without feeling greasy! You can really taste the difference good ingredients make. The more I ate, the more I wanted another one, haha. At this quality, the price does not feel wasteful at all. If I absolutely had to pick just one, the coffee sand is the flavor I keep thinking about! If you are a Gangneung coffee fan, this is definitely the one ☕

A floors 1–3 space that is too nice to leave after buying cookies

The main branch occupies a building from the first through third floors, and it is really spacious and comfortable inside! It is not simply a place to buy cookies: there is a separate event space and art exhibitions as well, making it fun to look around 🎨

At first I planned to buy my cookies and leave right away, but I ended up spending quite a bit of time looking around, haha. It was both surprising and lovely that a place like this exists in Gangneung.

I especially recommend it for families traveling with children. There is plenty of parking and lots to see, so it is perfect for spending time together! It is a great space for kids to explore and enjoy too. You can come for Gangneung Sand as a Gangneung travel souvenir and enjoy the space as well—two birds with one stone. I do not think you will regret adding it to your Gangneung itinerary 😊 It fits nicely with nearby attractions, so it is an ideal stop in the middle of a trip! I would not mind stopping once on the way there and again on the way back.