Shaved ice


Shaved ice is a large family of ice-based desserts made of fine shavings of ice and sweet condiments or flavored syrups. Usually, the syrup is added after the ice has been frozen and shaved—typically at the point of sale; however, flavoring can also be added before freezing. The dessert is consumed worldwide in various forms and ways. Shaved ice can also be mixed with large quantities of liquid to produce shaved ice drinks.
Many shaved ices are confused with "Italian ice", which is derived from the similar Italian dessert known as "granita". However, Italian ice, also known as "water ice", often has the fruit juice or other ingredients, like almond, incorporated into the sugared water before it is frozen. Shaved ice—especially highly commercial shaved ice —is often flavored after the ice has been frozen and shaved. Snow cones are an example of shaved ice that is flavored after production.

History

The use of stored and gathered ice for use in confections has been documented in ancient Persia since 400 BCE onward.
In imperial Japan, the dessert was a treat reserved for royalty, as it was made of natural ice formed during the coldest period of winter, which was stored in icehouses. This made it very rare, and a luxury available only to Heian period nobles. Halo-halo is believed to be a Filipino indigenized version of the Japanese class of desserts, originating from pre-war Japanese migrants to the Philippines. The earliest versions were composed only of cooked red beans or mung beans in crushed ice with sugar and milk, a dessert known locally as "mongo-ya". Over the years, more native ingredients were added, resulting in the development of the modern halo-halo. Some authors specifically attribute the invention of halo-halo to the 1920s or 1930s Japanese migrants in the Quinta Market of Quiapo, Manila, due to its proximity to the now defunct Insular Ice Plant, which was the source of the city's ice supply. As Japanese people immigrated to Hawaii, they brought this tradition with them. Like Persia and Japan, warm areas in Hawaii are close enough to snow-capped mountains that snow can be brought to the warm areas without melting.

Regions

Shaved ice varieties can be found around the globe with Asia being a particularly popular region.

Americas

In Latin America shaved ice desserts have influences from North American cultures. In many of these locations the Spanish name is either raspado, or its variations; raspa, raspao, raspadinha , or granizado, granizada, granizo.

North America and the Caribbean

File:Havana - Cuba - 2872.jpg|thumb|Granizado cart in Havana, Cuba
  • In Cuba, as well as in many Cuban neighborhoods in the United States, shaved ice is known as granizados, after the Spanish word granizo for hailstones. In Miami, granizados are often sold in conjunction with other frozen confections in ice cream trucks and stands throughout the city. A classic Cuban flavoring for granizados is anise, made from extracts of the star anise spice.
  • In the Dominican Republic and many Dominican neighborhoods, snow cones are called frío frío, with frío being the Spanish word for "cold", or alternately called Yun Yun.
  • In Hawaii, they are known as "Hawaiian shave ice" or just "shave ice", and often resemble East Asian versions of shaved ice, with condensed milk, adzuki beans or mochi balls often added as toppings, while a scoop of vanilla ice cream is common at the bottom of the cone.
  • In Mexico, as well as in some Spanish-speaking communities of the Southwestern United States, Texas, and California, a finely shaved and syruped ice is called a raspa, or raspado. Raspados come in a wide range of fruit flavors and classic Mexican flavors, including leche, picosito, chamoy, cucumber, guanabana, guava, pistachio, and tamarind.
  • In most of Puerto Rico and many Puerto Rican neighborhoods, they are named piragua, because they are made in pyramid shapes and agua means water in Spanish. In western Puerto Rico towns such as Mayagüez, they are called raspao. Most Puerto Rican snow cone vendors use street snow cone carts instead of fixed stands or kiosks. During the summer months in Puerto Rican neighborhoods, especially in New York City and Philadelphia, "piragua" carts are often found on the streets and attract many customers.
    US Brands
  • Icee: brand-name product
  • Slurpee: brand name
  • Slush Puppie: brand name

    Central and South America

  • In Bolivia, they are known as shikashika, where the ice is collected from the nearby mountains.
  • Mermelada con hielo is a local curiosity widely consumed in Rancagua, central Chile.
  • In Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, they are called Raspados or Raspaos and are also topped with condensed milk and fruit flavors.
  • In Costa Rica, they are called granizados or copos ; in the Puntarenas Province when they have ice cream on the top, they are called "churchills".
  • In Ecuador, there are three versions. The ones sold at street carts and having ice which has been shaved manually with a handheld tool resembling a wood hand plane are called raspados. The ones sold at street carts, having ice that has been frappéd with a manually actioned rotary machine and are topped with condensed milk are called granizados. The granizados sold at stores are usually not topped and their ice is finely frappéd by an electrical machine and, for that reason, they will have more liquid even when just prepared. Raspados and granizados sold at streets are much cheaper than granizados sold at stores.
  • In El Salvador and other countries of the region, they are known as minutas.
  • In Guatemala and Belize, they are called granizada and are topped with condensed milk and fruit.
  • In Guyana, they are known as "Crush Ice" or "Snow Cone" and are topped with condensed milk.
  • In Peru, the confection is known as raspadilla and is often confused with. It is made with thick ground ice and topped with juices of different flavors that can be combined. The most common flavors are pineapple and strawberry, but it can also be served with berry juice, passion fruit juice, and purple corn juice. In some cases, though uncommon, it can be topped with condensed milk or yogurt. It is very popular on the beaches during summertime, and is also sold in the towns and cities from carts scattered throughout streets and avenues. Some vendors grind the ice from a block with a device or spoon with a blade like a razor at one end, others have the ice already ground and stored in a cooler. Raspadilla is prepared in a cup in front of the customer who then selects the flavor of juice to pour on top.
  • In Brazil, they are known as raspa-raspa or raspadinha and in some parts of the country as Gelo ralado com groselha. Vendors grind the ice from a block with a device or spoon with a blade like a razor at one end. Common flavors, which can be combined, include strawberry, coconut, bubblegum, grape, mint, passion fruit and Tutti frutti.

    Asia

East Asia

In East Asia, shaved ice desserts are not only flavoured with various types of syrup. It is also common to add solid ingredients such as red bean paste, jellies, canned fruits, jams, sweetened condensed milk, and many other types of sweetened foods to vary the textures of the ice dessert.
  • According to The Pillow Book, in the 11th century, Japan had a dessert, shaved ice with kudzu juice. In Japan, the ice is known as kakigōri and topped with fruit flavoured or plain syrup. Some shops provide colorful varieties by using two or more different syrups. To sweeten Kakigōri, condensed milk is often poured on top of it. During the hot summer months, kakigōri is sold virtually everywhere in Japan. Some coffee shops serve it with ice cream, dango and red bean paste. Convenience stores may also sell it already flavored and packaged similar to ice cream.
  • According to History of Song, in the 11th century, China had a dessert, 蜜沙氷, that is ice with red bean paste with honey. It is not certain that 蜜沙氷 is a shaved ice but in the 11th century, Japan had a shaved ice dessert, so there is a possibility that 蜜沙氷 is a shaved ice.
  • In Korea, the shaved ices are known as bingsu. The variety topped with sweetened red beans is called pat-bingsu, with pat meaning "red bean". Toppings may also include fresh fruits and soybean powder. The earliest forms of bingsu existed during the Joseon dynasty. The government records show that the officials shared the crushed ices topped with various fruits, which were distributed from the ancient Korean ice storage called seokbinggo. Many other varieties can be found throughout the country. One variety that has been very popular in Korea since 2014 is snow flower bingsu. It is made of extremely finely-shaved ice where the texture resembles real snow flakes. Also, rather than using plain ice, milk is added to the ice so that the shaved ice has milky flavor.
  • In Taiwanese cuisine it is known as Tshuah-ping or "Bàobīng". There are many varieties in Taiwan. Some of them are topped with canned fruits, fruits syrup and condensed milk. Other variations can be found throughout CHION. Originating from China in the 7th century, Baobing is one of the oldest variants of shaved ice treats. It is typically served in large portions with a variety of toppings. In Taiwan the dish also has a variation called xuehua bing, in which the ice is not made out of water but milk.