Matsumoto's is a perfect example of the delicious "shave ice." Shave ice
or Hawaiian shave ice is an ice-based dessert made by shaving a block of
ice and flavoring it with syrup and other sweet ingredients. On the Big
Island of Hawai'i, it is also referred to as "ice shave."[1] In contrast,
a snow cone, a similar American dessert, is made with crushed ice rather
than shaved ice. The thin ice shavings of shave ice allow for the flavored
syrups to be absorbed completely instead of sinking to the bottom.
Hawaiian shave ice is derived from a similar ice-based dessert from Japan
called kakigōri and thus involves similar production methods. Shave ice is
characteristically served in a conical paper or plastic cup with flavored
syrups poured over the top with additional elements like ice cream, azuki
beans, or condensed milk. Shave ice syrups in Hawaii are often flavored
with local ingredients such as guava, pineapple, coconut cream,
passionfruit, li hing mui (salty dried Chinese plums), lychee, kiwifruit,
and mango. Source: Wikipedia
Shave Ice
New Orleans Sneaux Balls
What is a sneaux-ball (snow-ball)? Some people will say it is an Icy, Snow
Cone or Italian Ice. Nola Sneauxballs would say, neaux neaux, neaux—it is
none of the above. While, they are family, they are not a part of the
royal sneaux-ball family (more like 8th cousins removed that married into
the family). Sneaux-balls are way different in that the ice is so finely
shaved it resembles real snow! If you are not from New Orleans, you are
probably saying a snow cone is a snow cone. Well, anyone from New Orleans,
Louisiana (the N.O.L.A) will promptly correct you and tell you it is not a
snow cone, it’s a sneaux-ball. Snow cones are known for their hard crunchy
ice with lightly flavored pre-made syrups. You know the kind of crushed
ice you can get from the door of your refrigerator or your blender? Yeah,
sneaux-balls are an entirely different thing. Soft, powder-like, finely
shaved ice that melts in your mouth and Nola Sneauxballs flavors are
succulent with endless choices with something for just about everyone. You
can try simple traditional flavors like strawberry, grape, orange,
pineapple or be like the New Orleanians and try flavors like the Pralines,
Tigers Blood and Wedding Cake with a topping of cream or condensed milk.
The one factor that makes sneaux-balls vastly different from its other icy
counterparts are the flavors. Nola Sneauxballs offers over 75 different
flavors making each sneaux-ball unique in taste. They are made from pure
cane sugar and not corn syrup. Flavors are equally as important as the ice
because having soft ice and nasty flavors is blasphemy to the royal
sneaux-ball family! Source: Nola Sneaux balls
Website
Snow Cones
Entirely a different culinary experience from shave ice, there’s the snow
cone. Whereas shave ice’s trademark characteristic is its finely shaved,
snow-like texture, snow cones, ironically, are more like ice. The crushed
ice creates a crunchier snack that is traditionally coated in sweet syrups
and doesn’t absorb the flavoring like shaved ice. Snow cones appeared for
the first time in 1919 at the Texas state fair, and in 1920, Samuel Bert
patented an ice crusher machine.4 Gold Medal Products Co., which had been
manufacturing ice shavers since the 1930s, built its first Sno-Kone® machine
in 1948. The brand came to be synonymous with the icy treat and the product
line expanded to include equipment, accessories, and supplies. Source: Gold
Medal
Website
