During the summer, like those of many other countries, Koreans indulge themselves in frozen desserts to beat the heat. However, among these many sweet dishes, the most popular treat of all is none other than Bingsu, Korean shaved ice most commonly topped off with red bean paste, rice cakes, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Accordingly, Bingso can be found in nearly every corner throughout the country. Bingsu is well known for its many varieties, with endless toppings that result in numerous unique flavors. From traditional red bean paste to fresh chunks of melons and mangoes, each topping transcends the tongue and transforms the seemingly simple experience into something truly special.
Despite its popularity in Korea, Bingsu’s originated in Japan. Bingsu was first made in Korea in the early 1900s by Japanese merchants and spread throughout urban areas during the Japanese colonization. Bingsu shops were mostly common in urban cities with access to ice storage or ice producers. Although the initial versions of Bingsu were no more than artificially flavored ice, Korean citizens were nevertheless enthusiastic about this new icy dessert.
After the independence of Korea, Bingsu maintained its place on the menus of dessert cafes, partly thanks to the harsh summers of the Korean peninsula. The Bingsu industry reached its peak in the 1990s when ice-shaving machines were introduced, spurring Koreans to make their favorite desserts at home. Such machines also allowed for better industrialization of Bingsu as they promoted faster and more efficient preparation processes, thus allowing multiple brands, like Starbucks, to diversify the dessert and its ingredients.
Bingsu’s popularity comes from its creative variations, decorated with fresh fruits and traditional toppings, and finely shaved frozen milk as the cherry on top. A great example of Korean Bingsu is "Injeolmi Bingsu," a blend of ‘Injeolmi’ rice cake and its bean powder, introduced in the 1210s.
When visiting Korea, make sure to try some Bingsu. 'Sulbing,' is greatly recommended — a franchise specializing in the dessert. Sulbing annually develops new Bingsu recipes. Visiting Sulbing is an excellent choice if you want to experience the Korean icy delight.