Shaved ice: a mound of crushed coolness drizzled with sweet syrup and tasty toppings


My first experience with shaved ice came from one of those stands that distribute foam cups with ice chunks and watered-down fruit flavors. Later, I discovered the joys of shaved ice, Asian-style. This means not just one flavor but multiple ingredients piled on top until the goodness threatens to overflow the bowl. In Malaysia, they serve ice kacang. Typically, four to five ingredients (I personally like corn and peanuts) blend in to make this yummy dessert. The Taiwanese version features finer and fluffier ice. In Taiwan, they also seem to double the amount of toppings and add in sweet streams of condensed milk.