Water-Based Tasty Treats: Shave Ice, Agua Fresca, and Sol Pops

Cool Eats and Tasty Treats!
by Lynnette Fusilier

Water is totally fun to play in and oh-so-vital to our health, but it’s also an ingredient in some fabulous summertime snacks.

Shave Ice
Have you ever let a snowflake fall on your tongue? Imagine a whole bowl of the finest, most powdery snow on Earth saturated with flavors such as Mango, Pineapple, and Coconut—heaven! But don’t confuse shave ice with a snow cone! According to Matthew Ho, owner of Ohana Hawaiian Cafe, snow cones are made with crushed ice, have a lot of crunch and bite, and are flavored with syrup. He notes that the texture of the ice actually prevents it from soaking in the flavor and that’s why the syrup always pools at the bottom of the snow cone. Shave ice is so fine that it actually absorbs the flavored syrup—producing an entirely different sensory experience.
www.ohanahawaiiancafe.com

Agua Fresca
A simple slice of lemon does wonders for a cool glass of water—but in the capable hands of Justin Atkins, bar manager at Trebol, fresh herbs and local fruit purees transform a simple liquid into a tasty concoction called agua fresca. Atkins buys fresh herbs and seasonal produce direct from local farmers. The house-made fruit purees and herbs are added to sparkling soda water and shaken with ice to create five refreshing and frothy combinations: Strawberry Lime, Mango Mint, Kiwi Strawberry, Tamarind and Blood Orange Basil.
www.trebolpdx.com

Sol Pops
If you’ve visited the Eastbank, Montavilla, or Portland State Farmers Markets, it’s likely that you’ve fallen in love with Sol
Pops—Portland’s very own sustainable, organic and local gourmet popsicle purveyor. These creations are technically paletas, a frozen treat popular in South America and Mexico. Sol Pops offers a creamy style paleta made with coconut milk and a water-based paleta made with fresh fruit juice, fruit, and sweetened with organic sugar cane or agave. They even offer paletas without any added sugar, which makes Sol Pops a treat that everyone can enjoy, regardless
of food allergies or dietary restrictions. Sol Pops are available in a surprising array of flavors such as Cucumber Lime Jalapeno, Strawberry Lemonade and Raspberry Coconut.
www.solpops.com