Korean dessert branding spreads through Chinese cafe market

Images published by Chinese local outlet Qingdaonews and by Neweekly show cafe menus and storefront promotions featuring Korean-labeled shaved ice products, while Korean IT outlet ET News also carried imagery of the trend. The reports indicate that the desserts are being presented with Korean-style naming and presentation rather than as generic shaved ice.

The coverage suggests the trend is broad-based, with the Korean-style dessert format appearing across multiple cafe operations rather than being confined to a single brand or chain. However, the available reporting does not specify how many cafes have adopted the products, which brands are involved, or the sales figures behind the trend, leaving the scale of adoption unconfirmed.

Appeal tied to Korean dessert image

The reports indicate the products are marketed on their Korean identity, with the term "한국빙나이" itself used as a selling point in Chinese cafe marketing. No details were provided in the reviewed materials on pricing, ingredient sourcing, or whether any Korean companies are directly involved in supplying the products.

The reviewed reporting also did not establish whether the trend includes official partnerships with Korean dessert brands, or whether the Korean-style naming is used independently by local Chinese cafe operators.

Chinese cafes' adoption of Korean-branded shaved ice menus, as shown in reporting and imagery from Qingdao News, Neweekly and ET News, is true.