Remember This Ad at the Drive-In?

This advertisement ran a bit before I can remember it (1960's), but it just goes to show that snow cones have been a popular treat for a long, long time!



Summer can't come quick enough again! It's 4 degrees outside where I am today. It's too cold for a tasty snow cone...so I need warmer weather!

A History Lesson on Cotton Candy

While most people refer to this tasty treat as cotton candy, it has many other names too. Over the course of time it has been referred to as spun sugar, fairy floss and candy floss. The diversity of its names is just as diverse as the stories behind its origins.



In the United States, the first references to this confection date to the early 1900’s. However, there are complicated recipes for it dating back to the mid-18th century in Europe. To learn more about the interesting history of cotton candy, please visit The Food Timeline website. Click on ‘cotton candy’ to get the whole story! Enjoy!

The History of Shaved Ice

Now that we have learned about when and where snow cones originated, we need to know the same about shaved ice. So, here’s our second history lesson for the day!

In 1934, inventor Ernest Hansen patented the first known "ice block shaver" in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was inspired to create a more refined and hygienic version of the popular Italian ice sold from push-carts in the city. His wife Mary created many flavors of fresh syrups to flavor his finely shaved artificial "snow". "Sno balls" have been popular in New Orleans ever since that time. Hansen continued to work at the original Hansen's Sno-Bliz in Uptown New Orleans on Tchoupitoulas Street through 2005. His granddaughter, Ashley Hansen now manages the daily operations. Mr. Hansen died in late 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina and his wife passed away in March 2006.

There are differences between a New Orleans "Sno Ball" (Shaved Ice) and a "Snow Cone." While a Snow Cone consists of hard, crunchy ice and limited amounts of syrup, a “Sno Ball” (Shaved Ice) is made from a very fluffy shaved ice about the same consistency of actual snow and is drowned in syrup. It is customary to eat it with a straw and a spoon.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Origin of the Snow Cone

Do you know when and where the first snow cones were served? Here’s a quick history lesson for all of us. “You learn something new everyday!”

Samuel Bert of Dallas, Texas sold snow cones at the State Fair of Texas in 1919, and he invented a snow cone-making machine in 1920. Bert was a fixture at the State Fair, selling his snow cones there (and selling his machines world-wide) until his death in 1984.

A snow cone is a dessert item usually made of compacted shaved ice flavored with a brightly colored, sweet syrup, which is generally fruit-flavored. Variations include the "stuffed" snow cone, which has a layer of soft-serve vanilla ice cream inside. Some snow cones are served with a spoon, while others are meant to be eaten with the hands like an ice cream cone. (Source: Wikipedia)