Just what is Shave Ice?

The other day I headed towards Haleiwa and stopped at the world famous M. Matsumoto Grocery Store for a Shave Ice

They have a gazillion flavors to choose from and you can add vanilla ice cream (That gets added first), a red bean (japanese thing that I'm not brave enough to try) and/or have them pour condensed milk over it.

For those that don't know, Shave Ice is something totally different than an Icee (or Slush Puppy - depending where your from).

Where an Icee is a bit soup-ie or slushy, a Shave Ice is more like crystalized water - much more solid.

Shave....

What? 

No, not shaved, it's Shave and it's a Hawaiian thing....

Shave Ice is made by freezing water into a round, triple size hockey puck.  The puck is put in the green machine you see here. By cranking the machine, the ice gets a shave by the blade below.

Glad I could clear that up for you...

After the ices gets a shave the Shave Ice Tech (Yes, that's the title I'll give him) grabs the shavings and fills the cone. Then, right on top, he forms a big snow ball.

Next comes the flavoring and it's my turn to enjoy. Today my choice was Watermelon and Raspberry with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Had a little bit of a brain freeze, but it was oh so yummy.

Aloha a Hui Hou!