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Watch: How Shave Ice, Hawaii’s Coolest Treat, Is Made

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Sampling the local treat at Uncle Clay’s House of Aloha

In this week’s episode of Dining on a Dime, host Lucas Peterson tries one of Hawaii's coolest treats: shave ice. (Notice that in Hawaiian parlance, it's known as shave ice rather than shaved ice.) The frozen snack originated in the plantation era of Hawaii's history, when Japanese laborers would chip off ice with their machetes after a hot day of work and drench the ice in fresh fruit juices.

That tradition continues today at Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha. Peterson visits the beloved shave ice shop and the venerable neighborhood character behind it, known simply as Uncle Clay, to sample a few versions of local treat. Peterson even tries his hand at making shave ice on his own, attempting to nail the signature fine consistency and even spread of flavored syrups. Watch the video above to learn more.

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