Instant soy milk powder that tastes like injeolmi latte: Garu

I usually love that nutty, sweet flavor you get from soybean powder or injeolmi. 😋 This time I tried Garu Seonsaeng's Injeolmi Soy Milk Powder, which you just mix with water or soy milk. It's technically raw soy milk but wasn't chalky at all — smooth and sweet, similar to the injeolmi lattes you find at cafés!! Nutty and surprisingly filling, it was perfect as a snack when I was a bit hungry.

What is Garu Seonsaeng Injeolmi Soy Milk Powder?

Garu Seonsaeng Injeolmi Soy Milk Powder is an injeolmi-flavored soy milk powder made from Korean soybeans. All you do is mix it with water or soy milk, so it was great for a busy morning or an afternoon slump. Before trying it, I checked the ingredients and instructions on the back of the package. It contains Korean roasted soybean powder and unrefined raw sugar, giving it that nutty, sweet flavor. I liked that the ingredient list was clean, with no extra additives thrown in.

One thing that's different from regular soy milk is that this comes as a powder, not a liquid. It was convenient being able to store it and scoop out just as much as I wanted to drink.

The moment I opened the bag, a nutty soybean powder smell hit me. The color and scent felt just like the familiar injeolmi bean powder we all know.

The particles are quite fine and smooth. Just looking at the powder, I thought it might feel a bit chalky in water, but drinking it, that worry was unnecessary. 😂

Does the powder dissolve in cold water, or do you need a shaker?

Garu Seonsaeng Soy Milk Injeolmi mixed in fast with just a few spoon stirs, even in cold water, so a shaker wasn't really necessary. First, to taste the basic flavor, I mixed the powder with plain water. It comes with its own spoon, so I followed the instructions on the back: 2 scoops of powder with 180mL of water.

I figured cold water wouldn't dissolve it well, but stirring it a few times with a spoon mixed it faster than I expected. There was barely any clumping or powder left at the bottom, so I could make it simply without a shaker.

After a few stirs, it dissolved smoothly. Since a shaker isn't really necessary, at home you can make it easily with just a cup and a spoon. It tastes like a nutty, sweet soybean-powder drink. The sweetness isn't overwhelming, but you can definitely taste the sweet bean-powder flavor. It went down smoothly, without the chalkiness soy milk can sometimes have.

How Garu Seonsaeng tastes served warm

I tried it cold too, but personally I liked it better heated up in the microwave. Warm, the nutty aroma of the bean powder came through much stronger and paired well with the sweetness. It seems like a great pick for a warm drink on a cold day.

Does it taste like an injeolmi latte in milk?

This time I tried it with milk instead of water. With water, it leans clean and light; with milk, it became much smoother and richer.

It tasted just like the injeolmi lattes sold at cafés. On days you want it stronger, you could just add more powder to taste. The powder itself is nutty and sweet, so I think it would also work well sprinkled as a topping on yogurt or ice cream, or over bingsu (shaved ice).

For me, mixing it into warm milk was the tastiest way to have it. Having the injeolmi latte together with castella cake made for a nice simple breakfast or light meal!! Mixed with milk, the nutty flavor got richer and smoother, similar to the injeolmi lattes served at cafés. If you like a rich, smooth taste, I'd recommend mixing it with soy milk or milk rather than water.

Garu Seonsaeng injeolmi soy milk powder: the verdict

It dissolves easily in water so it's simple to make — cold, it's a clean bean-powder drink, and warm, the nutty aroma comes through even stronger! 😋 Mixed with milk, it turned smooth and sweet like a café injeolmi latte, and personally that was my favorite way to have it. 👍🏼 I think this would suit anyone looking for a homemade café-style drink, or a simple breakfast or afternoon snack.