Shave ice (or “shaved ice”) is a frozen dessert made from a block of ice that is shaved into fine flakes, to which syrups and other sweet ingredients are added for flavor.
It is a very refreshing dessert that originated in Hawaii and is part of the local gastronomic culture. Similar versions exist all over the world, such as the Japanese kakigōri, the Korean bingsu, the Mexican raspado or “shaved”, and the Italian granita.
Shave ice, snow cone and granizado: the differences
Shave ice, snow cone and granizado (or granita) are all ice-based desserts, but they differ mainly in the texture of the ice, the way it is prepared and the taste experience.
Shave ice is made from blocks of ice shaved into very fine flakes, almost like snow, giving them a texture that allows the syrups to penetrate the ice well, resulting in a more uniform and intense flavor in each spoonful.
The snow cone is more common in the United States, with the ice being crushed into larger, thicker pieces, making it crunchier, carrying the syrup on top, which ends up dripping into the bottom of the glass, making the flavor less distributed.
Granizado (or granita in Sicilian), on the other hand, is prepared in a completely different way: instead of pouring the syrup over the ice, water, sugar and flavorings (such as lemon, coffee, almonds or fruit) are mixed together and then put in the freezer. During the freezing process, it is scraped repeatedly with a fork to create small ice crystals, resulting in a grainy and refreshing texture. Unlike previous versions, granizado is usually less sweet and is served in bowls, preserving the taste of the main ingredient.
Try shave ice in Lisbon
It ‘s not easy to create this type of refreshing dessert at home, as in many cases you need a specific machine to shave the ice (a blender is not a good solution).
So today we’re letting you in on another secret: there are two places in Lisbon where you can try this “new” shave ice dessert.
It’s called Flocoloco & Co and it specializes in these sweet ice creams. It stands out for using artisanal syrups, some fruit-based, with no artificial colors or additives.
Currently, you can try various flavors of shave ice at a summer Pop-Up near Praça das Flores, and on Tuesdays at Gourmet da Ladra, in the Santa Clara Market, next to Feira da Ladra.
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