What is Bingsu? An In-Depth Guide to This Delicious Dessert

Bingsu is all the rave! Read to learn more about this delicious dessert perfect for a warm day. 

If this is your first time hearing about this treat, we've got this in-depth guide to what is bingsu.

Bingsu (빙수) is a Korean dessert made from milk and shaved ice often topped with sliced fruits, condensed milk, fruit syrup, and other ingredients. 

It is best eaten in the summer as it is a nice treat to cool down. But don't let it stop you. You can still enjoy bingsu anytime of the year.

The delicious treat dates back to the Joseon dynasty where it was said to have been enjoyed by generals. During that time, the treat was made with crushed ice and topped with fruits and two to three other ingredients.

The modern form of bingsu (that we know today) started in Korea’s first bakery called a taegukdang (태극당) in the year 1946. After the war, many western influences added other varieties to it such as cereal, syrups, and sweeteners.

Pat-bingsu is the most common bingsu flavor. 

It is shaved ice topped with red beans, condensed milk, rice cake squares, and misugaru. Misugaru is a type of powder made from various grains. You can also find it topped with sliced almonds at some stores.

Matcha bingsu is another popular flavor that people love. As the name says, it is matcha-infused shave ice topped with matcha powder, mochi, and red beans.

Strawberry bingsu is popular for people with sweet tooths. It comes with shaved ice topped with sliced strawberries, strawberry syrup, and on special occasions, strawberry ice cream!

Mango bingsu is a sweet and savory bingsu. Similar to other bingsu flavors, it contains shaved ice, sliced mangoes, and mango syrup. Sometimes it’s paired with vanilla ice cream or other ingredients to shake it up a notch!

Sulbing is probably the most popular bingsu cafe with locations found all across Seoul. It has all your classic flavors like strawberry, mango, and red bean. You can also try other desserts at this cafe along with your bingsu.

Address:

• Hongdae: 15 Hongik-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Myeongdong: 27 Myeongdong 3-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

• Jongno: 2 3 층, 74 종로, Jongno-gu, Seoul

  
  

Hours:  Varies by place

Phone: Varies by place

This cafe serves unique bingsu. Rather than in a bowl and a rounded shaved ice shape, they serve it similar to Korean noodles. The dish called ShiltaraeBingsu is delicious!

• Address: 77-6 Noksapyeong-daero 26-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
• Open hours: 12:00 – 19:00 on Monday, Saturday and Sunday | Closed on the remain days
• Phone:  +82 2-790-8194

Tokyo Bingsu is a popular bingsu spot. It serves all your classic flavors including a more fun one: tomato bingsu. Surprisingly many customers have said it is quite good with the perfect balance between tomato and sugar.

• Address: 9 Poeun-ro 8-gil, Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Open hours: 12 PM – 10 PM Tuesday to Sunday | Closed on Monday
• Phone: +82 2-6409-5692
• Price range: 9,800 – 12,000 Won (7.5 – 9 USD)

This bingsu cafe has a more European touch. To be specific, a French touch. If you’re looking for a more high end cafe feel that still serves your favorite desserts, this is the place to be. They are also famous for serving corn bingsu! A definite must try.

• Address: 85 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 선릉로 826)
• Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 11:00am ~ 10:00pm (Break time: 5:00pm ~ 5:30pm)

If you’re craving bingsu but with a hanok touch, this is the place to go! Located in Bukchon its charming Korean setting will capture your heart and palette. Plus try their grapefruit bingsu flavor!

• Address: 84-1 Samcheong-ro, 삼청동 Jongno-gu, Seoul
• Open hours: 12:00 – 19:00 from Monday to Thursday | 12:00 – 22:00 from Friday to Sunday
• Phone:  +82 2-720-8233

Bingsu is the perfect dessert to combat the hot and humid summers in South Korea. Cafes and bakeries are bustling with bingsu orders during the summer as many people pool in to cool down. You can even buy bingsu at food stalls.

This recipe is how to make classic pat-bingsu at home.

1. Prepare the ingredients
   1. Milk (Whole or 2% works)
   2. Sweetened Condensed Milk
   3. Rice cakes (tteok or sweet rice cakes)
   4. Red beans (You can do the red beans as is or look for a sweetened red bean paste)
   5. Misugaru
2. Prepare the ice: Mix together 4 cups of milk with 8 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk and freeze it in the freezer. This serving size is large, ideally between several people, for a smaller portion divide the recipe by ¼. If you want, you can use regular ice, but milk ice is much nicer in taste. Freeze for 5 hours.
3. Use an electric ice shaver to shave the ice into a fluffy texture. You can also use a high-speed blender or a powerful food processor.
4. Prepare the bingsu!
   1. Either fill two bowls with red bean paste on the bottom then add the shaved ice OR filled each bowl with shaved ice then the red bean paste on top.
   2. Add the rice cakes on top.
   3. Sprink some misugaru on top.
   4. Drizzle some sweetened condensed milk.

Done and dusted! Time to enjoy your homemade bingsu!

With so many bingsu cafes to explore, you’ll have to go visit Korea! If you’re ever craving another sweet Korean dessert, make sure to check out what the Daebak Company offers.