March 1, 2009
Let it snow
The sweet dessert snow ice is fast gaining fans who want to stay cool in the Singapore heat
By Huang Lijie
If ice kachang and ice cream had a love child, it would be snow ice.
The sweet treat is made by feeding frozen blocks of milk, or flavoured milk, into a machine that shaves it into thin sheets. The layers of milk ice, piled high in a bowl, are served with toppings that run the gamut from chunks of fresh fruit to chocolate sprinkles.
The name is inspired by the thinness of the flavoured ice sheets and their smooth mouth-feel, reminiscent of fine powdered snow.
A popular dessert in Taiwan, snow ice is no stranger to Singaporeans with a sweet tooth, having been available here as early as four years ago.
However, the icy dessert did not quite take off until the last few months when a rash of at least 10 outlets began selling it.
Miss Clara Lee, 49, owner of Mei Heong Yuen in Temple Street, which is known for its traditional desserts such as almond milk with egg white, says: 'We started offering snow ice last year because it is a refreshing cold dessert that is suited to the hot weather in Singapore.
'Also, it is unique in the market so we felt it had the potential to excite our customers.'
Mr Peter Lee, 36, co-owner of a new snow ice shop, 32 Degrees Fahrenheit, in Marine Parade Central, says: 'Snow ice has the smoothness of ice cream, the lightness of snow and it doesn't melt as fast as ice kachang, so we were confident it would appeal to customers here.'
Mr Lee and his partner, Mr Harry Hsieh, were so passionate about introducing the dessert here, they spent almost six months convincing a popular snow ice stall in Taipei's famed foodie haunt, Shihlin Night Market, to share its recipe for making the dessert.
The pattern formed by the folds of flavoured ice, which reminds one of obliquely layered taffetta, is visually enticing too. Hence, Mr Alan Sim, 30, co-owner of Food Anytime, a five-outlet Chinese dessert chain, decided to add the attractive sweet treat to its menu late last year.
Indeed, the dessert's toothsome qualities have won it so many fans that Summer Frost, which started selling snow ice from a canteen stall at Nanyang Technological University last year, has spawned a second outlet in East Coast Road.
Similarly, 32 Degrees Fahrenheit, which cost $40,000 to start up, broke even in three months and is opening its second outlet in Hougang Street 22 tomorrow.
Popular toppings for snow ice include durian puree and mango cubes and puree.
Mr Daniel Goh, 38, a trader, likes the coconut snow ice from 32 Degrees Fahrenheit because it is 'richer in flavour' than most crushed ice desserts, yet at the same time less cloying than ice cream.
For student Wilson Teo, 24, the 'fluffy' texture of the snow ice from Summer Frost is what keeps him going back.
He says: 'The smoothness of the snow ice sold here is better than some of those I tried in Taiwan. The flavours and toppings available here are also more creative than what you get there.'
Miss Lee of Mei Heong Yuen says snow ice has a less grainy texture than other shaved ice desserts because of the milk content in the ice.
Mr Eric Ng, 44, owner of Snow Frost in AMK Hub, which sells both snow ice and shaved ice, adds that snow ice comes out in sheets instead of a fine powder because it is stored at temperatures below minus 27 deg C and thus holds its shape better than regular shaved ice blocks kept at 0 deg C.
Also, he says the blade of the snow ice machine carves away at the block of ice as it spins rather than grinds up the ice.
As more snow ice shops open and the competition heats up, retailers are taking measures to insulate their business and stay on the cutting edge by offering unique flavours and toppings.
Summer Frost, for example, has more than 20 types of toppings, including macadamia nuts, marshmallow and Oreo cookies. It also recently launched a roseflavoured snow ice.
Similarly, 32 Degrees Fahrenheit is looking to expand its snow ice selection by adding two more flavours - chocolate and yogurt.
On whether the popularity of this dessert might fizzle out given the fickleness of Singaporean's tastebuds, Mr Sim of Food Anytime says: 'Singaporeans' love for snow ice is not a craze like bubble tea. For dessert lovers, snow ice is more a popular alternative to other desserts such as ice kachang.'
Beat the heat
32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
Where: Block 85, Marine Parade Central, 01-666
Open: 11am to 10pm daily
Where: Block 246, Hougang Street 22, 01-159
Open: Noon to 8pm on weekdays, closed on weekends
What: Diners are encouraged to be creative and mix their favourite toppings and snow ice flavours. For those who cannot make up their mind, popular combinations recommended here include Banana Special, milk snow ice topped with peanuts, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sauce, bananas, cornflakes and Coco Crunch cereal ($5, above). Another popular pick is milk snow ice with M&M chocolate, Oreo cookies and chocolate sauce ($4).
SUMMER FROST
Where: 50 Nanyang Avenue, Nanyang Technological University Canteen 2
Open: Noon to 10pm daily
Where: 41 East Coast Road
Open: Noon to 10.30pm daily
What: A popular offering is a grape combination ($3.50), where champagne grape snow ice is topped with blueberry syrup and fresh grapes. Another choice pick is the Fruit Platter combination ($5), where fresh strawberry, kiwi, grape and mango accompany milk snow ice.
MEI HEONG YUEN
Where: 65 Temple Street
Open: 10.30am to 9pm (Sundays to Fridays), 10.30am to 10pm (Saturdays), tel: 6221-1156
What: Its snow ice offerings were so popular that the menu has grown from four to 11 flavours in the last year. Unusual ones include yam snow ice topped with sultanas and cranberries, and almond snow ice, which comes with fruit cocktail ($5 each).
SNOW FROST
Where: 53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, B2-27, AMK Hub
Open: 10am to 10pm
What: Its affordable snow ice is between $2.90 and $3.90 a bowl. The mango snow ice ($3.90), which is popular among customers, comes topped with fresh mango cubes.
FOOD ANYTIME
Where: Five outlets, including 90 Hougang Avenue 10, Hougang Mall, 02-18
Open: 10.30am to 10.30pm daily, tel: 6387-6620
What: Its mango snow ice, which comes with mango cubes and mango puree ($3.80), is a crowd favourite. Its durian snow ice ($3.80), which comes with durian pulp, is equally well loved.
DESSERTSTORY
Where: 260 Orchard Road, The Heeren, B1-02 Open: 10.30am to 10.30pm (Sundays to Fridays), 10.30am to midnight (Saturdays), tel: 6737-6097
What: The snow ice looks so pretty, you almost don't want to eat it. Flavours include black sesame, green tea and strawberry (all $3.80 each).
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