Korean Black Raspberry Jelly | Bokbunja Agar Candy | 9.87 oz

Korean black raspberry jelly (bokbunja, 복분자젤리) is a 9.87 oz bag of chewy agar candy made in Korea by Ilkwang Confectionery, flavored with black raspberry extract and individually wrapped.

What Korean black raspberry jelly is

Each piece is set with agar — the seaweed gelling agent Koreans call hancheon (한천) — instead of gelatin, so the bite is firm at first and then chewy. The flavor is bokbunja, the Korean black raspberry: bright and berry-tart up front, with a deeper, darker fruit note than a red raspberry, finished with a light sugar coating.

Bokbunja is the berry Koreans know best from bokbunja-ju, the deep-red fruit wine poured at summer gatherings. Ilkwang, a Busan candy maker in business since 1968, puts that same berry flavor into a bag of jelly you can carry — with no alcohol at all.

Made in Korea by Ilkwang Confectionery

This jelly is made in Korea by Ilkwang Confectionery (일광제과) in Busan, in a HACCP-certified facility — a food-safety standard covering hygienic, consistent manufacturing end to end. The bag is marked Product of Korea.

Kosbee stocks it at our own warehouse in New Jersey, so orders ship domestically within one business day rather than travelling from overseas after you order.

Key facts

Origin

Made in Korea by Ilkwang Confectionery (일광제과), Busan.

Type

Chewy jelly candy set with agar, a seaweed-derived gelling agent, rather than gelatin.

Flavor

Black raspberry (bokbunja) extract, 0.5% of the recipe, with black raspberry flavor. Contains no alcohol.

Net weight

9.87 oz (280 g) per bag — about 20 individually wrapped pieces.

Per piece

About 14 g and 50 calories, 1 g total sugars, 5 mg sodium (as printed on the pack).

Contains

Soy. Made in a facility that also processes wheat, peanut, peach, milk, shellfish (abalone), and fish.

Storage

Keep in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

How to enjoy Korean black raspberry jelly

How many pieces are a serving?

One or two pieces is the usual serving — about 14 to 28 g, or roughly 50 to 100 calories. A bag holds about 20 pieces, so one bag covers a couple of weeks of afternoon breaks. There is no prep: unwrap and eat.

What does it go with?

The tart berry flavor sits well after a meal or alongside green tea or barley tea, and it makes a small, tidy dessert when you do not want a whole slice of something. Because the jelly is firm, bite gently and chew it through rather than swallowing a piece whole.

Before you eat it

This jelly contains soy, and it is made in a facility that also processes wheat, peanut, peach, milk, shellfish (abalone), and fish, so trace cross-contact is possible. It is not certified allergen-free — read the printed package label first.

The texture is firm and springy. Chew gently and fully, take care if you have dental work or sensitive teeth, and do not let small children eat a piece whole.

Telling Korean black raspberry jelly apart

Bokbunja vs blackberry — what's the difference?

Bokbunja (복분자) is the Korean black raspberry, a wild bramble berry native to Korea that ripens from red to near-black in early summer. It looks like a small blackberry, but it is a raspberry: the fruit pulls away from its core when picked, leaving a hollow center. The taste is sharper and more wine-like than a garden blackberry, which is why it is the berry behind Korea's bokbunja-ju.

Why does the bag say "Raspberry Wine Jelly" — does it contain alcohol?

No. "Wine" on the bag is the manufacturer's nod to bokbunja-ju, the fruit wine that made this berry famous in Korea. The ingredient list has no wine or alcohol — the flavor comes from black raspberry extract and black raspberry flavor. It is a sweet, everyday candy, not an alcoholic product.

Agar jelly or gelatin gummy — which is this?

Agar is a gelling agent made from seaweed; gelatin comes from animal collagen. Agar sets firmer and does not soften at body temperature, so an agar jelly keeps a springy, crisp-then-chewy bite instead of the slow stretch of a gummy. It also means this candy is made without animal gelatin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Korean black raspberry jelly really made in Korea?

Yes. This jelly is made in Korea by Ilkwang Confectionery (일광제과) of Busan, a candy maker in business since 1968, in a HACCP-certified facility. It is set with plant-based agar instead of gelatin, flavored with black raspberry (bokbunja) extract, and individually wrapped in a 9.87 oz bag.

Does Korean black raspberry jelly contain alcohol?

No. The bag's "Raspberry Wine Jelly" wording refers to bokbunja-ju, the Korean fruit wine made from the same berry, but the candy itself is made with black raspberry extract and flavor, not wine. There is no alcohol in the ingredient list, so it is an ordinary sweet treat.

Bokbunja vs blackberry — what's the difference?

Bokbunja is the Korean black raspberry, a native Korean bramble berry that ripens almost black. It resembles a blackberry, but it is a true raspberry that leaves a hollow center when picked, and its flavor is sharper and more wine-like. This jelly uses bokbunja extract, so the taste is darker and tarter than red raspberry candy.

How many pieces should you eat, and how do you store them?

One or two pieces is a normal serving, about 14 to 28 g and roughly 50 to 100 calories, with no prep needed. It contains soy and is made in a facility that handles wheat, peanut, peach, milk, abalone, and fish — read the label first. Keep the bag cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight.

How fast does Kosbee ship this black raspberry jelly?

Kosbee stocks this jelly at our own warehouse in New Jersey and ships within one business day, so orders inside the United States arrive in days rather than weeks from overseas. Each 9.87 oz bag holds about 20 individually wrapped pieces.

A Korean berry treat you can carry

A 9.87 oz (280 g) bag with about 20 individually wrapped pieces, sourced by Kosbee and shipped from our New Jersey warehouse within one business day. Store the bag somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight.

Browse the rest of Korean Traditional Candy & Snacks. If you like the agar chew, Ilkwang makes it in other flavors too — roasted Korean Coffee Jelly, warming Korean Ginger Jelly, and bright Jeju Mandarin Jelly.