Shave ice is a snow cone with class. Yes, it is ice and flavoring, but rather than being chopped and clumpy, shave ice is as fluffy as freshly fallen snow. Whereas the ice and syrup in a normal snow cone never quite blend, shave ice literally sops up its flavor and delivers such intensely compelling refreshment that brain freeze is a near-certain side effect.
With historical antecedents in Asia and in Hawaii, shave ice was originally a time-consuming product to make, requiring that the ice actually be shaved from a block with knives. That changed in 1934 when Ernest Hansen of New Orleans invented a machine that shaves ice. Five years later, he opened Hansen’s Snow-Bliz, where homemade tropical syrups were applied to the ice in layers. Now run by Hansen’s granddaughter, the little shop continues to set the gold standard, offering shave ice with such special flavors as cream of peach and cream of coffee, tart satsuma and limeade, as well as luxury toppings that include condensed milk, marshmallow, crushed pineapple, and whipped cream.