Summer is the season to indulge in icy treats, and China offers a diverse array of regional specialties that are sure to delight your taste buds. While some may cautiously navigate their way through supermarket freezers to avoid overpriced ice cream, others in various parts of China are savoring unique and refreshing ice delicacies. Let's explore some of these delightful summer treats from Guizhou, Tianjin, Xinjiang, and beyond.
Guizhou's Heavenly Ice Slush (冰浆)
If you've ever had the pleasure of trying Guizhou's ice slush, you'll know it leaves a lasting impression. Made from fresh fruits, glutinous rice, ice, and sugar, this treat is known for its smooth and layered texture, thanks to the addition of glutinous rice. The result is a refined, creamy consistency that melts in your mouth, offering a unique twist on traditional ice slushes.
The classic flavor is cucumber milk, which combines the refreshing taste of cucumber with the creamy texture of glutinous rice. One bite and you're transported to a state of cool bliss, with the fresh cucumber aroma filling your senses. Mango-flavored ice slush is another favorite, featuring chunks of real mango that deliver a burst of tropical flavor. With every bite, it's like enjoying a mango sticky rice dessert in an icy, more refreshing form.
Other popular flavors include original glutinous rice, grape, peanut, watermelon, and dragon fruit. Pairing ice slush with various local dishes like hotpot, barbecue, or noodle soup enhances the dining experience, making each meal an unforgettable summer delight.
Tianjin's Old-Style Shaved Ice
Tianjin locals have a nostalgic favorite to beat the heat: old-style shaved ice. This traditional treat features hawthorn, apricot, sour plum, and red bean as its main ingredients. The tartness of the hawthorn and apricot, combined with the rich sweetness of red bean, creates an addictive flavor profile that keeps you coming back for more.
What sets Tianjin's shaved ice apart is the generous topping of ingredients. Unlike other places where you're left with a bowl of ice at the end, Tianjin's version ensures every bite is packed with flavor. Another beloved Tianjin treat is the snowflake curd, a childhood favorite for many. This delicacy, priced at just 6 yuan per cup, is a finer, more delicate version of shaved ice. Made with raisins, hawthorn slices, apricot, dried plum, honey, and osmanthus syrup, the snowflake curd has a delightful texture and a vibrant orange-pink hue.
Xinjiang's Refreshing Ice Creations
In the scorching heat of Xinjiang, where temperatures can soar to 40°C, icy treats are essential for cooling down. Two popular local favorites are the "Sharlandauk" and "Malos."
Sharlandauk (沙朗刀克) is a unique yogurt-based shaved ice. To make it, crushed ice is mixed with rich, tangy yogurt and sweet honey in a metal bowl, which is then vigorously shaken to combine the ingredients. The result is a refreshing, sweet-and-sour treat that cools you from the inside out.
Malos (马洛什) is a creamy, milk-based ice cream with a minimalist ingredient list: milk, eggs, and sugar. Its pale yellow color and ultra-smooth texture make it a melt-in-your-mouth delight. The rich dairy and egg flavors are complemented perfectly by various local fruit jams, such as cherry, plum, fig, and medlar, making every bite a tantalizing experience.
Yunnan's Papaya Water and Paoluda (泡鲁达)
During my stay in Yunnan, I discovered the cooling effects of "Papaya Water," a popular local beverage that has no actual papaya in it. Instead, it's made from the seeds of the ground cherry plant, which are wrapped in a cloth and rubbed in water mixed with slaked lime to create a gel-like substance. This concoction, known as "Papaya Jelly," is then sweetened with rose syrup, offering a refreshing and thirst-quenching treat that also helps alleviate the summer heat.
Paoluda, a street dessert in Yunnan, features a versatile array of ingredients. Though its components can vary, the essential elements are dried bread, milk or coconut milk, and shredded coconut. The combination of crunchy bread and rich, fragrant milk creates a delightful texture and flavor, making Paoluda a beloved summer treat for locals and visitors alike.
Hainan's Cooling Qingbuliang
In Hainan, "Qingbuliang (清补凉)" is the ultimate summer refreshment. This dessert's base can be either coconut water or freshly squeezed coconut milk, to which various ingredients like corn, barley, watermelon, peanut-filled glutinous rice balls, and quail eggs are added. My personal favorite is the coconut milk ice version, which boasts a finely crushed ice texture that slides smoothly down your throat, with the robust coconut aroma enhancing the overall cooling effect.
These regional delights represent just a fraction of the diverse icy treats available across China. From the rich and creamy to the tart and refreshing, there's something for everyone to enjoy during the sweltering summer months. So, what unique ice treats do you have in your area? Share your favorites and let us know!
