Bingsu

Bingsu is a Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings, most popular in South Korea during the summer. Its best-known version, patbingsu, is crowned with sweetened red beans.

History

Its roots lie in fruit- and milk-flavoured iced desserts, similar to sorbet, which are documented as far back as 400 BCE. In Korea, the earliest known ice desserts date from the Joseon period (1392-1897), when crushed ice was served with various fruits, supplied from the ancient ice storehouse known as Gyeongju Seokbinggo.

The ice was originally natural and was cut with a plane-shaped tool. After the Korean War, condensed milk, syrups and chocolate arrived from the United States, and the migration of Koreans to America spread the dish further. Today most shaved ice is made with electric machines, and many versions use frozen milk instead of water-based ice.

Culture

Bingsu is strongly associated with summer in Korea and can be found in almost every dessert shop in the country. Fast-food chains often add it to their menus during the warm months. Flavours range from green tea, coffee and yogurt to fruit and Injeolmi, a rice cake dusted with roasted soybean powder. It is meant to be shared, combining fine, snowy ice with sweet toppings, cereal and ice cream.