Ice Dessert (Sea Salt Cheese Shine Muscat Grape)
The shaved ice dessert (Sea Salt Cheese Shine Muscat) is a modern type of kakigori-style dessert characterized by the use of Shine Muscat grapes and sea salt cream cheese. It is served in establishments such as the dessert cafe ""Congtian Niunai Bing"" in Shenzhen, China. Drawing on the tradition of Taiwanese baobing, it has evolved to meet new preferences by incorporating abundant fruits, dairy products, and unique flavorings. The dessert is especially notable for its fluffy, shaved milk ice, generous Shine Muscat grapes, and a variety of toppings such as tapioca, nata de coco, and vanilla ice cream. Its popularity has increased in recent years, aided by market growth and exposure on social media.
- Taste Rating
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- Price
- 34 Yuan Renminbi
- Meal Date
- 9/16/2024
- Food Travel Log
- After drinking, it's dessert time. The last treat I had at Shenzhen’s Sea World was an amazingly delicious shaved ice. The fluffy milk ice was as soft as snow, sweet but balanced with salty cream for a sweet-salty contrast. Juicy grapes, tapioca, and red bean made it a flavor parade! The fluffiness and sweetness left me feeling ecstatic. Now, though, my sides are feeling soft and my mood is low.
AI Gourmet Analysis
Overview of Shaved Ice Dessert (Sea Salt Cheese Shine Muscat)
The shaved ice dessert (Sea Salt Cheese Shine Muscat) is a modern evolution of frozen sweets, served at the popular sweets café “Congtian Niunai Bing” in Shenzhen, China. This dessert carries a strong lineage from the traditional Taiwanese "Baobing" (shaved ice), while incorporating trendy ingredients. Its main features are the use of Shine Muscat grapes as the centerpiece, taking advantage of their juiciness and rich sweetness, along with a complex combination of the deep flavor and subtle saltiness from sea salt cream cheese.
Composition and Features
This dessert is based on snow-like fluffy shaved milk ice, topped with a generous amount of Shine Muscat grapes, small transparent nata de coco, as well as tapioca and sweet red bean paste. Furthermore, a heap of vanilla ice cream is placed on top, creating an impressive contrast of luxurious toppings and colors. The balance of muscat juice, milk ice, and sea salt cream cheese is exquisite, and the contrast between sweetness and saltiness is said to explain its popularity during summer or in tropical cities.
Cultural Background
In subtropical regions such as southern China and Taiwan, shaved ice (Baobing/Ice desserts) is a common treat to beat the heat, and this type of elaborate shaved ice dessert is its evolutionary form. Recently, the trends of "Instagrammable" visuals and "health-consciousness" have led to the bold inclusion of modern ingredients like fruits, cheese, and fresh cream. Notably, the Shine Muscat (known in Chinese as 香印青提) used in this dessert originates from Japan and is highly popular as a luxury grape throughout China.
Key Ingredients and Their Roles
| Ingredient | Characteristics and Role |
|---|---|
| Shine Muscat (香印青提) | A fruit with high sugar content and a rich aroma, providing juiciness and refined sweetness as the main character. |
| Fluffy Shaved Milk Ice | Light texture and rich milk flavor bring the entire dessert together. |
| Sea Salt Cream Cheese (海盐芝士) | Adds subtle saltiness and creamy depth, giving the dessert more complexity. |
| Tapioca, Sweet Red Bean Paste, Nata de Coco | Contribute a variety of textures and sweetness, allowing different sensations in one bowl. |
| Vanilla Ice Cream | Emphasizes the coldness and softens the overall texture. |
Origin and Local Status
Congtian Niunai Bing is located in the waterfront redevelopment area known as Sea World in Shenzhen, gaining strong support among tourists and urban youth. Shaved ice desserts are an iconic sweet for Shenzhen’s hot summers, also enjoyed as the finale to shopping or drinking outings. A broad range of flavors and photogenic, decorative presentations have further fueled their popularity via social media.
Relation to Similar Desserts
While sharing its roots with Taiwanese and Chinese Baobing, Uji Kintoki, Japanese kakigori, and Korean patbingsu, this dessert is characterized by the modern combination of "dairy products + saltiness + fruit." It is expected to continue evolving with an increasing variety of fruits and toppings.