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Have You Tried Miyuk Marshmallows?

October 9, 2013

Second Generation Korean American Sara Sohn Generates

Buzz with Her Sweet & Sara Vegan Treats

Sara Sohn has hit products in her hands.

Sara Sohn has hit products in her hands.

How did she come up with the idea to make marshmallows with miyuk? You know, that slippery seaweed Koreans make ‘Birthday Soup’ (miyuk guk) with.

Well, annual sales that have already reached up to $700,000 say it’s a brilliant idea. The woman who created the treats is second-generation Korean American Sara Sohn.

Her Sweet & Sara products, which don’t contain animal or dairy products, can easily be found in the aisles of Whole Foods markets. Sohn first introduced Sweet & Sara in 2006 and as of October 2013, her company’s products are now being carried by 41 Whole Foods market locations throughout the United States. Sweet & Sara products are currently sold at over 300 outlets internationally, in countries like England, Germany, and Australia.

Her company’s sales are steadily growing, along with people’s interest in eating healthy. Sohn says her company’s sales have increased six-fold from three years ago. Sweet & Sara also offers more variety now, as they offer over 10 different products, ranging from vanilla and strawberry flavors to s’mores.

Sohn says she thought about vegan marshmallows when she became a strict vegetarian at the age of 13. Vegans don’t eat meat and also refrain from consuming dairy products such as milk and butter.

Sohn says her company has recently been approached by the coffee chain giant Starbucks to launch a product line for the holiday season. However, she said that her current 9,000 square feet factory in Long Island City in Queens, New York, which has 10 employees, may not be able to produce enough to meet the order. Expansion is one of her top priorities going forward.

Sohn substitutes marshmallows’ main ingredient, gelatin – usually made with animal bones – with miyuk extract. “It took a whole year to come up with same sweet taste and texture without using the basic, traditional ingredients of marshmallows,” she said. “But, each time I failed, I just became more determined to make it work, and thanks to my family’s continual support, I was able to come up with the world’s first vegan marshmallows,” Sohn explained.

Sohn and her Sweet & Sara vegan marshmallows have been featured by The New York Times, CNBC, the Rachael Ray Show, and the Cooking Channel’s “Not My Mamma’s Meals.”

 

4 Comments

  1. Rucy

    October 9, 2013 at 6:08 PM

    I wanna try seaweed marshmallows! It’s really special I guess. Good job!

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