Professional heavy duty ice slicing machine to make shaved ice at home and the rest is history.

Our faithful Korean friend Shin manufacturers an imports these electric machines in his home town which include a UV function for extra sanitary protection. The only disadvantages is they are 40cm wide and 70cm high so you need a place to put it at counter level.

The origins of kakigōri date back to the Heian period in Japanese history, when blocks of ice saved during the colder months would be shaved and served with sweet syrup to Japanese aristocracy during the summer.

The first documented “shaved ice” dessert was made in 27 B.C.E. The Roman Emperor Nero sent slaves to collect snow from nearby mountains that he then flavoured with a fruit and honey mixture.

Shaved ice culture in Japan is not a fad – it is here to stay come summertime, shops across Japan compete with each other to produce flavours alongside the more conventional strawberry to show off on instagram. I once tasted wasabi, it is definitely not my favourite and there are consequences.

Kooriya Peace, serves shaved ice in Kichijoji including special types decorated with melon, cherry and cheese etc. But Daikichi in Ginza uses whole fruit hollowed out and replaced with shaved ice and melon’s balls and the shaved ice is topped with cream. 

The Tokyo scene is pictured below;