Bingsu

''Bingsu'' (), sometimes written as ''bingsoo'', is a Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings that may include chopped fruit, condensed milk, fruit syrup, and red beans.

The most common variety is ''pat-bingsu'' (), the red bean shaved ice. The main ingredient of ice was natural ice in the past, but later artificial ice was produced and high-quality sweeteners were developed, and now it has been improved into boiled red bean shaved ice or fruit shaved ice mixed with various fruits. At first, the ice-cutting machine was a simple tool in the shape of a plane, but now the electric power is widely used after a manual rotation by hand.

History

The earliest forms of ''bingsu'' existed during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). The government records show that the officials shared the crushed ices topped with various fruits, which were distributed from the ancient Korean ice storage called ''seokbinggo'' ( ko, 석빙고). The early forms of ''patbingsu'' consisted of shaved ice and two or three ingredients, typically red bean paste, tteok, and ground nut powder.

The modern versions of the iced desserts were began to be sold in ''Taegeukdang'' ( ko, 태극당), the oldest bakery in Seoul that opened in 1946. With the western influences after the Korean War, more various and richer ingredients, such as cereals, syrups, ice creams, or whipped creams, were added to ''patbingsu''.

Varieties

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

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. Many ''bingsu'' do not necessarily follow tradition, and some do not include the red bean paste. Some popular flavors are: green tea, coffee, and yogurt.

In various countries

Korea

In addition to the existing ''patbingsu'', several Korean franchises have made shaved ice made from various ingredients such as Injeolmi shaved ice, melon shaved ice, coffee shaved ice, and green tea shaved ice. Since the Joseon Dynasty, it was the first time to mix honey and fruit with ice taken from seokbinggo, and after the Korean War, condensed milk, syrup, and chocolate were introduced from the United States and modern "Korean shaved ice" began to be made. Now, bingsu can be found at almost every dessert shop in Korea.

Japan

In a tea shop in Kagoshima, Shirokuma (the white bear, ) was made, and the shape of white condensed milk poured over shaved ice in a round bowl and fruits such as sweet red beans, cherries, and tangerines was named after what looked like a white bear's face.

Singapore

Due to the characteristics of mangoes, mango shaved ice with many mangoes is also famous, as served in a store in Singapore. The "Monster bingsu" is also famous for freezing various flavors of milk, grinding it into layers, and putting chocolate shaped like eyeballs. This variant has shaved ice grounded to show the grain of milk rather than ice with water.

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)

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 (derived from Japanese Kakigori)
*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

References

External links

{{Ice-based beverages and desserts

Ice-based desserts
Korean cuisine
Winter in culture