海太制果新品测评获得部分正面反馈，但只是消费品体验稿

Among the countless new products flooding the retail and food industries each day, reporters from the Seoul Economic Daily's Lifestyle Industry Department buy the hottest new items with their own money at stores, try them out, and share their reviews.
The first product tried by our retail and food-and-beverage reporters this week is "Karubi Potato Chips Salmon Sushi Flavor," released by Haitai Confectionery earlier this month. What happens when a potato chip tastes like sushi? Opinions were divided, but the product generally earned above-average scores. For instance, even a reporter who gave a relatively harsh evaluation reacted, "It's fishy, so why do I keep eating it?"
Haitai Confectionery introduces the product as one that combines the savory taste of salmon with the sharp tang of wasabi. The company says it reinterpreted a uniquely Japanese flavor to suit Korean palates. The panel's honest reviews follow below.
The second item on the tasting table is "ARIH Dual Biotic Soda" in Clear Lemon flavor. ARIH is a global food-and-beverage brand that hy and Paldo planned together with the group BTS. It was first launched at Walmart in the United States in April before officially launching in the domestic market on June 1. According to hy, it is a low-sugar, low-calorie refreshing beverage that offers a modern reinterpretation of conventional carbonated drinks.
This product also drew mostly favorable reviews. A convenience-store-exclusive energy drink introduced in a recent New Product Unboxing received such poor reviews that its star rating was nearly "zero," but this product even earned top marks. What exactly captured the palates of our demanding panel?
Haitai Karubi Potato Chips Salmon Sushi Flavor, 96g bag, 2,390 won
■ Ajae Ipmat (Eats just about anything but avoids sweetness. Enjoys bitter coffee and prefers balanced flavors over intense ones)
The spicy seasoning and the distinctive flavor of wasabi were captured better than expected. The wasabi flavor blends naturally with the sweet-and-salty seasoning, creating a unique appeal. It isn't overpowering, and the savory taste is alive, so once you take a bite, you keep reaching for more. Rather than fully replicating the taste of salmon sushi, it's closer to a potato chip with added wasabi flavor.
Taste ★★★★☆
Price ★★★☆☆
Repurchase intent ★★★★★
■ Three Coffees a Day (A walking melting pot of tastes, from Korean to Mediterranean. Cares more about who you eat with than what you eat)
"Salmon sushi-flavored potato chips... it's probably just a fun gimmick snack."
Maybe it was because I lowered my expectations. It was really delicious.
As someone who likes salmon, I can clearly taste the salmon. As a sushi lover, I can taste the wasabi too. The only thing missing is the taste of rice, so I'm in favor of naming this product salmon sushi flavor.
Unlike low-quality potato chips that are merely salty, this had just the right amount of saltiness with a deep savory taste, making it hard to stop.
Taste ★★★★★
Price ★★★☆☆
Repurchase intent ★★★★★
■ Mint-Choco Guardian (Loves spicy and sweet, but hates anything "too" spicy or sweet. The type who needs to cleanse the palate with something spicy after eating something sweet)
I was curious how they managed to recreate salmon sushi flavor, but sure enough, it just tasted like an ordinary potato chip. It was a decent, tasty potato chip—moderately spicy while bringing out the flavor of the potato. Even if I spotted it in the snack corner of a convenience store, I don't think I'd bother reaching for it.
Taste ★★☆☆☆
Price ★☆☆☆☆
Repurchase intent ★☆☆☆☆
■ Skinny Glutton (Eats anything, whether greasy or spicy. A whole chicken and a whole pizza are just the basics)
When you open the bag, the savory aroma distinctive to thinly sliced potato chips rises up first. The chips have a relatively thin and crispy texture. They crumble lightly in the mouth. The saltiness isn't excessively strong, making it easy to enjoy the plain, clean flavor of the potato. It's a product well suited to consumers who prefer basic, faithful potato chips over intensely seasoned ones. That said, I don't think it tastes like the salmon sushi it advertised. The portion is generous enough to eat alone, and it's also suitable for several people to share as a light snack or as a side with beer.
Taste ★★★☆☆
Price ★★☆☆☆
Repurchase intent ★★★☆☆
■ Dreaming Gourmet (Likes intuitive flavors but (tries to) savor the layers of food carefully. Prefers bread over rice)
It's fishy and salty. Not only is there no salmon sushi taste, there isn't even the aroma. But I keep eating it. Karubi potato chips are so reliable that the living crispiness solves everything. It's the kind of snack you'll definitely crave after eating something sweet. It made me realize anew just how well Korean snacks create all sorts of unusual flavors.
Taste ★★★☆☆
Price ★★★★☆
Repurchase intent ★★★☆☆
■ Ursa (The type who wants to wrap up the day with a Jack-and-Coke after work but finds even getting the ice out too much of a bother)
I was a little surprised at the first bite. I thought it was salmon sushi flavor in name only, but it really does taste and smell like salmon sushi. The chip is definitely crispy, but in the mouth, an inexplicable sushi-restaurant vibe keeps rising up.
At first I wondered, "Is this right?" but before I knew it, I had emptied the whole bag while eating. It's a taste that will divide opinion. But I cast my vote for the "love it" camp. It's an addictive snack that's strange yet delicious, unfamiliar yet keeps you eating.
Taste ★★★★★
Price ★★★☆☆
Repurchase intent ★★★★☆
■ Taste Scrooge (A picky palate that rarely gives dessert a second look. But once something clicks, the classic "fixed-preference" eater who sticks to just that)
The moment you open the bag, the distinctive aroma of smoky bacon chips rushes up. The texture is somewhat firm rather than crispy. Perhaps because the edges of the chips are a bit thick, the chew feels quite substantial.
I looked to see what flavor it was—salmon sushi? Whether I eat it sitting, standing, or lying down, I can't tell that it's salmon sushi flavor. There is a wasabi aroma that lightly taps the tongue. And it really is "light." It feels similar to that famous wasabi snack whose wasabi aroma and flavor have been greatly toned down.
It certainly has an addictive quality that keeps your hand reaching for more. But even after emptying the whole bag, the salmon sushi taste is... I don't know. I have no idea at all. I really don't know.
Taste ★★☆☆☆
Price ★☆☆☆☆
Repurchase intent ★☆☆☆☆
HY ARIH Dual Biotic Soda Clear Lemon, 355㎖ can, 1,490 won
■ Ajae Ipmat (Eats just about anything but avoids sweetness. Enjoys bitter coffee and prefers balanced flavors over intense ones)
The sweetness of the soda and the refreshing fizz of the carbonation blend in a balanced way. It isn't too sweet, making it good for light summer drinking, and the lemon scent goes well with it. The refreshing, tangy quality comes alive more when it's well chilled rather than lukewarm. It's unremarkable, but the cool taste of the soda is alive, making it a drink you'll likely reach for often in summer.
Taste ★★★★☆
Price ★★★☆☆
Repurchase intent ★★★★☆
■ Three Coffees a Day (A walking melting pot of tastes, from Korean to Mediterranean. Cares more about who you eat with than what you eat)
It's not overly sweet and goes down smoothly. The feeling as it slides down the throat is much like Milkis, but with a refreshing lemon taste. However, as with artificial sweeteners in general, a bitter aftertaste lingers instead of the sweetness of regular sugar. It contains only 2 grams of sugar, with the sweetness delivered through 4 grams of allulose. In exchange for gaining some health benefits, you have to put up with a slight bitterness.
Taste ★★☆☆☆
Price ★★★☆☆
Repurchase intent ★★☆☆☆
■ Mint-Choco Guardian (Loves spicy and sweet, but hates anything "too" spicy or sweet. The type who needs to cleanse the palate with something spicy after eating