Summer in Korea brings scorching heat and humidity, making ice cream a delightful treat to beat the heat. As a child, one of my fondest memories was enjoying ice cream after school, satisfying both my thirst and sweet cravings while the sun beat down. Today, we’ll explore a variety of ice creams available in Korea, ranging from refreshing sherbet flavors to rich and creamy options. Get ready to dive into the world of delicious ice creams!
Melona 메로나
Melona is a beloved ice cream cone in Korea, featuring a delightful melon flavor. Shaped like a long, cube-shaped bar with a stick, it boasts a light green color and a tantalizing melon aroma. Despite its appearance, the texture is incredibly creamy. If you’re a fan of sweet melon flavors, this one’s for you!
Coo n que(쿠앤크)
Coo n que is a perfect choice for cookie and cream enthusiasts. It consists of a milk-based ice cream bar with delightful cookie crumbles throughout. The bar begins with a round shape at the front and ends with a square shape, making it perfect for enjoyable bites.(Looks a bit like a tongue though👅 ) Like Melona, it may appear firm, but it surprises with its creamy texture.
Screw bar (스크류바)
Screw Bar is a beloved ice cream cone in Korea, known for its long twisted shape and vibrant pink color. The bright pink ice shell encases a light pink sherbet with a softer texture. It offers a delightful strawberry sherbet taste. One fun thing I used to do was making “churrrup” sound, by twisting it in my mouth, as its shape allowed it to be twisted easily. It brings back memories of carefree days filled with youthful enjoyment.
Dweji bar(돼지바)
Dweji Bar sparks curiosity with its name, as “dweji” means “pig” in Korea. It is said to be named after pigs due to their association with greediness, just as this ice cream bar offers a variety of flavors. Similar to Coo n que, it has a round shape at the front and a square edge at the end. The bar is covered with cookie crumbles, featuring brown and black cookies. After indulging in the cookies, you’ll encounter a milky, soft ice cream inside, reminiscent of shaved milk ice. As you enjoy the milky ice, you’ll discover a delightful surprise—strawberry fillings hidden within. Can you see what they meant by being greedy with flavors? This unique combination exemplifies the indulgence of flavors.
Nuga bar(누가바)
Nuga Bar takes the form of a long, round, cylinder-shaped bar covered with a thin layer of chocolate. Breaking through the chocolate layer reveals a creamy vanilla ice cream filling. It offers a classic and satisfying ice cream experience.
Boseok bar(보석바)
Boseok, meaning “jewelry” in Korean, may sound like an expensive ice cream, but fear not! Despite its name, it typically costs less than a dollar😃. Boseok Bar earned its name due to the presence of small grains resembling colorful jewels inside a square-shaped bar. Crushing these icy grains provides a unique and delightful texture. The overall taste is reminiscent of Korean yogurt available in the market. If you haven’t tried it yet, imagine the taste of yogurt combined with a hint of sprite. It may sound unusual, but it’s worth a try!
Jaws bar(죠스바)
As the name suggests, Jaws Bar is named after the famous movie “Jaws” the scary shark movie. However, this ice cream is anything but scary—it’s irresistibly cute! Shaped like a round bar with a diagonal cut that resembles the sharp front of a shark, it even features small dimples resembling sharp teeth. The hard blue shell outside conceals a pink-colored sherbet with a delightful strawberry flavor.
Okdongja(옥동자)
Okdongja, meaning “precious child” (often referring to a boy), is a renowned cookies and cream ice cream in Korea. It has been a popular choice for over 20 years. This classic combination features milky ice cream, chocolate, and cookies and cream. The outside is covered with milk ice cream, layered with chocolate coating, and filled with creamy cookies and cream ice cream. It’s a timeless favorite among ice cream enthusiasts.
PaPiko(빠삐코)
While the previous ice creams came on a stick, PaPiko breaks the mold with its plastic shell. Thanks to it’s slightly twisted shell, it is squeezable! This sherbet-textured ice cream offers a unique chocolate taste. It’s less creamy than other chocolate ice creams, with a lighter and refreshing taste.
Soobakbar(수박바)
Soobak, meaning “watermelon,” gets its name from its appearance. Shaped like a pizza slice, it boasts a triangular shape resembling a slice of watermelon, complete with a green outer shell and a reddish-pink interior. Instead of pesky watermelon seeds, this ice cream replaces them with delicious chocolate-coated peanuts. While it doesn’t taste exactly like watermelon, it offers a refreshing sherbet-like flavor, possibly reminiscent of strawberry.
Wild body(와일드바디)
Wild Body is an ice cream that coffee lovers can’t resist. Not only does it boast a fantastic flavor, but its texture is also exceptional! Thin layers of chocolate are stacked in a random way, creating a unique structure. Among these layers, it is filled with creamy mocha latte ice cream. Each bite breaks through the chocolate layers, resulting in a heavenly combination of creamy mocha ice cream and rich chocolate.
With a plethora of delicious ice creams to choose from, Korea offers a delightful selection for every ice cream lover. Whether you’re enjoying the refreshing melon flavor of Melona, savoring the classic combination of cookies and cream in Okdongja, or embracing the unique texture and flavors of Boseok Bar, each ice cream cone promises a delightful experience. So, beat the summer heat and treat yourself to an ice cream adventure that will create lasting memories of sweetness and joy.