History Of The Snow Cone

By Author: Doug Taylor
Total Articles: 4762
Comment this article

The "snow cone" has been a family favorite for almost a century, if you don't count the emperors who poured fruit juice (and wine) on snow brought from the mountains to Rome in antiquity. The modern version is a special frozen treat that is made with shaved ice and then covered with any number of flavored syrups.

In 1920, a man named Samuel Bert from Texas created the very first snow cone machine, selling the frozen treats at the state fairs where they became so popular that he became a permanent fixture there. He sold them all the way up to his death in 1984. Ernest Henson of New Orleans sed today to make the popular treats.

Different styles
In the United States, snow cones are baseball-shaped ice shavings that are typically placed into a paper cup shaped like an ice cream cone. This treat very popular all over the world, with different countries celebrating the snow cone in their own ways. In Puerto Rico, the snow cone is called "piragua" because of the way that they are shaped in the form of a pyramid with "agua" representing the ice that they are made with. Hawaiians also indulge in the tasty frozen treat ...
... and they call the snow cones "shaved ice" (on Maui, "ice shave") with the most popular flavor being "the rainbow." This flavor consists of three different syrup flavors being combined in one cone with eye-popping colors. In Mexico, the snow cone is named "raspado" for "scratched ice."

Occasionally, snow cones have been misidentified as Italian ices but they are completely different as Italian ices are flavored during production, while snow cones are flavored at the time of their sale. In some countries, however, vendors add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the snow cone for an extra treat, and in Japan they add a unique, sweet red bean called azuki. A popular dessert in Malaysia and Singapore called "ice kechang" is another form of the snow cone, originally served with the red beans like in Japan but now available with a variety of different fresh fruits and other special sweet toppings. In the Dominican Republic and many American neighborhoods with Dominican immigrants, they call the snow cones "frio frio," which literally means "cold cold," due to the chills that you get from the first bite of the treat.

Other exotic kinds
In Lebanon, snow cones actually have a special purpose other than just being a frozen dessert. They are also known for the role that they play in some religious rites of Maronite Catholicism. The snow cones are given to children that are entering their teenage years as part of their process of confirmation to the church, a practice that has continued since the early 1960s after Father Francis Boustany began the tradition. However, the snow cones are not limited by any cultural traditions to the church in Lebanon, and are enjoyed as a summertime treat by everyone.

Depending on how you prefer to eat your snow cone, there are so many different ways to prepare them. The snow cone is a great way to cool off in the summer heat and continue to gather "sweet memories" of the fun you share with others as you eat them. Interestingly, because of the nature of the treat, mass manufacturing and wholesale distribution of snow cones is simply not possible. It is a food item that has to be prepared when it is ordered, as storing snow cones would result in the shaved ice turning into a solid ball of colored ice. This changes the nature of the item completely.

Today, there are low-cost snow cone machines that families can buy for their homes. Making (and especially eating) snow cones can be a source of great fun at dinners, parties, summer picnics and other events. The natural food fans have also taken a second look at the treat, since any number of flavorings can be added to the ice and can be sweetened with both natural and synthetic sugar alternatives. Finally, many nutritionists recommend snow cones with sugar-free, fresh fruit flavorings as an excellent low-calorie snack to add to any diet plan. Snow cones are about the most natural food there is, depending on how you prepare them, and will never lose their frigid luster. They will doubtless continue as one of most popular frozen foods in the world.
About Author:
You will find a variety of concession stand and home theater equipment at Kano Korn Concession Equipment, everything from a popcorn machine supply and more. Visit online today.