Kaohsiung’s Icey Treats / 夏季冰品饗宴
Kaohsiung's Icey Treats
◎English Written by Peng Hsin-yi ◎Photos by Pao Chung-hui
※Little Chi Old-Time Taro Ice Cream Shop
As summer gets hotter, Kaohsiung's ice shops help people cool down. Little Chi Old-Time Taro Ice Cream Shop is the most famous in Jiashian District. Taro is a starchy root vegetable and Jiashian's most popular agricultural produce. It has a slightly chewy, silky texture, a delicious flavor, a distinct aroma which goes perfectly over ice. Little Chi has been around since the 1970s and has been passed down from one generation to another. The owner vigilantly guards the business' secrets and reputation. The treats are made with quality ingredients and the taro must exhibit the perfect balance of color, aroma, and texture. Little Chi's dish appears purple with little chunks of taro. The aroma is sweet and served over creamy ice cream. Every mouthful represents the master's love for his work. He hopes everyone who tries it will enjoy his favorite product.
※Hamasing's Old-Time Shaved Ice Shop
"This is where the locals come!" exclaims an enthusiastic neighbor of Hamasing's Old-Time Shaved Ice Shop. Located close to the Gushan Dai Tien Kung temple, the shop doesn't exhibit any large banners to attract customers, but only uses the best ingredients, making it one of the most popular shaved ice shops in town.
This shop's signature shaved ice is candied red bean with condensed milk over shaved ice. The owner cooks the candied red beans in a gigantic steamer. The red beans are purchased from a farm in Pingdong County. The steam carries the fragrance of red bean and after steaming they have a chewy texture. The syrup is also made from scratch by boiling cane sugar and water together. After several hours of simmering, it thickens into dark brown syrup with a honey texture. A mouth-watering caramel scent is released into the air and although it is made from the simplest ingredients, they come together to form an extraordinary treat. The owner inherited the shop from her relative and has a deep sense of obligation not to let them down. These efforts are certainly appreciated by the customers. The special atmosphere of sharing a shaved ice dish while listening to the chanting of the nearby temple brings about a sense of blissfulness and tranquility. Come and experience the charm of Hamasing's Old-Time Shaved Ice Shop.
※"Yuherbau" Litchi Konjac Popsicles by Dashu Farmers' Association
Upon opening the individual packets, there is a delicious scent of litchis. The popsicles are made under the supervision of Dashu Farmers' Association and a real treat. Each Popsicle contains sweet chunks of juicy litchi fruit and chewy konjac bits.
Dashu Farmers' Association began using local fruits to make popsicles in 2003. The most popular is the litchi konjac blend. The popsicles are packed with fruit with delicate flavors, making them an enticing treat. In 2011, Dashu Farmer's Association plans to export over 70 thousand fruit popsicles to Canada, charming taste buds in North America.
夏季冰品饗宴
◎文／張嘉玲 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
三伏天，溽氣蒸騰。走訪港都，許多在地深耕的老字號冰店已經準備好以各式冰品沁涼港都人燥熱的心情！
※甲仙小奇芋冰老店
甲仙區的小奇芋老冰城名氣響亮，自父輩起，即採用甲仙特產芋頭作為招牌芋頭冰原料。甲仙芋頭質地特別Ｑ，香氣道地。老經驗的製冰師傅更嚴格管控品質，芋頭的顏色、香氣、酥鬆度都要臻於完美才能入選。芋頭冰表面色澤呈現淡藕色，一口咬下可嚐到紮實的芋頭顆粒，芋頭香氣流轉於口鼻之間，甜蜜滋味慢慢逸散開來，每一球芋冰都蘊含著兩代老闆堅持品質的心意。
※鼓山哈瑪星老店
『在地人都吃這家啦！』香火鼎盛的鼓山代天宮一帶，哈瑪星老店招牌不大，但老闆的好厝邊用篤定的語氣提醒，老店可是貨真價實，在地人氣紅不讓。
老店招牌是紅豆牛奶冰，大蒸鍋底鋪滿紅艷飽滿的紅豆，還沒掀蓋，店裡便充盈滿滿紅豆香。以砂糖耐心熬煮七個小時製成的糖水，糖、水比例適當，閃爍著如蜂蜜般的光澤，厚實的焦糖香散發在空氣中，是正港懷舊的滋味。老闆娘表示，精選的紅豆來自屏東，蒸熟起鍋時，很有嚼勁，最是自然好味。她承接上一代留下來的冰店，油然產生一份使命感，挑選原料不計成本，費時費工熬煮出來的糖水，尤其受到客人歡迎。尋個夏日午後至鼓山區，享受一份精心調製的幸福配方。頌禱聲中，願歲月靜好，這就是哈瑪星老冰店的魅力。
※大樹農會玉荷包蒟蒻冰棒
撕開大樹農會玉荷包蒟蒻冰棒的外包裝，芬芳濃郁的荔枝味從袋中竄出，除了真材實料的荔枝果肉之外 ，還吃得到ＱＱ的蒟蒻。
大樹農會從民國92年起選用當地特產水果製成冰棒 ，其中最受歡迎的玉荷包蒟蒻冰棒，口感紮實，綿密細緻。今年大樹農會更外銷七萬多支水果冰棒到加拿大，耀眼的出口成績足見台灣特產水果冰棒的魅力。