Snow cone

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Snow cone with cherry syrup

A snow cone is a dessert item usually made of compacted shaved ice flavored with a brightly colored sugary syrup, usually fruit-flavored. Variations include the "stuffed" snow cone, which has a layer of soft-serve vanilla ice cream inside. Some are served with a spoon, and some are meant to be eaten with the hands like an ice cream cone. The popularity of snow cones remains concentrated heavily in cities such as Baltimore, New Orleans, and Houston.

1 History
2 Names and variations
3 Flavors
4 Difference
5 See Also
6 External links

[edit] History

In 1934, inventor Ernest Hansen patented the first known "ice block shaver" in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was inspired to create a more refined and hygienic version of the popular Italian ice sold from push-carts in the city. His wife Mary created many flavors of fresh syrups to flavor his finely shaved artificial "snow". "Snow balls" have been popular in New Orleans ever since. Hansen continued work at the original Hansen's Sno-Bliz in Uptown New Orleans on Tchoupitoulas Street through 2005, although his granddaughter, Ashley Hansen, has taken over much of the workload. Mrs. Hansen died in late 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina and Mr. Hansen passed away in March 2006.

"Snow balls" have grown in popularity worldwide, though outside of New Orleans they are sometimes called "sno-cones".

Usually, the snow cones are sold at stadiums and coliseums, and by ice cream vans or by car peddlers at parks. In New Orleans, prior to Hurricane Katrina, there were "snow ball stands" located in neighborhoods throughout the city.

Snow cones are crushed either by hand or with specialized ice-crushing machines.

[edit] Names and variations

A multi-colored, multi-flavored snow cone. This specific snow cone comes with a small gumball at the bottom of the cone.

In the United States, snow cones are produced mostly as a ball-shaped treat.

In Puerto Rico, they are named "piragua", because they are made in pyramid shapes and agua means water in Spanish. Most Puerto Rican snow cone vendors are street snow cone car peddlers.

In Hawaii, snow cones are called "shave ice" and are sold in cone-shaped paper cups. "Rainbow", a popular flavor, consists of three different colors of syrup chosen usually for their color rather than their taste compatibility. The ice is shaved very fine, unlike the crushed ice used in snow cones. Because of the finer shave, the syrup colors are retained much longer, providing for a better presentation. Traditionally, a scoop of vanilla ice cream is first added to the bottom of the cup. This combination of shaved ice, syrup, and ice cream, results in an "ono-licious" treat.

In Mexico and the adjacent Texas border region, snow cones are named raspados (or raspas for short), because the word raspar means "scrape"; hence the name raspado could be translated "scraped ice."

Snow cones are sometimes confused with "Italian ices" or "water ices", but water-ice purists distinguish between the two: snow cones are generally flavored after production, at the point of sale, whereas water ices are flavored as the ice is made. In Japan they are known as Kakigori.

[edit] Flavors

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Popular snow cone flavors include:

Popular Mixes

Rainbow
Batman
Ghostbusters
Smurf
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Ice Cream in the middle
Condensed milk on top
Chocolate syrup on top
Marshmallow on top

[edit] Difference

Most of the time a snow cone (or sno-cone) is a crunchier ice in which the flavoring sinks to the bottom. A snow ball means that the ice is fluffier and the flavoring somewhat soaks in. Furthermore, in most cases snow cones are made in advance. Snow balls are made in front of the waiting customer or customers.