Testing the Top Korean Konjac Drinks from GS25

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Why Seoul Convenience Stores Are Obsessed with Konjac Drinks

The summer heat in Seoul hit hard at around 3 PM today, so I walked straight down to the GS25 on the ground floor of my apartment building to grab something icy. Past the rows of iced cup coffees and banana milk boxes, the cold drink shelf was packed with colorful squeeze pouches featuring pictures of peaches, green apples, and grapes. These are Korean konjac drinks, known locally as gonyak jelly (곤약젤리), and they have become an absolute staple of daily life here in South Korea.

If you have spent any time on Korean social media or watched K-pop idols share their daily routines, you have probably seen these flexible foil pouches with plastic spouts. Konjac is a root vegetable that is crushed, processed, and combined with water and gelling agents to create a thick, bouncy jelly. Because konjac fiber swells up and holds water without adding heavy digestives, it creates a remarkably filling drink while staying almost zero-calorie. Manufacturers sweeten these pouches with erythritol or sugar alcohols instead of table sugar, giving you the satisfying bite of a fruity dessert without a sugar crash.

International fans are often curious whether these pouch drinks taste like real fruit juice or like artificial diet gelatin. Having tried dozens of variations during my daily convenience store runs, I can tell you that texture and flavor balance vary dramatically between brands. Here is my honest breakdown of the top Korean konjac drinks sitting on shop shelves right now.

Top Korean Konjac Drinks Tested and Ranked

1. Jelly B Konjac Jelly (Peach Flavor)

Jelly B is arguably the brand that put pouch jelly on the global map, and their Peach flavor remains the gold standard in convenience stores across Seoul. When you buy this at GS25 or CU, it usually sits right next to the energy drinks. The pouch requires a decent squeeze to break up the firm jelly block inside so it glides smoothly through the plastic spout.

Taste and Texture: The peach aroma hits you immediately upon twisting off the cap. It tastes remarkably close to a fresh Baekdo (Korean white peach), offering a lush, floral sweetness without that harsh chemical aftertaste common in diet products. In terms of sweetness, it matches the intensity of a classic Peach Snapple or Capri Sun juice pouch. Texture-wise, Jelly B produces a firmer, springier gel that gives your jaw a light workout, which helps trick your brain into feeling like you just ate a real afternoon snack.

How Locals Drink It: Seoul commuters love grabbing a chilled Jelly B on their way to the subway during the morning rush when they do not have time for a sit-down breakfast. My personal trick is throwing one into the freezer for exactly thirty minutes before drinking. The edges turn into a refreshing slushie while the core stays chewy.

2. Sugarlolo Konjac Jelly (Green Apple)

Sugarlolo is hugely popular among olive Young shoppers and college students in Seoul. While Jelly B focuses on round, sweet profiles, Sugarlolo leans heavily into bright, tangy fruit notes that cut through summer humidity.

Taste and Texture: The Green Apple flavor is delightfully sour up front, reminiscent of a green apple Hi-Chew candy translated into a cold liquid gel. The sweetness hits mid-palette and finishes clean thanks to erythritol. Texture-wise, Sugarlolo is slightly softer and looser than Jelly B. It breaks down easily with minimal squeezing, making it effortless to sip while walking or working at a desk.

How Locals Drink It: This is the ultimate post-workout treat in Korea. People frequently pack a Sugarlolo in their gym bags because the sharp acidity instantly wakes up your tastebuds after an intense training session or running along the Han River.

3. CJ Petitzel Water Jelly (Grape Flavor)

CJ CheilJedang is one of South Korea’s biggest food conglomerates, and their Petitzel line has been a household dessert name for decades. Unlike dedicated low-calorie dietary jellies, Petitzel Water Jelly is crafted primarily for flavor and texture enjoyment.

Taste and Texture: Expect a flavor that mimics premium Kyoho grapes—deep, aromatic, and rich. Sweetness levels are high, comparable to Welch’s Grape Soda, though without any carbonation. Because it is marketed as a “water jelly,” the texture is far more fluid than Jelly B or Sugarlolo. It flows naturally through the spout with light suction, offering a silky sensation that slides right down your throat.

How Locals Drink It: Parents frequently toss Petitzel pouches into lunchboxes for kids, and adults often grab them from 7-Eleven as an after-dinner dessert. If you enjoy spicy Korean food, pairing a chilled CJ Petitzel Grape jelly with a burning bowl of spicy ramyeon works wonders. The soothing, cold grape jelly coats your mouth and kills the chili heat faster than milk or water.

4. Lotte Bellygom / Daily C Konjac Jelly (Calamansi / Mango)

Lotte frequently collaborates with popular characters and updates their pouch drink lineup each season. Their citrus and mango konjac drinks are aimed squarely at people who want a quick fruit kick on hot afternoons.

Taste and Texture: The Calamansi flavor is sharp, citrusy, and punchy, offering a tart flavor profile that rivals a strong lemonade. If you do not like overly sweet drinks, this is the one to target. The jelly matrix sits right in the middle: firm enough to chew, but yielding enough to drink quickly.

How Locals Drink It: Office workers in Gangnam often keep these in the breakroom mini-fridge for the dreaded 2 PM slump. The sour calamansi kick provides an instant caffeine-free wakeup call during long spreadsheet sessions.

Comparing the Top Korean Konjac Drinks

To help you decide which pouch matches your preference, here is a quick breakdown of how these popular options stack up in terms of bite and flavor profile.

Brand	Texture Type	Flavor Profile
Jelly B	Firm & Chewy	Sweet & Floral
Sugarlolo	Medium Soft	Tangy & Tart
CJ Petitzel	Silky & Fluid	Rich & Juicy
Lotte Daily C	Balanced Gel	Zesty Citrus

Overall Taste Profile

Aspect	Rating (out of 5)	Note
Sweetness Intensity	4/5	Sweetened with erythritol for fruit flavor without a sugar crash.
Texture Firmness	3.5/5	Ranges from silky fluid gels to firm, chewy blocks.
Tartness & Acidity	3/5	Green apple and citrus varieties offer a bright, sour contrast.

How Koreans Actually Eat Konjac Drinks

In the West, functional jelly pouches are often treated purely as diet substitutes, but in Korea, they are integrated seamlessly into everyday snack culture. Convenience stores like GS25, CU, and Seven-Eleven continuously run “1+1” (buy one, get one free) or “2+1” promotions on these pouches, which encourages people to mix and match flavors every week.

Prices in Seoul typically range around 1,500 to 2,500 won per pouch, depending on current store sales and brand tiers. Because product packaging and limited-edition flavor runs change frequently—especially seasonal drops like watermelon in summer or shine muscat in autumn—you will always find something new on the rack.

Price Per Serving Math

While exact cost depends on current store deals, here is an example of standard convenience store pricing in Seoul (verify store tags before relying on prices):

• Single Pouch Purchase: ~2,000 KRW (approx. $1.50 USD) per pouch.
• 2+1 Promotional Deal: Buying 3 pouches at 2,000 KRW each brings the total to 4,000 KRW, lowering your cost to ~1,333 KRW (approx. $1.00 USD) per serving.
• 1+1 Promotional Deal: Getting 2 pouches for 2,000 KRW drops the price to ~1,000 KRW (approx. $0.75 USD) per serving.

Here are the three most common ways locals enjoy them:

• The Freezer Slushie Trick: Lay the pouch flat in your freezer for 30 to 45 minutes. Knead the pouch with your hands before opening to crush the icy jelly into a fine fruit slush.
• Spicy Food Cool-Down: Drink a pouch alongside ultra-spicy dishes like Buldak ramyeon or tteokbokki. The cool gel creates a protective barrier that tames capsaicin heat.
• Late-Night Cravings Buster: When midnight hunger strikes in Seoul but you want to avoid heavy late-night delivery (yasik), a cold pouch of peach konjac satisfies the urge to chew something sweet.

How to Get Them Overseas

If you live outside Korea, imported konjac drink pouches can be found at local Asian grocery markets like H-Mart or ordered online through major retailers. Stocking up during multi-pack sales is the best way to replicate Korean convenience store value from abroad.

Key Takeaways

• Low-Calorie Fullness: Konjac root fiber swells in water, making these drinks surprisingly filling while keeping calories near zero using sugar-free erythritol.
• Diverse Textures Across Brands: Choose Jelly B for a firm chew, Sugarlolo for a soft tangy bite, CJ Petitzel for a silky drinkable gel, or Lotte for citrus zip.
• Affordable Local Pricing: Typically priced between 1,500 and 2,500 KRW in Korea, common 1+1 and 2+1 promotions reduce the per-serving cost substantially.
• Versatile Everyday Uses: Koreans enjoy these pouches as quick breakfasts on the go, post-workout refreshment, 30-minute freezer slushies, and spicy food palate-coolers.

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