What treat will it be when it’s 30 degrees? The classic scoop of ice cream from one of Berlin’s many ice cream parlors, the Samoan Pani Popo —available only through the end of July—or something completely different? If that hasn’t convinced you yet, we have another extraordinary summer favorite for you: Bingsu —a Korean shaved-ice dessert made from finely shaved ice, which, with its creamy texture and aromatic Thai tea flavor, is now winning over more and more fans in Berlin as well. The Moii Café in Charlottenburg now offers a summery variation: Thai Tea Bingsu.
Bingsu (빙수) is a traditional Korean dessert made from extremely finely shaved ice. Unlike ordinary crushed ice, it has a particularly fluffy, almost snow-like texture, as frozen milk is often used instead of water. This gives the dessert a particularly creamy taste and makes it melt more slowly. Depending on the variety, bingsu is served with various toppings such as fresh fruit, red bean paste (patbingsu), mochi, grass jelly, condensed milk, ice cream, matcha, mango, or chocolate. In South Korea, bingsu is one of the most popular summer desserts and is a staple in cafés and dessert shops on hot days.
At Moii Café, this Korean classic is reimagined with Thai flavors. The Thai Tea Bingsu consists of finely shaved Thai tea ice, a silky milk cream, and grass jelly—a plant-based herbal jelly with a pleasantly soft, slightly chewy texture. The combination of creamy sweetness, spicy Thai tea, and the subtle freshness of the grass jelly creates a light dessert that’s especially refreshing on hot summer days.
Thai tea originates from Thailand and is traditionally prepared using strong black tea. It’s flavored with condensed milk, sugar, and spices such as star anise or cardamom, which give it its sweet, creamy taste and characteristic orange color. Today, Thai tea is one of the most popular Asian specialty beverages worldwide and is now also found in numerous desserts.
Grass jelly is a traditional dessert popular in many countries in Southeast and East Asia. This plant-based herbal jelly has a slightly tart flavor and provides a pleasant contrast to sweet milk cream. It is particularly prized in summer drinks and shaved-ice desserts for its refreshing effect and its soft, slightly elastic texture.
