MK Food Valley
MK Food Valley to expand the footprint of its Omija Juice Series. Credit: Business Wire.

South Korea’s MK Food Valley is planning to expand the footprint of its Omija Juice Series and other products made with omija berries.

The beverages are currently exported to 13 different countries worldwide.

Often called the five-flavour berry, the omija berry offers a mixture of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and spicy flavours. Around 1cm in diameter, the fruit is available in Korea in early to mid-September.

“Our Omija Syrup is the only Korean syrup to have won innovation contests in two major food and beverage trade shows.”

According to the company, omija berries contain higher levels of calcium, potassium and magnesium than noni, acai and aronia berries.

MK Food Valley is engaged in the production of Omija Syrup, Omija Redcho and the Omija Juice Series, which are produced using omija berries harvested in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang.

The company supplies Omija Syrup to Starbucks Korea and Tom N Toms coffee franchises in Thailand.

An MK Food Valley official said: “Our Omija Syrup is the only Korean syrup to have won innovation contests in two major food and beverage trade shows, Gulfood Dubai and SIAL Paris.

“Taking international fairs’ certification of our products as momentum for further growth, we will step up R&D to increase our exports with a wider array of products.”