What is Shave Ice anyway??
Shave ice (not 'shaved') can be found everywhere in the Hawaiian Islands - in coffee shops, mom and pop stores, shave ice stands, lunch wagons, crack seed stores, and especially at any and all public events. In Hawaii, shave ice is thought of as a snack and a thirst quencher and no trip to Hawaii is complete without at least 1 shave ice.
Unlike Snow cones which are made of hard, crunchy flavorless ice chips resulting in syrups that sink to the bottom, Hawaiian Shave ice is so much like real snow, that the fruity flavors are absorbed throughout providing flavor in every bite...and a fluffy texture that melts in your mouth.
Authentic Hawaiian shave ice starts with a solid block of ice that is spun across a razor-sharp blade, creating shavings of fine, fluffy, soft snow. The shavings are then gently packed into a cup with special care to preserve the soft fluffy texture. The resulting shave ice is so fine and powdery that the refreshing fruity flavors become part of the shave ice rather than settling to the bottom of the cup like a snow cone.
Pure Aloha shaves our block ice so fine it mimics fresh fallen snow that melts in your mouth. We pile it high and color it with lip smacking, fruity tasting syrups that explode with tropical flavors of the island. A treat so cool, so colorful and so refreshing you’ll want to savor every bite and when you finish you’ll wish you had just a little more. Pure Aloha Shave Ice is thrilled to share this authentic island experience with you!
Go ahead....Just take a bite, close your eyes and the feel sensation of the warm trade winds and turquoise waters. See the majestic coconut palms waving before the beautiful green mountains after a tropical rain. Can you feel the spirit of Aloha?!
Unlike Snow cones which are made of hard, crunchy flavorless ice chips resulting in syrups that sink to the bottom, Hawaiian Shave ice is so much like real snow, that the fruity flavors are absorbed throughout providing flavor in every bite...and a fluffy texture that melts in your mouth.
Authentic Hawaiian shave ice starts with a solid block of ice that is spun across a razor-sharp blade, creating shavings of fine, fluffy, soft snow. The shavings are then gently packed into a cup with special care to preserve the soft fluffy texture. The resulting shave ice is so fine and powdery that the refreshing fruity flavors become part of the shave ice rather than settling to the bottom of the cup like a snow cone.
Pure Aloha shaves our block ice so fine it mimics fresh fallen snow that melts in your mouth. We pile it high and color it with lip smacking, fruity tasting syrups that explode with tropical flavors of the island. A treat so cool, so colorful and so refreshing you’ll want to savor every bite and when you finish you’ll wish you had just a little more. Pure Aloha Shave Ice is thrilled to share this authentic island experience with you!
Go ahead....Just take a bite, close your eyes and the feel sensation of the warm trade winds and turquoise waters. See the majestic coconut palms waving before the beautiful green mountains after a tropical rain. Can you feel the spirit of Aloha?!
The History of Shave Ice
Shave Ice Traces its History to Japan during the Heian period 794-1185 A.D., where it is known as Kakigōri. In Hawaii Shave Ice dates back to the sugar plantation days of old Hawaii. Thousand’s of Japanese immigrants flocked to Hawaii to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations and with them they brought a frozen confection. The Japanese workers enjoyed it as a refreshing break in the hot, tropical climate. They would use their machetes or swords to shave flakes of ice from a large block of ice into cups, then pour different fruit juices over the top.
In plantation times, the delicious frozen treat was only sold in Hawaii on Sundays, the only day of the week plantation workers had off. With the decline of Hawaiian sugar’s popularity, these immigrants moved off the plantations and opened their own family grocery stores. There they sold household goods along with shave ice which proved to be a huge commercial success and continues to be to this day.
With the spread of electricity and the advent of refrigeration, modern shave ice has come a long way from it's modest beginnings. Machines now can shave ice to such a degree that the snowflakes are softer and more absorbent that ever before. Exploration into new flavor possibilities and they way they satisfy the palate has made the shave ice experience all the more exciting!
In plantation times, the delicious frozen treat was only sold in Hawaii on Sundays, the only day of the week plantation workers had off. With the decline of Hawaiian sugar’s popularity, these immigrants moved off the plantations and opened their own family grocery stores. There they sold household goods along with shave ice which proved to be a huge commercial success and continues to be to this day.
With the spread of electricity and the advent of refrigeration, modern shave ice has come a long way from it's modest beginnings. Machines now can shave ice to such a degree that the snowflakes are softer and more absorbent that ever before. Exploration into new flavor possibilities and they way they satisfy the palate has made the shave ice experience all the more exciting!