Korean Slate

Had a hard time making out what this was from afar. The prominent Korean characters said it was 빠다코코낫 (bbada kokonaht). The coconut part I got but what’s bbada? Sounds almost like 바다 (bada), which means ocean.

Closer inspection of the English lettering revealed that it was Butter Coconut Biscuits. Another part of the label said it was Biscuits with Honey. Whatever… I’ll try anything new and on sale, so I bought a box without checking the ingredients, which by the way contained high-fructose corn syrup (yuck!).

You’d think with such a sweetener, they would taste good, but these biscuits were unremarkable. Crisp in texture, but bland in flavor.

Most of the information on the box is in Hangul, but there was a square sticker on the back side listing the ingredients and nutrition facts in English.

Product Name: Butter Coconut 100g. Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, salt, leavening, (sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate), dry beta-carotene 10%, sodium bisulfite, wheat fiber, vegetable shortening (palm), margarine, corn starch, coconut powder, artificial flavor.

Allergy information: contains wheat and coconut.

Nutrition Facts. Serving size: 1/3 pack (33 grams). About 3 servings per container. Each serving: 125 calories, 40 from fat. Total fat 5 grams: saturated 4 grams, no trans fat. No cholesterol. 131 milligrams of sodum. Total carbohydrates 20 grams: 1 gram dietary fiber, 7 grams sugars. Protein 2 grams. Percent Daily Value: 8% vitamin A. No vitamin C, calcium or iron.

Net weight: 100 grams (3.52 ounces). UPC 8 801062 247035

Manufactured by Lotte Confectionery Company, Limited. Seoul, Korea. Tel: USA (213) 688-8806, Korea 2-2635-8722.

Lotte Original since 1979. Promise the Best. There’s a man dressed like a doctor on the side of the box holding up the box. He is identified as the head developer of these biscuits. Quote: “I made this while thinking of my family.” (High-fructose corn syrup???)

Anyhoo, the box says the suggested retail price is 1,000 Korean won. California Market is currently selling it for 50 American cents. These biscuits are not even filling, so don’t bother.