Category:

Korea Purchases + Review

3/24/2025

Shopping while on vacation is inevitable. I had budgeted a decent amount for splurging on skincare, souvenirs, and potential impulse buys, but generally found beauty products and services to be extremely budget-friendly. Souvenirs would echo the same sentiment. On the other hand, dine-in coffee and touristy spots were discovered to be astoundingly pricey.

O-SULLOC

O-Sulloc's Jeju flagship was undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of the island leg. Besides café offerings that were either underwhelming or strictly average at best (but still better than the Innisfree Green Café!), the Tea Store failed to deliver the degree of quality expected at their associated price tags.

Our haul at the O-SULLOC Tea Store was as follows:

Jeju Green Tea Baumkuchen (Buy 3 for 22,000 KRW) (x1)
Jeju Hallabong Baumkuchen (Buy 3 for 22,000 KRW) (x2)
Samdayeon Milk Tea Packs 10,400 KRW
Jeju Green Tea Raspberry Truffle 12,600 KRW
Jeju Volcanic Tea (50 g) 35,000 KRW
Jeju Green Tea (50 g) 17,000 KRW
Matcha Stick (5-pack / 70 g) 8,000 KRW
Jeju Green Tea Chocolate Bar 9,900 KRW
Premium Matcha (40 g) 18,400 KRW
Matcha Pretzel (70 g) 5,400 KRW
Green Tea Wafer (100 g) 5,400 KRW
Camelia Forest Tea Bags (3-pack) 5,500 KRW
Jeju Tea Museum Badge Set 5,000 KRW
Premium Matcha Waffle (72 g) 5,400 KRW
Green Tea Milk Spread (x2) 19,800 KRW

The Jeju Green Tea Raspberry Truffle wasn't half bad. It retained mild, bitter notes of matcha and a hint of fruitiness from its raspberry filling. When consumed alongside my own tempered creations though, it paled in comparison, lacking both the depth and snap of handcrafted bonbons. Similar remarks were extended towards the Jeju Green Tea Chocolate Bar, which had actually served as the inspiration for my own Matcha Ganache Truffle.

Matcha powder was a non-negotiable purchase of the visit, so I tacked on a few instant mixes as well, having embraced high expectations. To my utter dismay, the Samdayeon Milk Tea Packs were gritty and bland, the Matcha Sticks horrifically sweet with absolutely no trace of bittersweet grassiness, and the Premium Matcha tawny and odour-less.

Meanwhile, the Camelia Forest Tea Bags were certainly aromatic. Like DAVIDsTEA's countless varieties of floral and herbal teas though, flavour payoff did not correspond to its impressive, alluring fragrance. On a general note though, loose leaf tea definitely assumed the more informed decision compared to drink mixes.

Packaged snacks, such as the Green Tea Wafer cubes and Matcha Pretzels, were quite tasty though! Unfortunately, neither were particularly easy on the wallet, ringing in at 5,400 KRW each. With the assistance of plastic, re-usable containers, both packages successfully made it back without their contents suffering damage.

Several years later, the Green Tea Milk Spread remains wickedly popular. The customer in front of me had slipped three jars of the spread into her basket before vanishing into the other aisles. Although I was more or less disillusioned by the taste tests that proceeded, the spread persisted as being one of the passable purchases. Indeed, it tasted no different than matcha powder whisked into sweetened condensed milk, save the addition of stabilizers and the relatively disappointing matcha used. Customization of intensity was not possible. At its given price, the spread serves as a solid souvenir, but overpriced otherwise.

Without a doubt, the Jeju Green Tea Baumkuchen and Jeju Hallabong Baumkuchen were the worst purchases of the entire haul! Both varieties were crumbly and disappointing: the Green Tea tacky and, again, bland, while the Hallabong wholly synthetic and cloying.

Korea DAY 11: (Pt. 1) Breakfast in Guro, Line 2 Subway Closure + Yeongdeungpo

3/23/2025

0 Comments

My browsing partner either refuses to listen when it comes to navigation, or utterly tunes out my words and observations. While we hadn't missed any opportunities to explore, we had barely eaten on the trip. Even on our final evening, chaos had unfolded: we'd stay up packing until 2:30 AM. Not only that, but the comprehensive documentation/sorting of receipts had been postponed yet again - for the third and last possible time. Needless to say, there was impatience expressed around me, rather than remorse at seeing the unfolding of events.

At the time of check-in, we had been provided two complimentary beverage vouchers for the café located in the lobby of the hotel.

From ZAG Café, we would obtain two Americanos, one iced and one hot. Unfortunately, we were unable to source breakfast buns from the establishment, as stock was only replenished on weekdays.

The Americano was decent, though still leaned towards the lighter side of the spectrum. Being mostly ice, I can now comprehend why many Koreans drink Iced Americanos like water.

Based on Naver Maps, across the street was Chosim Bakery. A few minutes later, we learned that Naver had betrayed us - or rather, me, yet again - for the establishment did not exist. I hadn't anticipate a follow-up from the Samsonite incident, but here we were.

Thankfully, the nearby Tous Les Jours made it easy to pivot.

I immediately gravitated towards the Salted Red Bean Butter Bun. This was a hybrid between Korea's favourite - and awfully prevalent - Salted Bread Roll (소금빵) and Japan's anpan (あんパン). A signature sprinkle of fleur de sel graced the exterior, which was crisp, but not crunchy. Within the bun, a slab of unsalted butter replace the melted cavity of a typical Salt Roll. Tsubu-an, otherwise known as textured red bean paste, was smothered on the inside of the bun, intended to be eaten on conjunction with the butter. Overall, it was found quite delicious, with the butter being smooth and creamy as opposed to satiating. Admittedly, the essence of red bean was rather muted in the combination, exhibiting neither the bean-y-ness nor coarseness characteristic of bean paste. The fleur de sel provided a dainty contrast of flavours.

Meanwhile, my browsing partner took to a Sausage Bun and Custard Cream Bun.

We headed back to the unit to consume the items, wrap up sorting of receipts, and scramble to finish packing. Just after 12 PM, all luggage was transported downstairs. In the lobby, we witnessed yet another wedding. This would be an important observation for later. The Link was a new hotel under the Marriott family, but doubled as a wedding venue. Business conferences weren't uncommon either.

0 Comments

Korea DAY 10: (Pt. 2) Skincare at Ocean Clinic + Tim Hortons

3/22/2025

Read Part 1 HERE !

Prior to visiting Seoul, I had evaluated a number of beauty-related activities. Although many have retold tales of conducting hair appointments, neither the price nor results appealed to me. Further confirming my speculations was a former coworker's personal experience, in which a stylist did not provide scalp protection before hastily bleaching black strands to the shade of pea soup.

Receiving skincare treatments appeared to be the better alternative, as even those hailing from other parts of East Asia admitted to making trips to Korea in the name "advanced technology". Personally, it was the advertised affordability and variety of options that piqued my curiosity. Many Reddit forums had mentioned terminology such as "foreigner-friendly" and "factory clinics", with the former referring to language capabilities of on-site staff and the latter to the cold, eerie presentation of the rooms and their format. Unfortunately, I wouldn't grasp the true meaning of "factory clinic" until my experience unfolded.

After days of research, I landed on Ocean Clinic in Gangnam. Due to hiccups from the previous day though, my appointment was rescheduled last minute for 4 PM on Saturday. This was the last possible spot that could be accommodated, for Ocean Clinic closed at 5 PM. As the staff member from the previous day had advised, I arrived slightly earlier than 4 PM to ensure a timely start and finish.

I checked into the front desk, where a white pencil was provided for me to circle the moles targeted for removal. Given that I had arrived with a full face of makeup, it seemed imprudent of me to mark the moles then wash off the markings when I removed my makeup. The front desk staff hesitated for a brief moment, then led me over to a series of lockers. She gestured to a lineup of sinks. Each station was equipped with makeup remover, cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and even headbands to keep bangs out of one's face. Cotton face towels was arranged in a central area for ease of access, with a bin placed in proximity for placing used towels afterwards. On the opposite side of this area was a post-treatment beautification area, complete with Q-tips, moisturizer, brushes, and a hairdryer. Having anticipated none of these elements, I had brought along my own supply of makeup remover and cotton pads, to which I adhered.

I was then gestured towards a U-shaped seating area labelled "Waiting Room". There were a handful of other patients in the space, all of which were young East Asian males. Despite their heads of black hair, none seemed to be Korean. I overhead some Mandarin, which led me to believe that they were Taiwanese or Singaporean. The close proximity of the seats in the mixed gender waiting area made the experience a bit awkward, but I was soon left alone as the others were called up by scrub-donning staff members one by one.

There was minimal direction as customers were shuffled into rooms and hastily provided instructions. A staff member clad in a foot cast led towards one of the rooms and provided a sleeveless jersey for me to change into. My belongings were to be left to the side of the room while I tucked myself under the sheets. Everything happened extremely quickly, and I was hardly changed when the doctor came knocking for my first treatment.

Again, there was no introduction of the procedure. Clad in scrubs and a lab coat, a male doctor proceeded with the underarm hair removal. Goggles were provided for eye protection, but anti-inflammatory cream was not provided unless requested.

I was then whisked towards a second room, where the Pico toning (brightening) treatment was executed by a different male doctor. The process spanned no more than a few minutes, then back into the Waiting Room I'd go.

Mole removal was my third and last scheduled treatment of the visit. Back in the waiting room, One of the technicians applied numbing cream to the imperfections circled with white pencil. She then carefully adhered soft plastic strips to prevent smearing. Leading me up and down the hallway to locate the correct room, the strips flitted with each step, summoning laughter from both of us. Eventually, I was slotted into a room with a very warm blanket and ominous-looking device near my head.

Korea DAY 8: (Pt. 3) Myeongdong Shopping + Street Food

3/20/2025

0 Comments

Read Part 2 HERE !

Dusk had fallen by the time we resurfaced at Myeongdong station some thirty minutes later. The evening gradient was irrefutably stunning, providing a blue-pink ombré backdrop for the infamous, multi-storey Daiso building.

Surprisingly, we didn't enter the Daiso at all. Rather, we became distracted by The North Face flagship and entered into the building without a second thought.

The product lineup was arranged across three floors. B1 was the equivalent of ground level, and featured a basic selection. It was also the busiest floor at our time of visit, naturally prompting me to escape to the upper levels.
Unfortunately, the other levels were strictly accessible by a single elevator; stairs were not an option. Due to its compact size, a member of staff hovered nearby to control entry numbers. A queue began to form in front of the elevator, and eventually cleared about three rounds of transporting customers up and down. Although the elevator offered service to the basement level as well, there were posted instructions to use the stairs outside the physical store as opposed to navigating directly. Suffice to say, the store design and navigability were remarkably poor.

I had my eye on level 1's White Label, for the collection was exclusive to Korea and advertised heavily by celebrities and media portals. Surely enough, posters and standees of celebrity spokespeople greeted us at entry. Promotional posters of Cha Eunwoo were positioned throughout the store. Meanwhile, an autographed standee of Jeon Somi was placed by the elevator.

Down coats were still thoroughly stocked, despite the arguably warm temperatures (low to mid teens). Both of us were drawn to the sale rack. While a discounted waterproof jacket caught my attention, the sizing and fit was off. I ultimately took to a small, black crossbody pouch instead, sheerly for the purpose of owning a White Label product. This floor also carried non-The North Face-branded items, thus allowing acquisition of an Outdoor Research waterproof cap by my browsing partner. The cashier noted the store did not issue instant tax refunds, but that customers could use the self-serve kiosk at the airport or in the store. As for the kiosk's precise coordinates, this was not specified.

I don't recall perusal of the Special Price/Pop-Up area on level 2, which leads me to believe that the floor was either closed or featured minimal items of interest. Generally speaking, the store offered a smaller selection than anticipated, with few sales to boot.

Near the front of the store was a Hangul capsule collection. Crafted in collaboration with a local artist, the assortment spanned T-shirts, hats (beanies and caps), and canvas totes. In essence, the designs were simplistic, deriving from modern day Hangul and re-configured into a single symbol - or at least a compact variation of it.

I was intrigued by the 사람 design on black, but wasn't completely convinced to purchase. There was absolutely no shortage of bags in the store, causing me to debate between a multitude of black TNF canvas totes - some illustrating the silhouette of Seoul while others adorned with the Myeongdong label for specificity. In the end, I couldn't decide on any. All tote bags were returned to the shelves or racks from which they originated.

0 Comments

Out & About #1037 | IKEA Hej Days, Red Sail Boat Bakery + Pacific Mall

9/22/2024

0 Comments

Even before embarking on the day, I knew a strenuous schedule lay in store for me.

Adorning ahga-attire was mandatory. Of my many merchandise tees on hand, I sought out comfort in my thoroughly worn Eyes on You t-shirt, pairing jeans and sneakers to account for the round of errands that would precede the concert. BamBam's AREA 52 cap, the beaded Jinyoung bracelet from my coworker, and asymmetrical feather earrings would seal the look. I was now ready.

The Thai ahgase and I had agreed on a 12 PM meet-up at Yorkdale.

While I departed late but arrived sooner than expected, she was not only late but further requested stopping for Starbucks before continuing. Despite my ceaseless concerns of the kiosk being amongst the slowest of all locations, she insisted on coffee. Meanwhile, my plans for us to collectively obtain coffee from IKEA would be delayed/dismissed. Lo and behold: the Starbucks app estimate was wrong and we hovered about the kiosk for an additional seven minutes before gradually descending back to the parking garage

When the drink was finally delivered, I asked the barista for an empty cup, causing him to glance over at the Thai ahgase's drink, thinking that we'd be sharing the drink. He warily handed me a Tall cup, to which I grimaced but did not pry further on the basis of time. Frankly, the size assumption was not appreciated; other locations would hand you a Grande cup in the case of water requests or ask whether a preferred cup size exists.

Yorkdale was a driving monstrosity for those that do not frequent the area. Departing the garage, I realized that the 401 on ramps had changed location. Detouring about Dufferin, I eventually found my way towards Sheppard and continued to IKEA on local roads.

September 22nd, which coincided with Jinyoung's birthday, would mark the third and final instance of the Swedish homeware store's Hej Days promotions.

Truth be told: I was none too keen about back-to-back weekend visits. However, I was irritated that the items I had just purchased had gone on sale! Hej Days was, in essence, both an instigator and act of redemption for more Rykta bins.

0 Comments

Out & About #791 | Week #102 Quarantine Update Feat. Strawberry Mousse Cake

2/27/2022

0 Comments

It is to be determined whether the pain has yet to subside. The surges of stress have seemingly settled, yet the quietness is unnerving, perhaps alluding to an impact greater and more spiteful than the last.
"You're looking for a new place now?" a concerned comrade asked.
"It takes time." I responded, dispirited. "There are some factors to consider about my progress thus far and which next steps must be taken first."

The week commences with a Cape Seed Loaf from COBS Bread and Cold Brew (unpictured), followed by a lunch of Owl of Minerva takeout. Solace was secured in the bibimbap's delectable sunny side-up and sticky, short-grain rice. Homemade Strawberry Jam is soon constructed to smear atop the craggy slices of toasty, and later repurposed into latte format with Paragon's Genmaicha Powder - buttery and fragrant, I'll have you know.

We cruise through the week's hustle and bustle with no further cooking ventures. The meals span frozen kale, steamed Pork & Chive Buns from Taste Casserole Rice (derived from the freezer), and the odd post-dinner beer. The Chocolate Chip Porter had been one entailing high expectations, though delivered minimally in the depth and flavour departments.

Yin Ji Chang Fen satisfies the need for sustenance amidst the mid-week madness. Sticky Rice with Preserved Meat (S24 腊味糯米飯), Pork Blood Jello Congee (C8 豬紅粥), Shrimp with Chives Rice Noodle Roll (R4 韭黃鮮蝦腸粉), and HK Street Style Rice Noodle Roll with Beef Brisket (R22. 牛腩豬腸粉) supply a heartiness and compensate for the noticeably low-iron diet of the previous days.

The dishes are fantastic, as takeout via UberEats has often been. The format may as well be more preferable to the dine-in portions, dare I say.

0 Comments

Out & About #599 | Kinka Izakaya Harbour/York

11/22/2019

0 Comments

And just like that, the snow has come and gone. Overcast skies persist, however seasonal climate has seemingly returned.

Weekend activities involved the regular grocery runs, cold brew preparations, and zealous recipe testing for a coincidentally gluten-free prototype. The results were a tad damper than desired, but overall better than expected, given that the scale's battery had been zapped mid-weighing.

P.S. These Colorado beans were saved for a later point in the future, substituted by a full-bodied medium-dark roast for the time being.

A second round at innisfree earned me a three-piece Holiday Hand Cream set, a much-needed blusher, and some nonessentials that inexplicably made their way into my basket.

The visit confirms that, while the store is smaller in comparison to the Yorkdale flagship, product range was not compromised. Friendliness of the floor staff remained consistent, though the manager on duty was a positively disagreeable character - and a shameless one at that.

After a grueling four-month wait, one of two Kinka Group eateries has unveiled its interior to the avid diners of the waterfront food scene. While Kinton isn't slated to open until December ("The wallpaper is being put up."), the neighbouring Kinka Izakaya has supposedly been serving dinner for the past two weeks, and, more recently, lunch.

It brings me much sadness that the establishment can only be accessed at street level, and even further disgust that greasy fumes manage to permeate hair follicles and cotton apparel despite the two-door barrier. Such griefs are owed to an open kitchen, as well as peak lunch hour in full swing.

0 Comments

An Ottawa Awakening | DAY 1: (Pt 1) Innisfree Yorkdale Grand Opening + The Long Drive

8/30/2019

0 Comments

Dated: August 30, 2019

In a world where everything is almost instant, society always manages to find ways of waiting.

Waiting for the laundry to finish;
Waiting to see the doctor;
Waiting at the cashier to check out; and
Waiting in lineups for grand opening specials.

If not already evident, delays aren't my thing, which is precisely why a readily available set of tools to pass time effectively is always on hand.

In preparation for The Great Wait that was the arrival of K-beauty giant, innisfree, at Toronto's luxury shopping centre, several offline sequences were loaded onto my mobile device for viewing.

The next morning denoted an early morning trip via the GO Bus. While I had my qualms about the notorious 401 volumes, my arrival at Yorkdale was smooth and uneventful - in the best way possible. I joined the lineup around 8:10 AM, at which point I had already found myself in 17th place.
My position in line subsequently dropped as people slowly started re-joining the lineup after having their spots held by a single member of the party. I took to my slightly soggy steamed sponge cake while others munched away at lattes and breakfast sandwiches - a luxury I did not have as a unaccompanied voyager.

I concluded an episode of Moment of Eighteen as members of the media team instructed us to rise; around 9:30 AM, preparations commenced for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. At exactly 10 AM, the first group of customers were allowed within the store, and I, having been pushed back due to spot-holders, was none too thrilled about being coerced into the second group. Being 21st in line, the permissible allotment was cut directly before me. (Grrrr).

On the bright side, the store was well-staffed, making the entire endeavour more organized than I expected. There were plenty of opening promotions as well: each member making the first 200 count would automatically receive a Hydration Trail Kit, while additional gifts would be bestowed upon those making purchases of $50 (tier 1) or $80( tier 2).

Distinctly larger than the Union Square store, the Canadian flagship carried a greater number of individual product lines as well as a dedicated section for sheet masks. The interior of the store emitted a similar aura to that of its Asia locations, making use of the high ceiling for artificial shrubbery and blank walls for projector-originating promotional videos.

The store did not carry cushion compacts nor sunscreen - it apparently hadn't passed the quality check in time for Grand Opening, though a staff member noted that they would have it eventually. The Skinny Brow Pencil was not in stock either.
Purchased instead were (multiple bottles of) makeup remover, toner, the ever-popular Jeju orchid eye cream (a winter staple), and the fermented green tea mask that I loved so dearly from my New York haul.

The mobile app was an entry pass to a free Welcome Kit on Grand Opening Day; it also enabled customers to log receipt codes to automatically add points should in-store system be laggy or down altogether. The cashier was swift and extremely kind, tending to my various hurried requests.

To be completely honest, my recollection of any other aspects are faint: with a pre-assembled list in hand, I simply missioned to tick off items of interest and speed back to make the next bus. I promptly rushed back after finishing the ordeal and swung by McDonalds for a 2 for $5 McMuffin deal.

Although intended for sharing, both were eventually consumed by yours truly (Oops).

Shortly after noon, we began our painstakingly long, long weekend road trip, with me gorging on The Night Baker cookies and Iced Coffee the entire way.

0 Comments

Out & About #567 | Weekly Roundup: Afternoon Snacking + Night It Up! 2019

7/13/2019

1 Comment

The humidity has officially hit.
Personal catch-up time has suffered a dramatic drop.
Weekly visuals shall proceed until further notice.

1) The Vancouver haul Feat. Daiso and Nature Republic

2) The Seunie Bingsu from Snowies

The GOT7-themed bingsoo series continues! Following BamBam's Thai Milk Tea was Jackson's Hong Kong Milk Tea, which, in comparison to the first item of the collection, exhibited more prominent flavour. The limited edition selection was served in a similar fashion: curated toppings and condensed milk on the side, and an absence of layering.
Tapioca pearls made another appearance, but instead of grass jelly was an oddly orange egg pudding. It had been set directly and served in a ramekin - a sharp contrast to the abstract shards of yellow utilized by most bubble tea vendors. Its consistency was also a tad more rigid, indicating either a higher percentage of stabilizer, whether it be egg yolk, gelatin, or some derivative of starch. A pizelle cookie - broken and inserted in the shape of wings? - was intended to add crunch, though I cannot produce any comments towards this addition. Admittedly, it is not my fondest type of cracker, so I did steer clear of it.

Sampling the bingsoo on its own, familiar notes of Hong Kong milk tea were made discernible. Frankly, it lacked the astringency and 金味 (an attribute I can only depict as a distinctly unique lingering aftertaste) associated with the tea blend, however its profile remained recognizable. I was informed that the first few batches of the dessert had proved "far too bitter", thus the formula was altered to fit the dessert niche.

Egg pudding, tapioca, and a condensed milk drizzle with the consistency of evaporated milk enabled greater enjoyment of the bowl's contents, albeit resulting in a somewhat messy eating experience. As mentioned previously (561), Snowies' ice flakes have been observed to contain the lowest moisture levels by far; a direct runoff of loosened condensed milk was owed to this precise property. On that note, it is worth mentioning that the taste of tea diminished with the subsequent addition of toppings.

We also took the opportunity to try the Honey Butter Toast, a seemingly new addition to their menu, along with the Black Sesame Bingsu. The item arrived looking near identical to the Injeolmi Toast, and it was only afterwards that I learned honey butter had been incorporated into the soybean-centric creation. It was not an entirely different entity after all. A poor pick on my part, it was far too sugary in the absence of java; the mochi bits were tasty as always, though the combination of sticky slickness and friable injeolmi powder made for a throat-clogging occurrence.

The striking gold knives are a wonderful touch, might I say.

1 Comment

Out & About #548 | Partial May Visuals

5/14/2019

0 Comments

Summer construction season is in full swing, yet it seems that neither Mother Nature - nor the spirits of employment - got the memo. The search for a position providing societal benefit ensues, as do sporadic periods of frigidity and heavy downpours.
As one jacket is returned to the closet, another must be summoned to accommodate the ever-indecisive climatic conditions.

1) Kung Fu Tea opened at Pacific Mall, and on the counter was a fake Brown.

2) The prominent sakura theme resurfaces every spring.
3) Dak Lak is a necessary (caffeinated) evil during P-Mall runs

4) Katsuya
It's been a "hot minute" since my last visit, for the post-paintball excursion in December is recalled with winter coats in tow.

Since then, the Brick Cheese Katsu - a fusion formula employing a thick, stringy slab of mozzarella - had been added to the roster of non-spicy katsu dishes. A Rosé Katsu is also anticipated in the upcoming months.

The restaurant's policies have seemingly also undergone some changes: unlimited rice refills no longer exist, and 5% discounts are now offered with cash payments.