Bansuk, or Half-Baked, Castera

I have been dying to try the Bansuk Castera at the Lotte Department Store since last summer when I first saw its plastic model in the case on display. This half-baked castera is made with rice powder instead of flour, and has rich custard-like fillings in the center made with egg yolk and milk.

The castera came in a small box with its brand logo. These days, everything is about branding...

The castera was about the size of two fists. It had a wrapping on the side.

Once I peeled the wrapping, the custard filling oozed from the side. I could smell the strong aroma of the egg yolk.

I used a spoon to poke at the center. Like half-frozen ice of a lake, the top shell broke really easily and the spoon dunked into a pool of soft cream.

So bubbly!

The castera was sort of messy to eat. I just used the spoon to scoop up the bread and the creamy fillings.

The castera was extremely moist and chewy, probably from the rice powder. It also wasn’t overly sweet.

The custard inside added moistness to the already soft, moist cake.