I believe that each country has its own snacks that capture the memories of its people. When you think of snacks that contain memories of Koreans' childhood, what snacks come to mind? Of course, it may be different for each person, and the types of snacks in Korea are more diverse than you might think, but many people seem to say that 'sweet and sour' sugar is the answer.
However, many foreign friends don't know exactly what kind of sugar 'sweet and sour' is and where they can get it, so they try to taste it but can't. So this time, I would like to introduce to you ‘Sweet and Sour’, which contains Korean memories.
Introduction to ‘Sweet and Sour’
It is a caramel-style product from Crown Confectionery launched in 1988, and as of 2023, it is sold in five flavors: strawberry, grape, peach, lemonade, and blueberry soda. At one time, there was an additional kiwi flavor in addition to these five flavors, but it has now been discontinued.
Initially, it was released in four flavors: strawberry, grape, orange, and cherry, but only strawberry and grape flavors remained. First, the cherry flavor was discontinued, then the orange flavor disappeared, and a melon flavor was added, but was discontinued in 1993. Later, various flavors were added or changed, including apricot, lemon, peach, apple, cola, pineapple, tropical, and kiwi. Nowadays, much of this has disappeared, leaving only lemonade and peach.
Source: Seven Star Mall (sevenstarmall.com)
Preferences vary depending on the region, with strawberry, grape, and peach generally popular, but since the lemon flavor was released, lemon has become overwhelmingly popular. Even if the store sells lemons on a 2+1 promotion, excluding lemons, there are cases where lemons are sold out. There was a time when lemons went unsold for 5 years even though they were selling well. This is said to be because other flavors were relatively unsold because of the lemons. However, today's lemons have a weaker sour taste and a stronger scent, so they do not match the taste of past lemons. The Kiwi flavor, released in early 2017, gained popularity, but was discontinued in early 2021. In 2018, a blueberry soda flavor was released. It is available at most convenience stores and supermarkets, while the Pineapple flavor, launched in 2010, is a limited edition product for the summer of 2022 and is the first of 17 flavors released over the past 34 years to be re-released.
history
Sweet and sour candy is a candy made by Crown Confectionery and has been popular since the 1980s. Sweet and Sour is a candy with various fruit flavors such as strawberry, lemon, and orange. You can feel the sweet and sour taste in your mouth. Because Sweet and Sour is made using allulose, a sugar substitute, it is low in calories and has little effect on blood sugar. Allulose is a type of monosaccharide found in small amounts in some plants, such as wheat, raisins, and figs, and is a sweetener approved as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Source: Fashion Biz (fashionbiz.co.kr)
Sweet and sour candy became popular on YouTube in the 2010s. YouTubers shared videos of themselves eating candy with sour powder inside a spaceship-shaped snack. This candy has a unique taste that makes it crunchy on the outside and sour on the inside when you take a bite. This candy is also called UFO space candy and comes in a variety of colors and flavors to choose from.
caution
Sweet and sour is sensitive to seasons and is affected by temperature changes.
Source: Angel Kitty’s cute playroom: Naver blog (naver.com)
In the summer, if you carry it in your pocket, most of it melts and sticks due to body heat and high temperatures, and in the winter, it hardens like candy and has to be eaten. Sometimes, if you buy a product from a supermarket that has not been properly maintained, it may be completely melted in the summer or so hard that you have to melt it in the winter. So, it is usually best to eat it in spring or fall, but since it is cheaper, there are cases where you buy it in summer or winter and eat it anyway, or store it in the refrigerator to eat.
How to purchase
There is a possibility of purchasing sweet and sour candies from offline stores. Most supermarkets, convenience stores, candy stores, larger chain stores, and grocery stores sell candy products. So, you will be able to visit these types of stores and look for sweet and sour candies.
To find the candy you want, we recommend visiting your local supermarket or convenience store, or finding a local candy store. You can also use online maps and food/grocery purchasing applications to see if a store near you carries the product.
Convenience stores sell a variety of snacks and snacks, and many convenience stores also sell candy. Therefore, there is a high possibility that sweet and sour candies can be purchased at convenience stores. However, the unique availability of a product may vary depending on the convenience store chain, location, and inventory status, so to check whether it is sold at a specific convenience store, it is recommended to check by visiting the convenience store in person or contacting the convenience store's official website or customer service. great.
Source: Memories, Crown Sweet and Sour Purchase Review: Naver Blog (naver.com)
If you want to purchase sweet and sour candy, you can order it from various online shopping malls. For example, Gold Candy's official shopping mall sells sweet and sour candy made with sugar substitutes. Additionally, you can purchase Sweet and Sour Meljjang candy at a low price at G Market. In addition, if you search for sweet and sour candy at other online shopping malls, you can choose from a variety of types and flavors.
