I is for ICE, Shave Ice and Mochi Ice Cream

PUPUS, Hawaiian snacks similar to hors d’oeuvers, tapas, and canapés,

make up the third segment of my A-to-Z Challenge theme. 

Ice may not sound like a delicious snack food, but in Hawaii Shave Ice is King. This treat differs from the mainland snow cone because the ice is shaved from a block of frozen water rather than crushed. The sno-like texture of the shaved ice absorbs the syrup so you can eat it with a spoon, not just sip it through a straw.

 

My visitor from Minnesota, Flat Mary (of Flat Stanley fame),

enjoying a Passion Fruit Shave Ice

after our hike up - and down again - Diamond Head in Honolulu 

 

Shave Ice comes in multiple flavors, including the more local kine like pineapple, coconut, guava, lychee, mango, li hing mui, and passion fruit. My favorite Shave Ice is served with sweet azuki bean paste at the bottom and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Eh, brah, dis Ono*!

*See the letter ‘O’ for definition of Ono. 

Mochi Ice Cream is the other ‘Ice’ that tops my list of favorite dessert pupus. Mochi is a Japanese rice cake. It is very chewy and sweet. Mochi Ice Cream is fruity ice cream wrapped in mochi and dusted with a white powdery substance. 

 

The verdict is still out on whether Flat Mary likes Shave Ice or Strawberry Mochi Ice Cream better.

 

There are lots of steps to making mochi ice cream, easier if you buy it ready-made. It is popular in Asia, Hawaii, and the West Coast of the United States. 

Why not plan your next vacation accordingly?