Fayetteville: Here’s Where To Get Authentic Shave Ice
There is certainly no shortage of spots to score cold treats around the area. However, shave ice in Fayetteville might be one of the more underrated dessert or snack options of them all.
What exactly is shave ice and how is it different than a snow cone? I first had shave ice on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. It was also the first time I was introduced to such a thing or had even heard of it. There’s a reason why it is so common and popular in Hawaii. It’s also important to note, the proper term is “shave” ice, not “shaved” ice.
In fact, Hawaiian Airlines has a detailed overview of the origins of this cool treat and how it dates back to the 1800’s. “To cool off, Japanese immigrants in Hawaii used their tools to shave flakes off large blocks of ice, and then coated it with sugar or fruit juice,” they explain.
Kitchen Aid makes products that allow you to make shave ice in your own home. They also have more common snow cone makers. They are two different products because although the shave ice and snow cones are similar and use the same ingredients, they have significantly different attributes.
“The primary difference between Hawaiian shave ice and snow cones is the texture of the ice,” Kitchen Aid said. It’s more common to use a spoon with shave ice. That is because “Hawaiian shaved ice is made by ice that has been shaved into a fine, powdery consistency.” A snow cone is packed in tight with more of a crunch in a way that a popsicle has, where it can be sucked.
Here’s What To Know About Great Shave Ice In Fayetteville
Shave ice not only gives parlor owners a unique product to offer, it also inspires some of the most creative shop names. Let’s go through some of the places that you need to know about. Of course, all of them serve authentic shave ice, and a few of them have very clever names as well.
Starting with Pelican’s Snoballs. They explain this is actually inspired by a New Orleans tradition “of combining smooth, fluffy snow with bold flavors.” You can see the full menu of 100 flavors like cola or pink champagne here. Although Pelican’s is a popular franchise with over 200 locations, there is only one in Fayetteville. It is located at 4621 Yadkin Road.
Then Jazzy Jax’s shave ice is a mobile service. They describe themselves as a “business that operates through private events, birthday parties, and a mobile food trailer bringing shave ice out of this world to the Raeford/Fayetteville area.” They offer ten different flavors but also allow you to add toppings like nerds or sour spray. Furthermore, their “Cosmic Creations” are unique blends. For example, the “Big Bang Butter Beer,” which is butter beer ice with vanilla ice cream in the middle. It’s then topped with whipped cream, sweet cream, and caramel.
