Is Lotte Screw Bar Ice Cream Still Korea’s Summer Classic?

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The Twisted Icon of Korean Convenience Store Freezers

It was 34 degrees Celsius outside my apartment in Mapo-gu yesterday, the kind of oppressive Seoul summer heat that turns your shirt into a second layer of wet skin within three minutes of stepping outside. I ducked into the GS25 on the corner, walked straight past the iced coffee pouches, and reached deep into the chest freezer. My hand went straight for that familiar, shiny red-and-white foil wrapper: the Lotte Screw Bar ice cream. At around 1,000 to 1,500 won depending on whether there is a buy-two-get-one-free promotion running, it is quite literally one of the cheapest ways to survive July in South Korea.

If you grew up in Korea or have spent any time following Korean pop culture, you already know this shape. Launched by Lotte Confectionery back in 1985, the Screw Bar is a legendary frozen bar with a distinct spiral design that looks like a giant red drill bit or a cartoon tornado. International K-food fans often spot it in K-dramas or see K-pop idols munching on them during casual livestreams, which naturally leads to the question: is this twisted fruit pop actually good, or is it just pure nostalgia?

As someone who eats at least three of these a week during peak summer, I am here to break down every variation of the classic screw bar ice cream, how they taste, their exact textures, and even how locals turn them into late-night convenience store cocktails.

Testing Korea’s Famous Twisted Ice Treats

1. Lotte Screw Bar (The Original Classic)

The standard Lotte Screw Bar is the gold standard for fruit-flavored popsicles in Korea. The moment you peel back the foil packaging, you get a strong whiff of sweet artificial strawberry and apple. The bar itself is dark pinkish-red on the outside with deep spiral ridges wrapping around a lighter core.

The texture profile here is fascinating. The outer twisted shell is a firm, frosted glaze that offers a satisfying snap when you bite into it. Once you get past that shell, the interior is a softer, fine-grained icy core that melts fast on your tongue. Flavor-wise, it is a blend of strawberry on the outside and crisp green apple on the inside. It is remarkably refreshing because it avoids dairy entirely; there is no milk fat to coat your throat or make you thirsty ten minutes later.

• Sweetness Level: 7/10 (Sweet fruit syrup style)
• Spice Level: 0/10 (Pure fruit sweetness, zero heat)
• Flavor Intensity: Similar in brightness to a classic American Cherry-Lemonade Popsicle or a UK Twister, but with a sweeter strawberry-apple punch.
• How Koreans Eat It: While most people just bite into it on the walk home, Korean college students are famous for making the “Screw Bar Cocktail.” You grab a plastic cup of ice from the convenience store, drop a whole Screw Bar inside, pour in one shot of clear Chamisul or Jinro Soju, and top it off with Chilsung Cider (Korean lemon-lime soda). As the bar melts, it colors the drink pink and turns it into a slushy, sweet cocktail that completely masks the harsh alcohol burn of the soju.

2. Lotte Screw Bar Pouch (The Squeezable Slushie)

Convenience stores in Korea like CU and Seven-Eleven love turning iconic bar ice creams into squeezable pouches (similar to the famous Seol-le-im line). The Screw Bar Pouch takes the exact same flavor mix of strawberry and apple and turns it into a fine, crushed-ice slushie inside a re-sealable spout pouch.

This version is slightly milder in flavor than the original bar because the micro-ice crystals dilute the syrup just a bit more. However, the texture is incredibly smooth—there are no big chunk crystals to chew through. It is designed for commuters sitting on the Seoul Subway Line 2 during rush hour who want something cold without risking sticky melting drips down their arm. It usually costs around 1,200 to 1,800 won depending on store discounts.

• Sweetness Level: 6/10
• Spice Level: 0/10
• Texture: Ultra-fine icy slushie
• How Koreans Eat It: Knead the pouch with your hands for 30 seconds to loosen the ice before opening the cap, then sip slowly while walking through hot underground transit stations.

3. Lotte Screw Bar Zero (The Zero Sugar Revolution)

Over the past year, Korea has been hit by a massive low-calorie, zero-sugar trend. Every major snack brand from Orion to Binggrae is releasing zero-sugar versions of classic treats, and Lotte responded with the Screw Bar Zero. It trades traditional sugar syrups for sweeteners like allulose and erythritol.

I was skeptical when I first grabbed this from the freezer at my local CU, but the taste execution is shockingly close to the original. The outer snap is identical, and the strawberry-apple flavor hit is just as sharp. The only subtle difference is a slightly cleaner, lighter finish on the back of the mouth, without the lingering sugary syrup feel. If you are watching your calorie intake while traveling in Seoul, this zero version is a top-tier find in the freezer aisle.

• Sweetness Level: 6.5/10
• Spice Level: 0/10
• Texture: Identical snap and frozen ice interior as the original
• How Koreans Eat It: Grabbed as a guilt-free late-night dessert after a heavy meal of Korean barbecue or spicy fried chicken.

Comparing Popular Korean Fruit Ice Bars

Product Name	Primary Flavor	Best Texture Feature
Lotte Screw Bar	Strawberry & Apple	Crunchy spiral shell with smooth ice core
Lotte Subak-bar	Watermelon & Melon	Soft ice bar with chewy chocolate “seeds”
Binggrae Melona	Sweet Honeydew Melon	Rich, creamy, milk-based chew

How to Get It Abroad

If you are outside South Korea and craving a real screw bar ice cream, you do not need to book a flight to Incheon. Asian grocery chains regularly import frozen treats straight from Lotte and Binggrae factories.

• H Mart & Zion Market: Major Korean-American supermarket chains almost always keep six-pack boxes of Lotte Screw Bar in their frozen dessert aisles. Check near the ice cream tubs or frozen dumpling sections.
• Local Asian Supermarkets: Independent East Asian markets often stock single bars or multi-packs. Look for the distinct red spiral packaging in the ice cream display cases.
• Online Asian Grocery Services: Delivery platforms like Weee! or Asian grocery portals frequently carry frozen Lotte products for home delivery in thermal packaging. While Amazon carries non-perishable Korean snacks like Samyang ramyun or Orion choco pies, fresh frozen ice bars are generally not available directly through standard Amazon shipping due to cold-chain requirements.

Verdict

The Lotte Screw Bar remains an absolute legend for a reason. It isn’t trying to be an artisanal gourmet gelato; it is a cheap, fiercely refreshing, nostalgia-packed fruit bar that hits the spot when humidity hits extreme levels. The combination of strawberry outer glaze and crisp apple interior works endlessly well, and the famous soju cocktail mix gives it extra points for sheer convenience store utility.

If you like fruit popsicles that aren’t too heavy on cream or dairy, this is a must-buy every single time you step into a Korean market.

Final Score: 9/10

FAQ

What flavor is a Korean Screw Bar ice cream?

The original Lotte Screw Bar features a combined flavor profile of strawberry on the outer spiral shell and a subtle green apple flavor in the soft icy center core.

How many calories are in a Lotte Screw Bar?

A standard Lotte Screw Bar usually contains around 70 to 90 calories per bar, while the newer Lotte Screw Bar Zero sugar version contains zero to near-zero calories using non-nutritive sweeteners like allulose.

How do you make the viral Screw Bar soju drink?

Fill a cup with ice, add one shot of soju, submerge an entire Lotte Screw Bar into the cup, and top it off with lemon-lime soda (like Chilsung Cider or Sprite). Stir gently as the bar melts to create a sweet, slushy cocktail.

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