Bingsu: The Dessert You Can’t Afford to Miss
Have you ever had a bingsu in your life? Bingsu is a Korean shaved ice that is so soft and delicious that it just melts in your mouth. The world has been riding the Korean Wave for the last couple of decades, with everyone having at least one friend who’s into K-pop or K-dramas. So, it’s no surprise the U.S. also adopted bingsu.
This refreshing dessert is a summer staple in Korea and has been gaining worldwide popularity, especially in the United States. In fact, it’s become so popular that it’s moved past simply serving the traditional flavors and now comes in various modern versions. So, if you love a cool treat with a summertime vibe, you’ll want to know more about this delicious dessert.
What is Bingsu?
Bingsu is a popular Korean shaved ice dessert. Unlike other frozen treats, bingsu is lighter and fluffier than regular ice cream, and it is usually served with a variety of toppings like tapioca, jelly, lychee, etc. Some of the popular flavors are mango, strawberry, green tea, and red bean.
Most Popular Bingsu Flavors
If you enjoy exploring the foodie side of the internet, you’ve found a dessert to add to your list. There are so many different types of this bingsu that you might have a hard time deciding on a favorite. Here are some:
- Red Bean: This traditional flavor is a must-try since it is the most famous flavor on the market. Patbingsu includes a layer of sweetened red bean paste, then topped with rice cake squares and a roasted grain powder called sugar.
- Matcha/ Green Tea: Similar to the red bean, matcha bingsu typically incorporates sweetened red beans as a topping. It’s also infused with green tea flavor and topped with green tea powder and mochi.
- Mango: Fruits are included as toppings, and the most popular one is mango.
How to Make Bingsu
Bingsu requires a few ingredients: ice, sweetened condensed milk or condensed milk, and toppings of your choice.
To start, you need shaved ice—soft, snowy, and delicate. Most people who want to make bingsu need a shaved ice machine to get the snowy and fluffy effect. If you don’t have one, you can use a blender or food processor.
To make the base, you need shaved ice. You can put your ice into a shaved ice machine to make your finely shaved ice. Once it’s done, you can transfer it to a serving bowl.
Drizzle a good amount of sweetened condensed milk over the shaved ice to give it flavor and richness. You can adjust to the amount you like. After that, it’s time for the fun part which is the toppings. You can add whatever toppings you like like fresh fruits, pocky, rice cakes, mochi, nuts etc. You can add a scoop of ice cream if you want to.
Simple Steps:
- Make the shaved ice
- Drizzle sweetened condensed milk or condensed milk over the shaved ice
- Add toppings
- Optional: Add a scoop of ice cream
Bingsu Places to Try in the USA
Nu Ice & Drinks (Houston)
Nu Ivr & Drinks is a dessert place in Houston, Texas, that serves bingsu, boba tea, smoothies, and other creative drinks. If you are planning to go to Houston, this should be a spot to add to your list.
Snowy Dessert Bar (Houston)
Snowy Dessert Bar is located in Chinatown in Houston. It offers many flavors of bingsu so you will not be disappointed. You can also order boba tea or frozen daiquiris, so you have multiple options.
Grace Street (New York)
If you are traveling to New York, New York has many dessert places to try. Grace Street is a one-of-a-kind Korean dessert cafe. It is a contemporary coffeehouse that serves Korean donuts, bingsu, mochi waffles, espresso drinks, teas, and lattes. If you are ever in town, you need to head over to try their menu because
Arte (Suwanee)
Arte is a big, beautiful building in the Assi Plaza that is hard to miss. Arte, located in Suwanee, is located outside of Atlanta and serves amazing pasta and Korean-inspired desserts. When you enter the place, you have a spacious l- a great place for a late-night snack or to study. You can have something savory or sweet. You have pasta upstairs and dessert downstairs.
Caffè Bene (Boston)
Similar to Starbucks, Caffè Bene is a cozy, relaxed coffeehouse chain with a European vibe in Boston. With both savory and sweet on the menu, it’s no wonder it’s a popular place for people to come and relax. You have coffee, beverages, breakfast, sandwiches, etc. If you are ever traveling to Boston, you need to hit the place up and give it a try.
Bingsu is More than a Dessert
With its refreshing shaved ice, sweet condensed milk, luscious fruits, and an array of toppings, it’s no wonder Bingsu is a popular dessert. Whether you are craving it or want to try it, it has a blend of flavors, textures, and colors that melt right into your mouth. Whenever you are traveling somewhere new, you need to try bingsu when you get the chance because every location is a new experience.
