Kakigori is big in Japan, with lines of up to three hours during the summer. Foreigners will imagine the shabby snow cones and ice slushes from the USA or the sickly sweet shaved ice from Hawaii. But this is another level. These sweet ice towers are made from "gourmet" ice blocks frozen with ultra-fine water and maintained at precise temperatures. The ice masters are highly skilled as they endeavour to sculpt these delicate creations that would crumble like Jenga towers in the hands of amateurs. This masterpiece in Kyoto is possibly the single finest example of the art of kakigori anywhere and ranks as one of the great sweet creations in any culture. It would be worth a trip to Kyoto just to try this mind-boggling work of culinary art.

jeffrey_merrihue

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