Shaved Ice

Shaved ice – usually written as shave ice – is similar to a Sno Cone, but the ice itself is fluffy rather than chopped. Its consistency allows it to fully sop up whatever flavors are applied, delivering such intense refreshment that brain freeze is a near-certain side effect. With historical antecedents in Asia and in Hawaii, shave ice always had been a time-consuming product to make, requiring that the ice actually be shaved from a block with knives. That changed in 1934 when Ernest Hansen of New Orleans invented a machine that shaves ice. Five years later he opened Hansen’s Snow-Bliz, where homemade tropical syrups were applied to the ice in layers. Now run by Hansen’s granddaughter, the little shop continues to set the gold standard, offering shave ice with such special flavors as cream of peach and cream of coffee, tart satsuma and limeade, as well as luxury toppings that include condensed milk, marshmallow, crushed pineapple, and whipped cream.