Sweet Ice Desserts in Asia
On hot days, many people enjoy cold desserts. In Asia, three famous ice desserts are halo-halo from the Philippines, kakigōri from Japan, and bingsu from South Korea. These desserts are colorful, delicious, and fun to eat. Let’s learn more about them!
Halo-Halo from the Philippines
Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert. The name “halo-halo” means “mix-mix” in English because people mix all the ingredients together before eating.
Halo-halo usually has shaved ice, sweet beans, coconut strips, jackfruit, leche flan, jelly, ube ice cream, and evaporated milk. Some versions also include bananas and sweet corn.
People in the Philippines often eat halo-halo during summer because it is cold and refreshing.
Kakigōri from Japan
Kakigōri is a Japanese shaved ice dessert. It has very soft and fluffy ice with sweet syrup on top.
Popular flavors include strawberry, melon, lemon, and matcha. Some kakigōri desserts also have condensed milk, mochi, or fruit.
In Japan, many people enjoy kakigōri during summer festivals. It is simple but very tasty.
Bingsu from South Korea
Bingsu is a famous Korean dessert. It uses very fine shaved milk ice that feels soft like snow.
Modern bingsu often has fruits, sweet red beans, cheesecake, chocolate, cookies, or ice cream. Mango bingsu is one of the most popular flavors.
Friends and families in South Korea often share one large bowl of bingsu together.
Similarities and Differences
These three desserts are all cold shaved ice desserts from Asia. They are popular during hot weather and come in many flavors.
However, they are also different:
Halo-halo has many mixed ingredients.
Kakigōri is usually lighter and simpler.
Bingsu uses soft milk ice and often has fancy toppings.
Each dessert shows the culture and taste of its country.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| refreshing | making you feel cool and fresh |
| shaved ice | very thin pieces of ice |
| syrup | sweet liquid used for flavor |
| topping | food added on top of another food |
| fluffy | soft and light |
| ingredient | one of the foods used to make a dish |
| condensed milk | thick and sweet milk |
| festival | a special celebration or event |
| dessert | sweet food eaten after a meal |
| colorful | having many bright colors |
Discussion Questions
Which dessert would you like to try first? Why?
Do you have a favorite cold dessert in your country?
What toppings do you like on ice desserts?
Which dessert looks the most colorful?
Do people in your country eat shaved ice desserts during summer?
Would you like to make one of these desserts at home?
Which dessert do you think is the sweetest?
Have you ever shared a dessert with friends or family?
Writing Activity
Write 5–8 sentences about your favorite dessert. Include:
its name
where it comes from
the ingredients
why you like it
Example:
“My favorite dessert is halo-halo. It comes from the Philippines. It has shaved ice, milk, jelly, and ice cream. I like it because it is sweet and cold.”
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