Convenience store Seven Eleven announced on the 27th that it will launch a variety of food items, including a rice wine combined with matcha and desserts.
Seven Eleven is launching a rice wine product called "Deogiwa Matcha Mak" that utilizes matcha. Recently, as the "matcha rice wine" served directly with freshly brewed matcha at the unique Korean pub "Deogiwa" gained popularity on social media, the company decided to commercialize it. This product is made with domestically sourced rice and matcha powder, creating a harmony between the sweet taste of the rice wine and the bitter matcha flavor.
The company will also introduce new matcha products in the dessert category, including ice cream and sandwiches. The "Matcha Bar" contains approximately 1.6 times the amount of matcha compared to regular matcha ice cream available in the market, featuring a rich taste due to the use of domestically sourced matcha powder. The "Forest Matcha Chocolate Sandwich," set to launch on the 2nd of next month, will offer a sweet yet bittersweet matcha flavor with matcha cream and chocolate cream, enhanced with almond and walnut pieces for a savory taste and chewy texture.
Matcha is gaining attention as an ingredient rich in antioxidants and low in calories, allowing people to enjoy both taste and health benefits simultaneously. According to Seven Eleven, the sales of matcha-flavored products from the 1st to the 26th of this month increased by about three times compared to the same period last year.
Lee Nam-gu, the head of the beverage and alcohol team at Seven Eleven, noted, "As matcha emerges as a trendy ingredient worldwide, we planned to combine it with sweet rice wine and ice cream for a delightful sweet and bitter taste, allowing our customers to enjoy it even more." He added, "Since our channel has a high utilization rate among younger consumers, we will continue to quickly respond to rapidly changing trends and strengthen our differentiated product lineup in the future."