Anyone searching for the greatest chocolate in South Korea should go elsewhere, in my opinion. Seoul’s chocolate scene is much more established than Jeju’s, with Busan chocolate about on the same level. But if you’re searching for fine chocolate in Jeju, I’ve got you covered.
The Jeju Chocolate Museum, the world’s second-largest museum of its type, has made Jeju chocolate renowned. The Chocolate Museum is frequently the first stop on a chocolate lover’s Jeju itinerary. In this section, I will argue that there are other, more deserving chocolate spots on Jeju to add to your list.
If you’re only searching for a chocolate fix in your area of the island, check out the map at the bottom.
Contents
Museum of Jeju Chocolate
This enormous stone structure is located in the midst of nowhere and has become its own attraction. Within, you’ll discover all there is to know about chocolate, from cacao pods to chocolate bonbons, so it’s ideal for photography and a basic chocolate education. The Jeju Chocolate Museum has been established for a long time, and its boxes of sweets are well-known around the island. But if you’ve ever tried handmade chocolate, you’ll know that it’s more like cocoa-flavored sugar. The museum is the parent corporation for the Chateaux Chocolat network of stores located across Korea (whose chocolate has yet to impress me).
The 7000 entry charge sounds a bit excessive to me, but they do give a free cup of coffee when you arrive, free admission for people over 65, and are open till 7 p.m. every day. The attractions on the two levels are quite Euro-centric and rather repetitious. Yet, given that they utilize couverture chocolate to manufacture their bonbons, I was pleased by the owner’s knowledge of the chocolate-making process. If you have children, this would be an excellent project to pique their interest in chocolate beyond what they see in stores.
DIY lessons are provided in Korean exclusively for children aged 4 to 12. (you can get a discount on the class if you buy a box of chocolates). A mango plantation is about a kilometer down the road, but it was closed when we arrived about 6 p.m.
551-18 Ilgwa-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo, Jeju-do 551-18 Ilgwa-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo, Jeju-d (see map below)
3000 is the address for Naver Maps.
Daily hours: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Jeju Cacao Family
Cacao Family, the first and only chocolate producer on Jeju Island, began when the family of seven lived in Guatemala for three years, till 2013. They returned to Jeju soon after, finally launching their business in 2016. It now serves as a tribute to the unique chocolate and cacao cultures of Guatemala, Mexico, and other regions of Latin America.
Their product line, which includes a cacao latte and several varieties of candied cacao nibs, is clearly centered on the ingredients rather than the finished result. Now, the family hosts chocolate cuisine parties once a month, with cacao-based items included in each meal. Visiting Cacao Family Jeju, either in their store or one of the farmers markets they visit, is a terrific opportunity to learn more about the origins of your food.
Gujwa-ro 60, Gujwa-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do (see map below)
Naver Maps’ address is 60 1
Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Gammiroy Dark Chocolate
This shop is in a little location that is easy to overlook, yet it is ideally positioned just in front of a bus stop. They sell six different kinds of chocolate bark (four in white chocolate, one in dark chocolate, and one in milk chocolate), as well as two kinds of chocolate-covered nuts. It’s fairly normal chocolatier stuff, but it’s done nicely, particularly when contrasted to the majority of other Jeju chocolate stores.
At the rear, you can see their kitchen, where they construct and temper their delights, which are individually wrapped and sold by weight. There is no English signage, however the names are simple to translate using an app such as Google Translate. If Cacao Family Jeju was closed and I had to go somewhere else, I would surely go to Gammiroy.
3813-5 Nohyeong-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do (see map below)
Naver Maps’ address is 31 1
Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. everyday; check Instagram for occasional off-days.
Lesser Dark Chocolate
candies. They offer some inexpensive Swiss cocoa mix, but otherwise it’s simply a collection of trinkets and pre-packaged sweet chocolates. This was a really unimpressive location. It’s marketed online as the best place to get Swiss chocolate in Jeju, and it’s situated in the island’s own Swiss Village (which is worth a visit, actually). Ricola cough pills were the most Swiss thing in there.
Wasan-ri 1582, Jochon-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do (see map below)
1582-8 is the address for Naver Maps.
Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sodagong Chocolate Soda
This store is a modest showcase for the brand’s chocolate bars, the product of a cooperation between the restaurant across the street and a local chocolatier. Each bar is hand-formed and comes in two distinct chocolate tastes (white, milk, green tea white, or white with strawberry pieces). The chocolate is quite sweet and somewhat basic, but the bars themselves are appealing enough to serve as a gift.
Animals, flowers, and more free-form creative creations are available as picture selections. The store salesperson was kind, but couldn’t provide much information about the chocolate, which was discouraging. There are no dark chocolate alternatives available.
437 Woljeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Korea (see map below)
Naver Maps’ address is 437
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday-Monday; check Instagram for unusual days off.
Map of Jeju Chocolate
Please save this article for later if you find it useful.
Are you prepared to sample the greatest chocolate in Jeju?
Leave a Reply