Nuance Dictionary / Taste & Texture
쌉쌀하다 ssap-ssal-ha-da
Slightly but pleasantly bitter, like dark chocolate or green tea
What does 쌉쌀하다 mean?
쌉쌀하다 (ssap-ssal-ha-da) means: Slightly but pleasantly bitter, like dark chocolate or green tea.
Korean adults love this flavor profile. It's the mature bitterness found in high-quality matcha, Americano coffee, or certain spring greens. It's a clean bitterness that resets your palate.
How it's actually used
- 이 초콜릿은 카카오 함량이 높아 쌉쌀하면서도 달콤하다.
i cho-kol-lit-eun ka-ka-o ham-ryang-i no-pa ssap-ssal-ha-myeon-seo-do dal-kom-ha-da.
This chocolate has a high cacao content, so it's slightly bitter yet sweet.
💡 Used for pleasant, mature bitterness like dark chocolate. - 쌉쌀한 맛의 말차 아이스크림은 어른들에게 인기다.
ssap-ssal-han mat-ui mal-cha a-i-seu-keu-rim-eun eo-reun-de-eul-ege in-gi-da.
Matcha ice cream with its pleasantly bitter taste is popular among adults.
💡 Describes food that is bitter in a good way. - 이 녹차 아이스크림은 쌉쌀하면서도 뒷맛이 깔끔해서 좋아.
i nokcha aiseukrimeun ssapsalhamyeonseo do dwitmasi kkeul-kkamhaeseo joha.
I like this green tea ice cream because it has a slightly bitter yet clean aftertaste.
💡 Often used to praise desserts that aren't overly sweet.
Related words in Taste & Texture
매콤하다 mae-kom-ha-da짭짤하다 jjap-jjal-ha-da달달하다 dal-dal-ha-da삼삼하다 sam-sam-ha-da밍밍하다 ming-ming-ha-da