bingsu – Jellybeans in the City

Frotea’s Flavorful Expansion: Batangas & Cavite Welcomes New Branches

Frotea, the pioneer of innovative milk tea dessert experiences in the Philippines, is on a mission to redefine the sweet tooth’s paradise. With vibrant interiors and a contemporary vibe, its branches in Ibaan and Rosario, Batangas, have already made a mark since the brand’s launch last September. Now, the excitement brews as Frotea gears up for two more sensational openings in Bacoor, Cavite, slated for the first quarter of 2024.

A Taste of Frotea’s Charm

Frotea doesn’t just serve delightful drinks and desserts; it curates an ambiance perfect for post-school hangouts, weekend gatherings, merienda delights, or casual lunch dates. Embracing a fusion of pop colors and modern aesthetics, its spaces promise a welcoming atmosphere for families and barkadas alike.

Affordable Delights & Unique Offerings

The heart of Frotea lies in its promise of affordable indulgence. With prices under P100, guests can savor an array of unique flavors. The spotlight shines on its Dark Choco Ice, a Bingsu-inspired delight that melds premium cocoa with creamy milk, as well as its fish waffles, a crunchy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside Korean-inspired treat. For those seeking a fun, interactive experience, its soft-serve Panda ice cream paired with popping boba is a must-try!

Sip and Savor

The menu at Frotea continues to expand along with its horizons. From the Classic and Cream Puff series to the Signature Oreo and Ube concoctions, patrons can explore an assortment of flavors. For a lighter alternative, the Fruit Teas offer a refreshing choice. Pair any of these delightful beverages with Frotea’s unique desserts for an ultimate sweet symphony.

Bringing People Together

Engr. Ana Margarita Lustre-Malijan, co-founder of Frotea, shares, “Our expansion journey is about creating spaces where people can relax and create memories. We’re excited to extend affordable drinks and desserts to places like Batangas and Cavite, fostering a welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy delightful milk tea, one cup at a time.”

Indulge at Frotea

Whether it’s the charm of Batangas or the allure of Cavite, Frotea invites everyone to experience its delectable offerings. With the new spots in Batangas and the upcoming branches in Cavite, visitors can revel in these sensational treats. Explore these havens in person or opt for doorstep delights via Food Panda and Grab Food.

Stay connected with Frotea through its official website and social media channels on Facebook and Instagram for updates, events, and all things delicious.

Details provided in a recent press release.

Bingsu treat at Hobing Korean Dessert, BGC Stopover

Bingsu treats have grown in popularity in the metro, especially now with the searing summer heat. Bingsu is a Korean dessert characterized by shaved ice sweetened with condensed milk and topped with fresh fruits, yogurt, ice cream and bits of yummy baked goods.

While the fam is exploring options for lunch in Bonifacio Global City during a particularly hot summer day, we came across this branch of Hobing Korean Dessert and couldn’t resist having our dessert here. After eating our lunch at nearby Tenya Tempura Tendon, and, eager for something cool and sweet to counter the hot and humid weather, we proceeded Hobing.

Despite being billed as the Korean halo-halo, bingsu is best enjoyed when the shaved ice and toppings are not all mixed together. This allows you to enjoy the varying textures and flavors that went into the bingsu.

We ordered a large serving of Mango Cheese Bingsu (Php320), thinking that a regular serving will not satisfy all of us. What we got was a delectable and prettily presented confection: finely shaved ice flavored with mango syrup, surrounded by huge cubes of ripe mango and topped with rich New York Cheesecake bits, vanilla ice cream and slices of roasted almonds.

We are definitely eager to try Hobing’s other bingsu offerings soon.

This branch of Hobing Korean Dessert is located at the 3rd Floor of BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive cor 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City. Other branches of Hobing Korean Dessert are located at:

Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo
SM Megamall in Mandaluyong
Glorietta 4 in Makati
Jupiter Street in Makati
Eastwood City Walk in Quezon City
SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Ayala Malls the 30th in Ortigas Center, Pasig
SM North in Quezon City
Banawe Lifestyle Center in Quezon City
SM City Marikina in Marikina City
U.P Town Center in Quezon City
SM San Lazaro in Manila
Ayala Fairview Terrace, Fairview Quezon City

Check out my rundown of bingsu treats in the metro.

Jelly List: Beat the Summer Heat with Bingsu!

Summer is definitely in full swing. The days are longer and hotter. One of the things I’m looking forward to this summer is cooling down with a bowl of bingsu.

Bingsu is a Korean dessert traditionally made with ice shavings, condensed milk and sweet toppings such as red beans, chopped fruit, cookies or candies and ice cream. While forms of this dish have been in existence since the 1300s, its modern form started with the introduction of patbingsu, featuring red bean paste, during Korea’s time under Japanese rule in the early 20th century. Foreign influence during the Korean War in the 1950s led to the inclusion of ingredients such as canned fruits, ice cream, cereal, nuts and syrups.

Bingsu shops and restos that offer variations of this yummy dessert have sprouted all over the metro. Here are some you might be interested to try:

Mango Bingsu at Jang Da Bang by Jang Ga Nae (Php199 for regular)

The sweet and succulent mango bits give this bingsu its dominant flavor but the tidbits of other fruits and the cereal provide a nice contrast of tastes and textures.

Jang Da Bang Cafe is located 8137 Plaza Ortigas, Jose Escriva Drive, Ortigas, Pasig City (behind the University of Asia and the Pacific)

Mango Cheese Bingsu at Hobing Korean Dessert (Php320 for large)

Mango seems to be an unbeatable bingsu variant. Coupled with large chunks of rich New York Cheesecake and topped with vanilla ice cream and sliced almonds, this delectable confection is a refreshing explosion of sweetness in your mouth.

This branch of Hobing Korean Dessert is located at the 3rd Floor BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive cor 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Rockmelon Bingsu at Gangnam Wings (Php280)

This dessert is prettily presented with melon balls served in the melon shell and topped with a big dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Gangnam Wings is located at the Megastrip Unit 1-114 Upper Ground Floor, outside Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City.

Injealmee Snowflake at Coreon Gate (Php168)

This seems to be among the more traditional bingsu variants, flavored by bean powder and given texture by the sliced almonds and chewy rice cakes.

This branch of Coreon Gate is located in the Metrowalk Complex, along Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

Korean Red Bean Bingsu at Bing Seoul (Php59 for regular)

Another more traditional and mildly sweet bingsu variant, this is a no-frills, no-fuss serving (quite cheap too!), with flavor driven by the red bean paste and the dollops of condensed milk poured onto the ice.

This branch of Bing Seoul is located at the Ground Floor of SM City East Ortigas, along Ortigas Avenue Extension, Pasig City. (Update: A week after I posted this, I learned that the Bing Seoul stall at SM City East Ortigas has already been pulled out. The nearest other branch is located at SM Center Pasig.)

Ube Macapuno Bingsu at Bon Chon (Php99)

This bingsu variants melds Pinoy flavors with the Korean dish. Ube (purple yam) powder drives the flavor while additional textures are provided by the macapuno (coconut jelly) strings, cubes of leche flan and rice crispies. It would be best to try this out soon as it available only for the summer.

This branch of Bon Chon is located at Il Terrazo, along Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

Infographic courtesy of Mica Jose (IG: @dragostea)