Gyeongbokgung café for takeout melon mini baum gifts: The Baum

Today I'm introducing a classy dessert café I found near Gyeongbokgung Palace that is really worth a visit. It's The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch (더바움 경복궁점), a specialist in authentic German baumkuchen!

Baumkuchen means "tree cake" in German. The cross-section looks like tree rings, so it's said to stand for success, prosperity, celebration and a long, healthy life. That's why it's so popular as a gift that carries respect and good wishes.

It's near Gyeongbokgung Station (13-2 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 1st and 2nd floors), so it's easy to get to. Across both floors, the calm hanok atmosphere and the stylish ceiling structure won me over at first sight. The shop is spacious and pleasant, perfect for enjoying dessert in comfort.

The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch: location and basic info

• Shop name: The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch (더바움 경복궁점)
• Address: 13-2 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea (1st and 2nd floors)
• Feature: a premium German-style baumkuchen brand built on the only manufacturing and development technology of its kind in Korea

Desserts in the shop: baum ice cream and custard baum

The first things I tried at The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch were the baum ice cream and the custard baum.

Baum ice cream

The baum ice cream caught my eye with its looks first! From the first bite, a super rich, nutty milk flavor filled my mouth. The combination with the thin, soft cake inside the ice cream was honestly a work of art. This kind of pairing usually risks dry, crumbly cake, but it was so soft and moist with no dryness at all, and I was amazed the whole time. Cool, nutty and soft all at once, a perfect dessert!

Custard baum

Next was the custard baum, a textbook case of crisp outside, moist inside. The top is caramelized crackly like crème brûlée, so the texture was great fun and delicious. And the custard cream filling was so soft! It melted in my mouth, and a subtle, deep vanilla bean aroma rose all the way up to my nose. The rich sweetness of the cream and the slight bitterness of the caramel were perfectly balanced, so I couldn't stop eating.

Mini baum to go for a home café: plain and layered melon

While enjoying dessert time at The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch, I also took the mini baum plain and the mini baum layered melon home to have as home café treats. I brewed a cup of hot coffee to go with them, and it felt like a café dessert time with nothing to envy.

Mini baum plain

The mini baum plain stays true to the basics: the tree-ring layers were clearly defined, and it was very soft and full of nutty flavor. It isn't overly sweet and tastes clean, so I think anyone, of any age, would like it. The packaging looks upscale and the cross-section is pretty, so I couldn't help thinking, "This would be perfect as a gift for the people around me!"

Mini baum layered melon

The moment I opened the bag, a fragrant, sweet melon smell drifted out, which put me in a great mood. I really strongly recommend this one to anyone with a sweet tooth! The sweet-fresh melon flavor blends nicely with the softness of the baumkuchen, and with a bitter Americano it was a top-notch pairing.

Why The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch is a great gift stop

The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch offers baumkuchen products in many sizes and lineups, so there's a really wide choice. The shop is spacious with a nice atmosphere, and it also has a well-stocked range of upscale gift sets.

Since the meaning is "success, a long healthy life and celebration," if you're looking for a thoughtful, refined dessert gift near Gyeongbokgung, I recommend The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch without hesitation! Do visit once and fall for the charm of rich milk ice cream and crisp, soft baumkuchen.