Shaved Ice, Japanese Summer Tradition
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| "Taiyaki Wakaba" is a long-established taiyaki restaurant since 1953, but shaved ice is added to the menu only in summer. |
One of the pleasures of summer in Japan is shaved ice. My favorite is the orthodox shaved ice with matcha and red beans. The slightly bitter taste of matcha and the sweet adzuki beans mixed with the crunchy coolness of the shaved ice create a perfect harmony. Shaved ice is a luxury on a hot day.
Shaved ice and ice sweets with a wide variety of prices and types
Depending on the shop, the ice is made with delicious water, or the matcha is the famous matcha from Uji, Kyoto. Prices also vary. There is also shaved ice that you can easily buy at convenience stores and supermarkets. Popsicle bars are also recommended.
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| You can buy this matcha shaved ice at Seven-Eleven, a convenience store. It is 170 yen (tax included). This shaved ice is made by inserting sweet, creamy condensed milk into smooth matcha ice. The matcha used is from Uji, Kyoto, which is famous for its matcha. |
Shaved ice made at home
You can easily make shaved ice at home with a shaved ice maker. When I was a kid in the 1970s, we used to make them ourselves. Even children can easily make it with syrup. Strawberry, melon, and lemon syrups were standard at the time.
