Chilled mugwort Choco Pie souvenir gift set for family, Ssukseu Choco

Hours: 10:00 – 18:30 (weekdays) / 10:00 – 20:00 (weekends)

Among the Gwangju Songjeong Station eateries, Ssukseu Choco Pie is one I often pick up as a gift because the quality is so good. Today I stopped by again to grab a gift box before a wedding invitation gathering, and I was satisfied with everything from the packaging to the quality.

You can also order delivery through Naver Smart Store, which is how I placed my reservation order.

Where to find Ssukseu Choco Pie inside 1913 Songjeong Station Market

The shop sits inside 1913 Songjeong Station Market. Follow the market path straight in, and once you spot the green sign next to the noodle shop, that's it.

They've been making mugwort choco pie since 2016, and it turns out this brand actually holds Korea's first patent for mugwort choco pie — you can really taste the high quality.

There's a tasting corner inside the store, but it's mainly a takeout spot.

The 5 no's principle on the ingredient sign

If you participate in the Naver receipt review event, they give out a free mugwort cookie, so I'd recommend joining in if you visit. The ingredient sign was also impressive — the ingredients themselves stand out. They only use antibiotic-free, animal-welfare, pasture-raised eggs, with no artificial coloring, preservatives, emulsifiers, shortening, or margarine — a genuine 5 no's principle. They also use Korean-grown wheat flour, so you can tell every ingredient is chosen with care, which makes it easy to trust.

The menu: mugwort scone and mugwort cheesecake

The lineup includes mugwort choco pie, mugwort scone, mugwort cheesecake, mugwort milk tea, and more.

The mugwort scone is crisp outside and moist inside, made with fresh cream, and apparently gets its strong nutty flavor from domestic soybean tofu. The mugwort cheesecake layers mugwort cream and white chocolate over soft cream cheese, making it perfect for teatime — I highly recommend it. My sibling genuinely loves Ssukseu Choco Pie and always buys some whenever they're near Songjeong Station, saying the mugwort aroma is amazing compared to other places, on top of the great ingredients.

Still, the signature item is the mugwort choco pie. It comes in various flavors, but using local specialty ingredients makes it even more special. Ssukseu Choco Pie really is a Gwangju Songjeong Station must-try.

Gift packaging and the sticker event

They're running an event where you get various design stickers for free when buying a gift set, which makes it great for events or thank-you gifts too. On top of that, ordering a set gets you a discount, so I picked up one choco pie set.

Since it was actually meant as a gift for my sibling, I only opened the packaging and sent them a photo in advance, even though I wanted to eat it myself. As soon as I sent the photo, they said they really wanted to try it and seemed so happy, so I handed the gift over right away.

What makes the chilled fresh choco pie different

My sibling and I then did the unboxing together at home. The key thing about the mugwort choco pie is that it's a chilled fresh choco pie, which is on a totally different level from the room-temperature choco pies we're used to. With less sugar and fresh cream added, it's much fresher and less sweet, so it doesn't get sickly and tastes healthier. On top of that, there's a subtle mugwort aroma throughout, which you notice the moment you open the bag — it just puts you in a good mood right away. It doesn't taste artificial at all, so the mugwort comes through fragrantly; the first bite is all mugwort, then the chocolate and fresh cream spread through your mouth in harmony, and it's such a good feeling. I gave it as a gift to my sibling, but tasting it together is only natural, right?

The bestseller: injeolmi flavor

Then I noticed the injeolmi (sweet rice cake) flavor had a Best mark on the menu board, so I was too curious not to try it. The nutty roasted soybean powder flavor and the injeolmi taste come through subtly, and I got why it's the bestseller. Honestly, at first the combination of "mugwort + chocolate" felt a bit unfamiliar, but once I tried it, the gentle mugwort aroma tones down the sweetness, so it's the kind of flavor you keep reaching for and end up craving later.

If your list of Gwangju Songjeong Station eateries is missing a dessert category, that would be a shame, so make sure to stop by Ssukseu Choco Pie. The fact that they stick to the principle of thawing and selling only on the same day since it's refrigerated also gives you confidence in the quality — I think everyone will love it. I'll definitely drop by again next time I'm in Gwangju, so if you want to pick up a proper dessert while you're there, Ssukseu Choco Pie makes a great souvenir and a great sugar boost — be sure to stop by and enjoy the variety in a set.