By Whit Altizer
Few things say summer to me in Korea like patbingsu (팥 빙수). Along with the humidity, rain, sweltering heat, sanakji, and beers at Mini-Stop, there is the refreshing and delicious bowl of patbingsu. It is one of the few desserts in Korea that seems authentically Korean.
Patbingsu means sweetened azuki beans(pat-팥) and shaved ice(bingsu-빙수). At one time this is what all the street vendors sold. However these days patbingsu includes red beans, rice cakes, condensed milk, fruit, cereal and a scoop of ice cream or yogurt. It almost has all of the ingredients an ice cream and cake westerner would turn their nose up at. “Beans? On ice? With fruit? Really?” 
When my co-teachers ordered us patbingsu delivered to school, I ate it out of ignorance. The beans looked and tasted a bit like chocolate. Even when I found out I was eating beans for dessert, I didn’t care, it tasted too good.
Now every summer, patbingsu, at about W5,000, has become a weekly indulgence.
Patbingsu can be found at almost any bakery, ice cream shop, coffee shop or Lotteria in town. Most servings are enough for two people so bring a friend. Mix it up or eat it in order, there are no rules when consuming patbingsu.
Some of my favorite places to get a good bowl of patbingsu include:
Rotiboy
Aqui Terme
Lotteria
Go out and find your favorite!
