''Bingsu'' (), sometimes written as ''bingsoo'', is a milk-based Korean
shaved ice
Shaved ice is a large family of ice-based desserts made of fine shavings of ice and sweet condiments or syrups. Usually, the syrup is added after the ice has been frozen and shaved—typically at the point of sale; however, flavoring can also be ...
dessert with sweet toppings that may include chopped
fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...
,
condensed milk
Condensed milk is Milk#Cow, cow's milk from which water has been removed (roughly 60% of it). It is most often found with sugar added, in the form of sweetened condensed milk, to the extent that the terms "condensed milk" and "sweetened condensed m ...
,
fruit syrup
Fruit syrups or fruit molasses are concentrated fruit juices used as sweeteners.
Fruit syrups have been used in many cuisines:
* in Arab cuisine, '' rub'', '' jallab'';
* in Ancient Greek cuisine, '' epsima'';
* in Greek cuisine, '' petimezi' ...
, and
red bean
Red bean is a common name for several varieties of beans and plants and may refer to:
* ''Small red beans'', also known as "Mexican red beans," "Central American red beans," and "New Orleans red beans"
* Adzuki bean (''Vigna angularis''), commonly ...
s.
The most common variety is ''pat-bingsu'' (), topped with
sweet red beans. The main ingredient of ''bingsu'' was natural ice in the past, but later, artificial ice was produced, and high-quality sweeteners were developed. Many modern bingsu varieties use frozen milk rather than water-based ice. Historically, the ice-cutting machine was a simple tool in the shape of a plane, but now, most shaved ice is created by electric ice shavers.
History
Bingsu has similar origins to
sorbet
Sorbet (, ) is a frozen dessert made using ice combined with fruit juice, fruit purée, or other ingredients, such as wine, liqueur, or honey.
Sorbet does not contain dairy products. Sherbet is similar to sorbet, but contains dairy.
Etymolog ...
, with fruit- and milk-flavored ice-based confectionary documented as far back as 400 BCE in Ancient Persia and China. The earliest known documentation of ice-based desserts within Korea existed during the
Joseon
Joseon ( ; ; also romanized as ''Chosun''), officially Great Joseon (), was a dynastic kingdom of Korea that existed for 505 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon in July 1392 and replaced by the Korean Empire in October 1897. The kingdom w ...
period (1392–1897) which employed the use of crushed ice with various fruits, and were distributed from the ancient Korean ice storage called ''
seokbinggo'' ().
After the Korean War, with the introduction of condensed milk, syrup, and chocolate from the United States, Korean bingsu began to be more diverse. Western influences after the Korean War have brought further variation to the ingredients used in the dish, with foods such as cereal, ice cream, and whipped cream, being added to ''bingsu''.
Varieties
''Patbingsu'' (; sometimes anglicized as ''patbingsoo'', literally "red bean shaved ice") is a popular
Korea
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
n
shaved ice
Shaved ice is a large family of ice-based desserts made of fine shavings of ice and sweet condiments or syrups. Usually, the syrup is added after the ice has been frozen and shaved—typically at the point of sale; however, flavoring can also be ...
dessert
Dessert is a course (food), course that concludes a meal; the course consists of sweet foods, such as cake, biscuit, ice cream, and possibly a beverage, such as dessert wine or liqueur. Some cultures sweeten foods that are more commonly umami, ...
with sweet toppings that may include chopped
fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...
,
condensed milk
Condensed milk is Milk#Cow, cow's milk from which water has been removed (roughly 60% of it). It is most often found with sugar added, in the form of sweetened condensed milk, to the extent that the terms "condensed milk" and "sweetened condensed m ...
,
fruit syrup
Fruit syrups or fruit molasses are concentrated fruit juices used as sweeteners.
Fruit syrups have been used in many cuisines:
* in Arab cuisine, '' rub'', '' jallab'';
* in Ancient Greek cuisine, '' epsima'';
* in Greek cuisine, '' petimezi' ...
, and
red bean
Red bean is a common name for several varieties of beans and plants and may refer to:
* ''Small red beans'', also known as "Mexican red beans," "Central American red beans," and "New Orleans red beans"
* Adzuki bean (''Vigna angularis''), commonly ...
s.
The food began as ice shavings with red beans (known as ''pat'', ). Many varieties of ''patbingsu'' exist in contemporary culture.
There are a variety of ''bingsu'' types and flavors. Some popular flavors are
green tea
Green tea is a type of tea made from the leaves and buds of the '' Camellia sinensis'' that have not undergone the withering and oxidation process that creates oolong teas and black teas. Green tea originated in China in the late 1st millenn ...
,
coffee
Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially a ...
, and
yogurt
Yogurt (; , from , ; also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial Fermentation (food), fermentation of milk. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to ...
.
In addition to the existing ''patbingsu'', several Korean franchises have made shaved ice from various ingredients such as
Injeolmi, melon, coffee, and green tea. Now, bingsu can be found at almost every dessert shop in Korea.
Gallery
File:Bingsu 2.jpg, Various ''bingsu''
File:Korean shaved-ice Patbingsu A01.jpg, ''Patbingsu''
File:Persion bingsu.jpg, Persimmon ''bingsu''
File:Patbingsu 1.jpg, Bingsu with ice cream
File:Korean shaved ice-Yogurt bingsu-01.jpg, A yogurt ''bingsu''
File:Melonbingsu.jpg, Melon ''bingsu''
File:Bingsu.jpg, ''Patbingsu'' topped with fruits
File:베리빙수.JPG, Berry ''bingsu''
File:Milktea binsu.JPG, Milk tea ''bingsu''
File:흑임자빙수.jpg, Black sesame ''bingsu''
File:Greentea-bingsu.jpg, Green tea ''bingsu''
File:Nokcha-bingsu.jpg, Green tea ''bingsu''
File:Cheese Bingsu , 치즈빙수.JPG, Cheese ''bingsu''
File:Bingsu 3.jpg, ''Patbingsu''
File:Mixed-berry Bingsu.jpg, Mixed-berry ''bingsu''
File:Injeolmi bingsu.jpg, '' Injeolmi-bingsu'' topped with ''kong- gomul'' (soybean powder)
File:Hojicha bingsu ice dessert at cafe in Melbourne.jpg, Hojicha bingsu served with tapioca pearls
A tapioca pearl, also known as tapioca ball, is an edible translucent sphere produced from tapioca, a starch made from the cassava root
. They originated as a cheaper alternative to sago in Southeast Asian cuisine. When used as an ingredient in ...
, condensed milk
Condensed milk is Milk#Cow, cow's milk from which water has been removed (roughly 60% of it). It is most often found with sugar added, in the form of sweetened condensed milk, to the extent that the terms "condensed milk" and "sweetened condensed m ...
and coconut
The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...
.
See also
*
Korean cuisine
Korean cuisine is the set of foods and culinary styles which are associated with Korean culture. This cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient Prehistoric Korea, agricultural and nomad ...
Shaved ice § Regions, for similar shaved ice variations around the world.
*
Kakigōri
is a Japanese shaved ice dessert flavored with syrup and a sweetener, often condensed milk.新明解国語辞典（第6版）、三省堂
History
The origins of ''kakigōri'' date back to the Heian period in Japanese history, when blocks of ic ...
: Japanese shaved ice
*
Tshuah-ping: Taiwanese shaved ice
*
Halo-halo
''Haluhalo'' is a popular cold dessert in the Philippines made with crushed ice, evaporated milk or coconut milk, and various ingredients including side dishes such as ube jam (ube halaya), sweetened kidney beans or garbanzo beans, coco ...
: Filipino shaved ice
*
Es campur
Es campur (Indonesian for "mixed ice") is an Indonesian cold and sweet dessert concoction of fruit cocktails, coconut, tapioca pearls, grass jellies, etc. served in shaved ice, syrup and condensed milk.
In Indonesia, es campur is sold from hu ...
and
Es teler
''Es teler'' is an Indonesian fruit cocktail. Avocado, coconut meat, grass jelly, jackfruit and other fruits are served with coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, ''Pandanus amaryllifolius'' leaf (normally in the form of cocopandan syrup), ...
: Indonesian shaved ice
*
Namkhaeng sai
''Namkhaeng sai'' (, ) is a Thai version of shaved ice or snow cone. It is also known as wan yen () or chamba (). ''Namkhaeng sai'' is simply shaved ice in a bowl, poured on top with sweet syrup and condensed milk. The word ''namkhaeng sai'' is d ...
and
O-aew
''O-aew'' (, , , from zh, t= 薁蕘, poj=ò-giô) is a shaved ice dessert known as a local specialty of Phuket, Thailand. Introduced by Hokkien Chinese settlers, it is known after its main ingredient, a jelly made from seeds of the o-aew plant ...
: Thai shaved ice
*
Ais Kacang
''Ais kacang'' (; Jawi script, Jawi: ), literally meaning "bean ice", also commonly known as ABC (acronym for ''air batu campur'' (), Jawi: اءير باتو چمڤور, meaning "mixed ice"), is a dessert which is common in Malaysia, Singapore ...
(ABC, Ice Kacang): Malaysian/Singaporean shaved ice
*
Grattachecca
''Grattachecca'' is a shaved ice originating in Rome, Italy. Commonly sold in kiosks and bars as street food, it consists of hand-shaved ice topped with various flavors of sweet syrup. In contemporary times, some ''grattachecca'' vendors use a ...
: Italian shaved ice popular in
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
.
*
Hawaiian shave ice
Shave ice or Hawaiian shave ice is an ice-based dessert made by shaving a block of ice and flavoring it with syrup and other sweet ingredients. On Hawaii (island), Hawai‘i Island, it is also referred to as "ice shave".
In contrast, a snow cone ...
: Hawaiian shaved ice
References
External links
{{Ice-based beverages and desserts
Ice-based desserts
Frozen desserts
Korean cuisine
Winter in culture