Kimchi & Cheddar Croissant: A New Twist on a Classic

Quick answer

The kimchi & cheddar croissant is a savoury, Korean-inspired twist on a classic: flaky laminated pastry filled with sharp cheddar and tangy, gently spicy kimchi. It suits anyone who prefers a savoury breakfast or lunch over sweet pastries, and it pairs especially well with a strong coffee such as GAIL's House Blend. If you want a sweet treat instead, a Plain Scone or Honey Loaf Cake is the better pick.

Savoury croissant flavours have moved well beyond ham and cheese, and the kimchi & cheddar croissant is one of the clearest examples: a classic laminated pastry with a bold, fermented filling. If you're deciding whether to try it, this guide explains who it suits, how to eat it, and how it fits alongside the rest of GAIL's bakery range.

Because the kimchi & cheddar croissant is a newer addition, there isn't a long track record of reviews to lean on. Instead, this guide uses what we know about how GAIL's makes its pastry and what's in the rest of the range, so you can make a confident choice rather than guessing.

What makes the kimchi & cheddar croissant different

A standard croissant is butter, flour, and time — light, flaky, and sweet enough to eat plain. The kimchi & cheddar version keeps that lamination but adds two strong savoury elements: sharp cheddar and fermented kimchi. The cheddar brings richness and salt, while the kimchi brings acidity, gentle heat, and a fermented tang that cuts through the butter.

That combination is what people mean by Korean fusion pastry: a French technique with Korean flavours. The result is a pastry that eats more like a savoury snack or light lunch than a breakfast treat. If you usually reach for a sweet pastry with your coffee, this is a deliberate change of direction rather than a small variation.

• Eat it warm if you can — the cheddar softens and the kimchi flavour opens up.
• If you're heat-sensitive, ask how spicy the current batch is before buying.
• Pair with a black coffee or a cold drink rather than a sweet one.

How it compares with GAIL's other savoury and sweet options

If you want a savoury pastry, the kimchi & cheddar croissant is the boldest option. If you want something milder, a Plain Scone is sweet and crumbly with a light golden crust — a gentler choice for breakfast or a coffee break. For a shared table, the Afternoon Tea (serves 4) covers both sweet and savoury in one box, including scones, sandwiches, and brownie bites.

For a sweet finish instead, the Honey Loaf Cake is a buttery honey sponge with cinnamon-honey icing and blue cornflower petals, made for sharing. The kimchi & cheddar croissant and the Honey Loaf Cake sit at opposite ends of the range, so the choice comes down to whether you want savoury and tangy or sweet and buttery.

• Savoury and bold: kimchi & cheddar croissant.
• Mild and classic: Plain Scone.
• Sweet and shareable: Honey Loaf Cake.
• Mixed crowd: Afternoon Tea (serves 4).

Drinks and sides that work with it

The kimchi & cheddar croissant has a lot of flavour, so a delicate drink gets lost next to it. GAIL's House Blend Coffee Whole Beans 200g is a good match: full-bodied and balanced, with muscovado sugar notes and a lingering nutty, walnut-like finish that stands up to cheddar and fermentation. The soft, bright acidity also echoes the tang of the kimchi.

If you prefer something cold, a Rapscallion Burnt Lemon Can is a sharp, citrus-led option that resets your palate between bites. For a lighter meal, add a salad or a piece of fruit rather than another pastry — the croissant is rich enough on its own.

• Hot: House Blend coffee, brewed stronger than usual.
• Cold: Rapscallion Burnt Lemon Can for a citrus contrast.
• Avoid very sweet drinks — they fight the kimchi.

Practical buying and eating advice

Savoury croissants are best eaten the day you buy them. If you're picking one up in the morning for later, keep it in a paper bag rather than a sealed container so the pastry doesn't go soft. To refresh it, warm it briefly in an oven — a few minutes is enough; a microwave will make it chewy.

If you're buying for a group, remember that not everyone wants fermented, spicy flavours. Order a mix: one or two kimchi & cheddar croissants for the adventurous eaters, plus milder options like a Plain Scone or a Honey Loaf Cake for everyone else. That way no one is stuck with something they don't enjoy.

• Buy for same-day eating where possible.
• Store in paper, not plastic.
• Reheat in an oven, never a microwave.
• Mix bold and mild options for groups.

Decision rules: should you buy the kimchi & cheddar croissant?

• You like tangy, fermented flavours: Kimchi is the defining ingredient here, so the croissant tastes fermented and gently spicy rather than mild and buttery. If you enjoy sauerkraut, pickles, or sourdough, you'll likely enjoy this. Buy it if fermentation is a selling point, not a dealbreaker.
• You want a savoury breakfast or lunch: This is a savoury pastry, not a sweet one. It works as a light meal with coffee, or as a snack on its own. If you want something sweet with your coffee, choose a Plain Scone or Honey Loaf Cake instead. Match the pastry to the meal, not the other way round.
• You're buying for a group: Not everyone wants spicy, fermented fillings. Order one or two kimchi & cheddar croissants plus milder or sweeter items so there's something for everyone. Mix bold and mild rather than ordering all of one kind.
• You're heat-sensitive: Kimchi spice levels vary by batch, and the product record doesn't list a heat rating. Ask in store before buying if you're unsure. When a specification isn't listed, treat it as unknown and ask.

Product facts

• Nationwide GAIL's House Blend Coffee Whole Beans 200g: Full-bodied, balanced and sweet, with hints of muscovado sugar and a lingering nutty, walnut-like finish. A soft and pleasant acidity, often referred to as "bright", and reminiscent of red berries. This is the coffee to brew alongside a kimchi & cheddar croissant: its body and bright acidity hold up to cheddar and fermented kimchi without being overwhelmed.
• GAIL's Sourdough 650g: House Sourdough; made from a diverse variety of grains for depth of flavour; skillfully fermented & hand shaped. Light brown crust, flour dusted, scored once for an open burst. Creamy off white, medium open irregular crumb, that's tacky to touch. Crumb has well balanced sour and tangy notes. It is chewy, spongy, satisfying to eat. If you like the tangy, fermented side of the kimchi & cheddar croissant, this sourdough delivers a similar sour note in a larger, sliceable loaf for sharing.
• Afternoon Tea (serves 4): Everything you need for the perfect afternoon tea: 4 Scones, Rodda's Clotted Cream, GAIL's Organic Jam and Seville Orange Marmalade, 5 Brownie Bites, 5 Honey Cakes, 4 Smoked Salmon & Avocado Yoghurt Sandwiches, 4 Avocado & Chickpea Sandwiches and Loose Leaf JING Tea. A mixed box like this is the easiest way to serve a group that includes both adventurous and cautious eaters alongside a savoury croissant.
• Honey Loaf Cake: A buttery honey sponge cake topped with cinnamon-honey icing and delicate blue cornflower petals. Part of the Sweets & Cakes range from GAIL's, made for sharing. The sweet counterpoint to a savoury croissant — useful if you're buying for a table where not everyone wants kimchi.

Who it's for

Best for

• Savoury-pastry fans who find standard croissants too sweet
• Anyone curious about Korean fusion pastry and fermented flavours
• A light lunch or snack paired with a strong coffee

Not for

• People who want a sweet pastry with their coffee — choose a Plain Scone or Honey Loaf Cake
• Anyone who dislikes spicy or fermented food
• A group where most people prefer mild, classic bakery items — order a mix instead

The kimchi & cheddar croissant is a confident, savoury option for anyone who likes fermented, tangy flavours and wants something different from a standard pastry. Pair it with GAIL's House Blend coffee, keep it to same-day eating, and if you're buying for a group, add a Plain Scone or Honey Loaf Cake so there's a milder option on the table.