TYWMIK Revisited

Lotte Sand: Looks like an Oreo, but tastes better

When we moved to Seoul two years ago, one of our biggest challenges was finding the products and types of food that we enjoyed back home. We quickly found that The Body Shop, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and peanut butter were "Things You Won't Miss in Korea." But it took us several months to track down things like taco seasoning, tortillas, and M&Ms.

As time passed, so did our cravings for items that you just couldn't find in Korea, like fig newton cookies. Our taste buds evolved so much that I now prefer patbingsu (shaved ice with fruit and red beans on top) over ice cream in the summer. And stranger still, some of the items that we considered knock-offs of American food now taste better to us than the authentic import.

Take Oreos, for one. The Korean cookie aisle is almost unrecognizable to an American, filled with jam-filled snacks and Market O 'premium' brownies. Any decent sized grocery store here, however, will stock Oreos in their foreign food section. But we now know not to fall for the alluring blue packaging of "America's Favorite Cookie." The Korean interpretation of the sandwich cookie, Lotte Sand, is less sugary and a lot more yummy. Plus it comes in mini packs, so you won't ever make the mistake of eating the whole box in one go.

Mountain strawberries: Look like raspberries, but taste like blueberries

The box: Bought on sale for 9,800 won ($9), usually closer to 20,000 won

Then there's fruit. The only people who eat cherries, raspberries, and blueberries in Korea are the mega wealthy. They sell a pint of cherries at our local grocery store for the equivalent of $45. Raspberries are sold in larger quantities, but prices still start at $15. The only blueberries I've seen in grocery stores here are the frozen kind.

So the other day when the store had a fruit sale, Mike jumped at the chance of getting us some berries. What was sold as "mountain strawberries" and looked like raspberries ended up tasting like blueberries. And they were wonderful ... perfectly ripe and tasty.

Multigrain Hoops: Look like Cherrios, taste like Cherrios

Of course, there's always the knockoff food that tastes exactly like its American cousin. While "Multigrain Hoops" may not roll off the tongue quite like Cherrios, the taste is identical. And the Tesco brand has two adorable leopards to boot.