Jeju café to watch handmade gwajul: Cheongchuni Oranda

Finding a different kind of traditional snack at Jeju Dongmun Market

Whenever I travel to Jeju, Dongmun Market is almost always one of my stops. This time too, I looked around the market for snacks that would make nice Jeju Dongmun Market souvenirs. Rather than the usual chocolate or fruit, I wanted a slightly different kind of Jeju Dongmun Market gift, so I visited Cheongchuni Oranda (청춘이오란다) Dongmun Market Main Branch, Tapdong.

Hours and parking information

• Hours: Daily 09:00–20:00
• Parking: 30 minutes free at the public parking lot; paid thereafter
• Please note that Dongmun Market does not have a separate parking-validation system.

How many kinds of oranda and gwajul are there?

Cheongchuni Oranda is a Jeju traditional snack shop focused on oranda, a puffed-rice confection, and gwajul, a traditional fried rice confection. Since it is inside Jeju Dongmun Market, it was an easy stop while browsing all the market food. The shop had many kinds of oranda and gwajul displayed neatly, so I took my time looking over what to choose.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was that there were more kinds of oranda and gwajul than I expected. The owner was really kind, too. I asked questions while choosing products, and they comfortably explained what each one tasted like, so even on my first visit I could browse without any pressure.

Tasting was easy and pressure-free

There were so many kinds that I had a hard time deciding, but samples of both gwajul and oranda made the choice easier. At markets, samples can sometimes feel awkward because you feel like you should buy something afterward, but here I could try them without any pressure~!

Watching gwajul being made

What especially stayed with me was getting to watch gwajul being made right there. When I visited, they happened to be making it in front of me, so I naturally got to watch the process too. Seeing it made, rather than only seeing the finished products, made everything feel much fresher. It felt like I was properly choosing traditional snacks made in Jeju.

Individually wrapped oranda and donut-shaped oranda

A lot of the oranda came in small individual packages, which looked great for buying one at a time. Besides the square oranda, there was also cute donut-shaped oranda! The donut oranda was individually wrapped too, so it looked like a nice gift for coworkers.

The texture of Cheongchuni Oranda

When I think of oranda I have eaten before, I first picture something hard that sticks to your teeth, but Cheongchuni Oranda was a little different. Rather than hard, it was soft and moist, so it was easy to eat.

A nutty aroma in gamtae oranda

The gamtae oranda had a distinct character because the aroma of gamtae, a type of seaweed, was added to it. Its signature fragrance and nutty quality joined the sweet oranda, so it tasted different from traditional snacks that are simply very sweet.

Four kinds of gwajul, from white rice to steamed rice

There were four kinds of gwajul: white rice, brown rice, buckwheat, and steamed rice. Even though they were all gwajul, each ingredient gave them a slightly different flavor, so it was fun to compare them one by one! Personally, rather than choosing just one kind, I liked putting several varieties together and trying them all.

Why I chose it as a Jeju Dongmun Market gift

When choosing gifts in Jeju, taste matters, but I also think about whether they are easy to carry and good for sharing with several people. In that sense, oranda and gwajul felt like a nice choice for Jeju Dongmun Market souvenirs. Cheongchuni Oranda operates not only this Dongmun Market branch but also an Olle Market branch, and I heard nationwide delivery and online ordering are available. It was nice to know that if I tried them during my trip and liked them, I could order them again at home. If you want a slightly different snack while looking for Jeju Dongmun Market souvenirs, or traditional snacks to share with several people as Jeju Dongmun Market gifts, I think Cheongchuni Oranda would be a good place to stop by.