Since the beginning of the summer, each new day brings heat and that is why the ZenMarket team wants to introduce to you the traditional Japanese summer dessert Kakigori (か き 氷).
Kakigori is shaved ice with sweet fruit, syrups, fresh fruits, and mochi. Kakigori was seen as a luxury dessert, only for the nobility, throughout Japanese history until the 19th century when it was popularized and made affordable.
The crispy coolness and freshness of the shaved ice – is exactly what you need on a hot summer day!
What Are the Toppings for Kakigori?
There are many variants of dessert - ice cream, fruit, chocolate - that all perfectly combine with shaved ice.
Some traditional toppings for Japanese Kakigori are sweet adzuki beans, green tea matcha, kinako, and kurumitsu. Sweet adzuki beans are made from red beans and sugar and can be found in other traditional Japanese sweets. It is commonly paired with mochi. Kinako is roasted soy flour and has a nutty flavor and is also found in multiple traditional Japanese sweets. Lastly, kurumitsu is a dark syrup that is very similar to molasses. All of these toppings can be mixed and matched together to give you different variations of traditional Japanese Kakigori.
Popular western-style toppings for Kakigori are a variety of fruit syrups or condensed milk. Condensed milk and fruit syrups are also a popular combination with Japanese people.
How to Make Kakigori - Kakigori Machines
For the preparation of this dessert, you will need a special machine - an ice shaver.
With this simple device, you can turn ice into a delicious refreshing mass, which looks like a cloud.
Put ice cubes in a special section at the top and turn the handle to the final grinding of the ice.
Japanese ice shavers range in many designs. Some can come as a bear or a penguin or may have designs from your favorite Japanese characters. There is a line of Sanrio Kakigori Machines that come with a cup. There is even a Pikachu Kakigori machine, perfect for those who love Pokemon!
Hello Kitty is still a very popular character in Japan as well as throughout the world. Without any doubt, this cute device in the form of Hello Kitty is difficult to pass up.
If you prefer a more elegant design - we recommend you this stylish and easy-to-use device. Just press the button in order to prepare your shaved ice.
Experiment with taste, add some fresh fruit - and your day will definitely become brighter.