Kim Ji-soo joined The Korea Times in 2006, and worked on such desks as culture and politics and is currently a member of the Editorial Board. Previous workplaces include The Korea Herald and the Korea JoongAng Daily.
Cool, frothy 'bingsu' arrives early
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A “bingsu” or shaved-ice summer dessert available at the Millennium Hilton Seoul. Hotels are frontloading the dessert as hot weather is expected to arrive early. / Courtesy of Millennium Hilton Seoul
By Kim Ji-soo
By Kim Ji-soo
The nation’s hotels are introducing one of Korea’s favorite summer desserts a little early — shaved iced topped with cooked red beans.
The Millennium Seoul Hilton’s Oak Room will start “bingsoo” or shaved ice treats starting May 2 through end of August.
The hotel has attempted to add healthy ingredients of ginseng to the aromatic flavor of the Italian coffee Illy.
With its unique astringent ginseng flavor and a mixture of sweet fruit blended together, ginseng bingsoo priced at 20,000 won is definitely one of the eye- catching items on the menu.
Ginseng bingsoo is served with high quality ginseng grounded with fresh fruit. Other menus include natural Boseong green tea with fresh fruit bingsoo at 22,000 won; fresh fruit with jelly and yoghurt mixed together at 22,000 won and aromatic flavor of Italian coffee “Illy” with fresh fruit coffee bingsooat 22,000 won. The prices include tax and service charge. For more information, call (02) 317-3234-5.
The Plaza has started offering three types of the shaved-ice treat known as “bingsoo,” and the Sheraton Seoul D-Cube City Hotel began even earlier having started offering something similar in March.
On May 12, the InterContinental Seoul COEX will launch “cool bingsoo” at its lounge, which will include a new item: the mango sparkling shiraz bingsoo.