Fugu Diaries

I’d heard of a shaved ice that is like no other since last summer. It’s supposed to be lighter, fluffier and tastier than your simple slushy or ice with syrup on it, and it’s called xue-hua-bing. I heard there was a stand that serves it in Akihabara — the electronic town in Tokyo — and I happened to pass by it earlier this week. Of course I had to try it.

Xue-hua-bing is a Taiwanese snow cone. Xue-hua-bing is made out of the shavings off a huge block of sweet frozen milk. This stand in Akihabara then gives you a choice of different flavors to add on top of it. Each flavor has a romantic name — strawberry sauce and powder is called “Romantic”, chocolate sauce and corn flakes is called “The poem of falling leaves”, and salt is called “Ruby’s lover”. I chose one with mango sauce and fresh cut mangoes. It was called “gold and silver treasure”. They offer 13 flavors in all, including one, which they serve plain with no sauce. They cost 400-600 yen each. Most cost 500 yen.

The concoction is indeed fluffy and light like snow, and it melts in your mouth immediately. The sauce is much tastier than the sugar syrups on regular shaved ice. But I couldn’t help but think about the calories in the dish because unlike shaved ice, which is made out of frozen water, xue-hua-bing is made out of already sweetened milk, which also makes it a heavier dessert. If I had a choice I’d probably choose shaved ice with less syrup, but if I were going to have this again, I’d probably order the plain one. It’s plenty sweet by itself, and you can still enjoy the light texture. The store is on Central Blvd., a 7 minute walk from Akihabara JR station toward Ueno. It’s on the left side of the road a little further than the Don Quijote store (which will be on the right). It’s worth trying once if you pass by it.

Xue-hua no Sato
3-15-6 Sotokanda
Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3256-2505

— Yukari