Everything you want to know about Snow Cones & Shave Ice!!

Are you also fond of eating snow cone and shave ice during the hot summer’s time? Have you ever wondered that from where they came and how they are made? What if I tell you that there are 30+ combinations in which you can have your snow cones and shave ice?

This article is especially for those who do not need summers to have their snow cone and shave ice. From snow cone makers to make homemade healthy snow cone and shave ice to homemade snow cone and shave ice syrups with as much flavor combinations as possible, this article includes all.

History of Snow Cone

The American Industrial Revolution was the first one to make the ice commercially available in 1850s.  New York would commonly sell ice to places like Florida. A wagon would be send with a huge block of ice to transport it from New York to Florida.

 The route to Florida would pass right through Baltimore where children would run up to the wagon and ask for a small scraping of ice. The first flavour was egg custard made by the women back there. The ingredients to make egg custard were limited to egg, vanilla and sugar.

By the 1870s, the rise in degree of the warm summer months made the snow cone more popular in the theatres. They would sell snow cones in order to keep their patrons cool. Because of this collaboration with the theatre, snow cones were thought of as an upper-class commodity. Snow cone was served on newspaper in some part of the city, but in the classy theatres, butchers’ boats were used. 

In the 1890s, many people came up with much easier ways to make snowballs. That decade visualized the commencement of electric ice shavers.

During the Great Depression and World War II, snow cones were available even outside of Baltimore. Since snow cones were so cheap, they were one of the few treats that people could afford. 

The treat became more popular during World War II, when all available ice cream was sent to soldiers, creating a need for an icy treat. Due to lack of competition snow cones become popular across the country. 

Common names of snow cone across the globe.

• In Hawaii – shave ice
• In Texas and northern Mexico – raspa
• In Costa Rica- copos
• In Malaysia and
• Singapore – Ais kacang
• In Japan – kakigori
• In India – gola
• In Britain -snowball
• In Perú – Raspadilla
• In France – GRANITE HAWAÏEN.
• In the United States & Virgin Islands – Fraco

History of shave ice

In 27 B.C.E first shaved ice was made as per the documents. Nero, who was The Roman Emperor, sent his slaves to collect snow from nearby mountains.
After finding the fluffy fine textured snow, he flavoured it with a fruit and honey mixture. It was officially the first flavour for shaved ice
Later in imperial Japan, the dessert was treated as a reserved for royalty because it was made of natural ice formed during the coldest period of winter, which was considered the purest form. This made it very rare and limited for only supreme luxury Heian nobles thus making it unaffordable for ordinary people. As Japanese immigrated to Hawaii, they brought this tradition with them.

Common names of shave ice across the Globe

• In Canada – Snow cones or Snowballs
• In Cuba – granizados
• In the Dominican Republic – Yun Yun
• In Hawaii – Hawaiian shave ice or just Shave ice
• In Mexico – raspa or raspado
• In most of Puerto Rico – Piragua
• In Bolivia – Shikashika
• In Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua and Venezuela – Raspados or Raspaos
• In Brazil- raspadinha
• In Taiwanese cuisine – Bàobīng
• In Japan- Kakigōri
• In Korea- Patbingsu
• In Cambodia – Teuk Kork Chus
• In Malaysia and Singapore- ais kacang
• In Indonesia- es campur
• In the Philippines- Halo halo
• In Thailand – namkhaeng sai
• In Pakistan – Gola
• In India – Chuski

Snow Cone vs Shaved Ice : Difference between Snow Cone and Shave Ice

1. Shave ice and snow cone has a very thin line difference. Snow cone is one of the variant of shave ice. The basic difference between the both is in the granule’s size. Snow cone has larger size of granules than shaved ice.
2. Shaved ice is much lighter and fluffier than the snow cone. Shaved ice are commonly sold on the streets and local shops in 8oz-20oz foam cups whereas snow cone as generally found in large carnivals in 6oz waxed cup which are cone shaped.
3. Snow cone are commonly served with 2-5 syrups but shave ice has list of 30+ sugar syrup for heavenly taste.

Cleaning your Snow cone or Shave Ice machine.

It is very important to keep the machine clean and dry to avoid growth of any unwanted bacteria. Therefore thoroughly wipe and dry the machine especially the funnel and the passage for ice to come out.

Steps to clean the Snow cone or Shave Ice machine:

1. Unplug the power and rinse the machine thoroughly with warm or cold water and wipe it down
2. In a spray bottle at 50% white vinegar and 50% water solution and spray all over the machine especially on blades and funnel to remove any kind of bacteria left overs, dust and dirt
3. Again wipe it down with clean cloth and pack it until dry.

List of Snow Cone Flavors & Shave Ice Flavors.

The best thing about Snow Cones  & Hawaiian Shave Ice is the variety of flavors you have.

There are approximately 50 different flavors in the market to buy and companies keeps of innovating new verity . I have made a list of most popular and best Snow Cone Flavor Combinations

• Cherry
• Grape
• Blue Raspberry
• Strawberry
• Lemon-Lime
• Banana
• Tiger’s Blood
• Root Beer
• Watermelon
• Bahama Mama
• Blue Cotton Candy
• Coconut
• Dreamsycle
• Green Apple
• Lime
• Mango
• Peach
• Pineapple
• Pink Bubble Gum
• Wedding Cake
• Cherry
• Orange
• Red Raspberry
• Tropical Punch
• Bubble Gum
• Lemonade
• Fruit Punch
• Cotton Candy 
• Blue Hawaii
• Cola
• Pinna Colada
• Pink Lemonade
• Gummy Grapes
• Blue Bubble-gum
• Berry Blue
• Berry Blue SF
• Cherry SF
• Grape Sofa
• Tangerine

Most Popular Snow Cone & Shave Ice Flavors combinations.

Despite all of these individual flavors you can enjoy various combinations of them. Combining the flavors is a new trend. You not only save money but also add extra yumminess in your summer treat. We have come up with all the combinations that you can use and make your snow cone and shave ice more delicious.

Recipe to make homemade Syrups for Snow Cone and Shave Ice

There are more than 50 flavors available in the market for your syrups. All these flavors can be made at your home by following some basic steps:

NOTE: To make a healthy and tasty flavored snow cone or shave ice syrup you first need to make a base for any flavor

1. To make the base you need to fill the pan with 1 cup of water and add 2 tablespoon of sugar.
2. Bring a boil ,then stir the solution on medium flame until all the sugar get dissolves
3. Remove the pan from the flame and stir 1 packet of any flavor mix of your choice. Instead of ready-made mix you can use homemade extract from any fruit or your flavored ingredient. Add the extract until you get desired taste
4. Keep aside the syrup for cool
5. Now pour it in a serving bottle and use it to make your snow cones and shave ice.