Jongno café for chilled mugwort choco pies: Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul

Why I stopped by Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul at Gwangjang Market

I’m the kind of bread-and-dessert lover who simply has to try any dessert that’s supposedly hot right now, you know? Today I’m sharing my purchase review of Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul, a Gwangjang Market favorite that has been heating up social media as an essential stop on a bakery crawl lately 🩷 I visited full of anticipation after hearing they make refined handmade choco pies with mugwort, and to give you the conclusion first: it was completely my kind of thing!

A convenient stop while exploring Gwangjang Market

Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul is in the perfect spot to pop into while looking around Gwangjang Market. The green packaging really catches your eye, even from afar 😆

Thoughtful packaging and selection

The moment I opened the box, I was impressed by how clean and tidy the packaging was. Beautiful individually wrapped choco pies were nestled inside a luxurious green gift box.

The product card says they add more cream than the stated weight for a fuller flavor, so some cream may smudge during delivery. That really conveyed the owner’s generous spirit and sincere passion for dessert!! Each wrapper is neatly labeled too, so I thought it would be wonderful as a gift.

What are the six choco pie flavors?

The set I brought home had six distinctive flavors in total.

• Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort: The signature flavor, with the mugwort’s naturally pleasantly bitter and nutty character coming through most intensely!
• Sea-breeze mugwort injeolmi: A combination of nutty injeolmi (roasted soybean powder rice cake) powder and mugwort that will win over anyone with an old-fashioned palate in an instant.
• Sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean: Sweet red bean paste and mugwort cake come together in a flavor everyone can enjoy.
• Nonsan strawberry: Filled with tangy, bright Nonsan strawberry cream, so it tastes sweet and fresh.
• Udo peanut: The ultimate nutty flavor! The crunchy texture and nuttiness of the peanuts unexpectedly pair beautifully with the mugwort aroma.
• Gwangju real chocolate: Packed with deep chocolate flavor, it’s perfect when you need a sugar boost.

Try the Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort flavor chilled

First, I cut into the signature Geomundo sea-breeze mugwort flavor. When I split it in half, the cross-section was absolutely packed with cream! The moment I took a bite, its deep, fragrant mugwort aroma spread all through my mouth.

A rich chocolate coating wraps the outside, and the slight bitterness of the mugwort cake, the sweetness of the chocolate exterior, and the softness of the cream inside are perfectly balanced. With a cold, refreshing latte, it was a combination that rivaled any dessert café. I absolutely recommend refrigerating it and eating it cold.

Nonsan strawberry and sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean

Next, I tried the Nonsan strawberry flavor. Tangy-sweet strawberry jam and soft cream were layered between fluffy chocolate cake, and its refreshing character felt like something kids would really love too.

The sea-breeze mugwort whole red bean flavor combines fresh cream, a mugwort aroma, and whole red beans. The beans are subtly flavored rather than overly sweet, so it’s a flavor just about anyone can enjoy without being polarizing 🩷

Compared with PNB Choco Pie from Jeonju

Compared with typical factory-made choco pies, the natural flavors of the ingredients come alive in a way that feels so much more refined. It’s a Gwangjang Market bakery that mugwort lovers—and dessert lovers in general—should definitely visit :) If PNB Choco Pie from Jeonju feels traditional and sweet-sweet-sweet!!, Ssuk's Choco Pie Seoul has a more sophisticated sweetness, with local specialties and cream working beautifully together 🩷

The gift-box packaging is done so well too, so I strongly recommend picking some up as a souvenir or gift when you visit Gwangjang Market or are in the neighborhood!