2021: New year, New Animal

In South Korea each year we celebrate a different animal, those animals in total are 12 and they are related to the Chinese Zodiac, the Chinese zodiac is known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang and has 12 animal signs in this following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig, those animal signs are not only celebrated in China, they are celebrated in South Korea as well, people believe that each year can influence in people’s career, love compatibility, marriage, fortune and also personalities.

2021 is the year of the “ Ox “ ; the ox the second animal in the Chinese zodiac is a hard working animal and symbolizes loyalty and being trustworthy, this is believed because they were the earliest animals to be raised in Korea and in the world as livestock and also they helped farmers grow crops and an amazing fact is and after this year we will celebrate the Ox in 2033, yes after 11 years.

In South Korea there are many places where you can buy special food commemorating this special year, and for us as foreigners they will look so cool in our social media, in my country they does not sell all those things, so I can consider them special.

1. Dunkin Donuts  

The price of each donut is less than ($2 USD).

• Large soft donut covered with milk (우유 먹고 큰 소프트 도넛 )
• Large donut covered with white and milk flavor (우유 먹고 큰 화이트 도넛)
• Cinnamon roll covered with condensed milk (연유에 빠진 시나몬 롤)

Using Kakao Maps (카카오 맵) or Naver Maps (네이버 지도, 네비게이션) write Dunkin donuts or (던킨도너츠) and you can go to the brand near you to eat inside the store or take out, normally Dunkin Donuts store are running every day from 7 am to 11 pm but due to the covid-19 situation many restaurants changed its shift till 9 pm.

Check out: Useful Apps When Traveling to Korea

2. Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Korea couldn’t miss the opportunity to make the Ox themed donuts they also have some combos where you can buy 6 or 12 donuts or you can buy the seasonal donuts per less than ( $3 USD ) 

The seasonal donuts are:

• 푸른 초원 위 밀카무: This donut is under the license of milka chocolate and the donut is covered with green tea plus a cow shaped cookie on the top
• 2020 행복하소: The donut is a white cow shaped donut filled with soft milk cream
• 밀카 스트라베리 필드: This donut with milka chocolate collaboration is filled with strawberry and delicious milk and two small pieces of chocolate on the top.

You can also order your donuts in food deliver apps such as (배달의민죽, 배달요기요,  쿠팡이츠) or you can visit the nearby branch. 

3. Baskin Robbins

This year Baskin Robbins launched special ice cream with milk and also we can order a blend or a cake.

The cake price is (26,000원 WON) and it has square bytes on top and inside the cake is full of ice cream  with the next flavors:  berry berry, almond bong, blueberry cheesecake, Shooting star, Cherry Jubilee, Mom is an alien and chocolate ice cream.

The blends can be natural milk taste or strawberry milk taste the price depends on the size.

And also they have the Ice Sand which is a delicious sandwich filled with milk ice cream and rich custard cream the price is (3,300원WON).

You can order the cake, ice sand and ice cream in food deliver apps such as ( 배달의민죽, 배달요기요,  쿠팡이츠 ), sadly the blend is only available in the store but don’t worry, you can visit the nearby branch. 

4. Paris Baguette 

This 2021 Paris Baguette has 4 special products, one cow shaped cake, a delicious milk castella, milk cookies in a cute milk envelope shaped box and milk roll, at least where I live ( Gwanak-Gu  ) in the branches near by me the products appear in the ( 신제품 ) which basically means “new product” and since they are seasonal in delivery food apps they get sold out easily.

5. Tous les jours 

This delicious bakery made this 2021 5 special desserts inspired in the Ox year.

You can ask for delivery or go to the nearby shop.

If you click this link you are able to check the store that is closest to you its necessary you input in the region area (지역) (시/도) state or province where you live and where says (군/구) the district nearest to you.

매장안내(branch locations): tlj.co.kr

6. Convenience store (7 eleven, CU, GS25, E-mart)

Im 100% sure that in the corner of your house one of those convenience store is, also there you can find special cow themed sweets.

In 7 eleven you can find:  

• 우유크림 롤 케이크(milk cream roll cake)
• 초코 크림 롤 케이크(chocolate cream roll cake)
• 밀카롱 (macaron with cow spots)
• 말랑 카우 치즈 버거 ( cheese burger ) 

In CU you can find: 

• 우유찰떡 (milk rice cake)
• 맛있소 손우유 케이크(fresh milk cake)
• 우유앙빵(milk cake)
• 쫀득롤케익 순우유(pure milk roll cake)

In GS25 you can find:

• 래핑카우 치즈&딸기샌드(laughing cow cheese and strawberry sand)
• 래핑카우 츠즈스팀케익(laughing cow cheese steamed cake)

In E-mart you can find: 

• Special COW themed Makgeolli *

Can be found ONLY this month (January) at convenience stores and supermarkets nationwide can be sold out early can also the time of stock in convenience stores of supermarkets can differ per region.