Bingsu Explained

Bingsu, sometimes written as bingsoo,^[1] is a milk-based Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings that may include chopped fruit, condensed milk, fruit syrup, and red beans.^[2]

The most common variety is pat-bingsu, sweet red bean shaved ice. 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, with fruit- and milk-flavored ice-based confectionary being documented as far back as 400 BCE in Ancient Persia and China.^[3] The earliest known documentation of ice-based desserts within Korea existed during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) which employed the use of crushed ice with various fruits, and were distributed from the ancient Korean ice storage called seokbinggo (ko|석빙고). ^{[4] [5]}

After the Korean War, with the introduction of condensed milk, syrup, and chocolate from the United States, Korean bingsu began to become 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.^{[6] [7]}

Varieties

Patbingsu (; sometimes anglicized as patbingsoo, literally "red bean shaved ice") is a popular Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings that may include chopped fruit, condensed milk, fruit syrup, and red beans.^[8]

The food began as ice shavings with red beans (known as pat, Korean: [[wikt:팥|팥]]). Many varieties of patbingsu exist in contemporary culture.

There are a variety of bingsu types and flavors. Some popular flavors are green tea, coffee, and yogurt.^{[9] [10]}

In addition to the existing patbingsu, several Korean franchises have made shaved ice made from various ingredients such as Injeolmi, melon, coffee, and green tea. Now bingsu can be found at almost every dessert shop in Korea.^[11]

See also

• Korean cuisine

Shaved ice § Regions, for similar shaved ice variations around the world.

• Kakigōri

Japanese shaved ice

• Tshuah-ping

Taiwanese shaved ice

• Halo-halo

Filipino shaved ice

• Es campur and Es teler: Indonesian shaved ice
• Namkhaeng sai and O-aew: Thai shaved ice
• Ais Kacang (ABC, Ice Kacang): Malaysian/Singaporean shaved ice
• Grattachecca

Italian shaved ice popular in Rome.

• Hawaiian shave ice

Hawaiian shaved ice

Notes and References

1. News: Hoo. Winyan Soo. July 16, 2014. Plate Lab: A guide to Asian shaved ice desserts halo-halo, bao-bing and bingsoo. en-US. The Washington Post. May 5, 2016. 0190-8286. June 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160605132813/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/plate-lab-a-guide-to-asian-shaved-ice-desserts-halo-halo-bao-bing-and-bingsoo/2014/07/16/a9680f22-fb0e-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html. live.
2. Web site: Seoul hotels at war over dessert - CNN.com. Kyoung Woo Jun, for. CNN. June 27, 2013. May 5, 2016. July 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130703041719/http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/27/travel/hotel-dessert-wars/index.html. live.
3. Book: Marks, Gil. Encyclopedia of Jewish Food. November 17, 2010. HMH. 978-0-544-18631-6. en. March 21, 2023. April 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230403234108/https://books.google.com/books?id=gFK_yx7Ps7cC&q=sorbet+originated+in+persia&pg=PT593. live.
4. News: Dang . Tae Keuk . Snowy delights and variations on bingsu . . September 13, 2010 . January 6, 2014 . May 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516031618/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100812000473 . live .
5. Web site: http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000794579 . ko:팥빙수[氷水] . Doosan Corporation . . January 6, 2014 . ko . Patbingsu . September 23, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223845/http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000794579 . live .
6. Web site: Seoul Eats: The Origin of Patbingsu. August 9, 2020. Seoul Eats. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804114535/https://www.seouleats.com/2011/05/origin-of-patbingsu.html. live.
7. Web site: Get ready for patbingsu: Red beans over shaved ice. January 2, 2022. The Jeju Weekly. January 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140106034544/http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1888. dead.
8. Web site: Lee . Robyn . Snapshots from South Korea: Patbingsu, a Popular Shaved Ice Dessert . Serious Eats . June 5, 2009 . January 5, 2013 . June 7, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090607031808/http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/06/snapshots-from-south-korea-patbingsu-a-popular-shaved-ice-dessert.html . live .
9. Web site: Lee . Ji-yoon . Korea's cold summer taste - naengmyeon and patbingsu . . . July 7, 2008 . January 6, 2013 . January 6, 2014 . https://archive.today/20140106163239/http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=72999 . bot: unknown .
10. Web site: Bingsu, an unbeatable summer treat! . . January 6, 2014 . January 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140106065133/http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=1692586 . dead .
11. Web site: Linda. October 12, 2019. 15 of the Best Bingsu in Seoul. June 11, 2021. Linda Goes East. en-US. July 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725055642/https://lindagoeseast.com/2019/10/12/15-of-the-best-bingsu-in-seoul. live.