The Tangy Ingredient You'll Taste In A Piccadilly Snow Cone

Snow cones are not created equal, and we have piccadilly snow cones as a prime example. If you haven't heard of this particular flavor, chances are you haven't spent much time in the American Southwest. These colorful servings are hard to miss, and the unique taste will stay with you. A piccadilly is kind of like the lovechild of Koolickles and raspas. Koolickles are dill pickles that have been marinated in cherry Kool-Aid, while raspas — derived from the Spanish name hielo raspado (scraped ice) – can be likened to Hawaiian shaved ice (which is different from Italian shaved ice). This explains that unexpected tangy flavor you get when you bite into one: Yes, it's pickles.

These sweet and savory treats are often garnished with memorable toppings like  Tajín, an assortment of tropical fruits, Cheetos, condensed milk, and pieces of cheesecake. Clearly, lovers of the raspa are less likely to flinch at a piccadilly snow cone, a flavor-packed recipe that includes both salty dill pickles and sugary Kool-Aid. While the thought of scooping up pickles off a snow cone may not appeal to everyone, the sweet and sour flavor combo is a beloved hit for many eaters.

Original recipes for piccadilly snow cones included shaved ice packed into paper or Styrofoam cups before makers covered the cold heaps with the pickled sauce known as chamoy. This fruity green or red syrup delivers all the possible flavor profiles you can possibly imagine in one drizzle: sweet, salty, spicy, and sour. Before these syrupy ice scoops are handed over to piccadilly orderers, powdered cherry Kool-Aid is sprinkled over the cup and a spoonful of diced dill pickles is placed ceremoniously on top as a garnish. Pickle-topped snow cones can be doused with a variety of flavored syrups, though cherry is the most common.

Some snow cone makers choose to add extra toppings of gummy bears, chili salt, or cayenne pepper. If you don't anticipate a visit to Texas or Arizona in your future, you can sample this unique recipe in the comfort of your home by pouring cherry syrup on top of shaved ice and topping the dish with chopped up pickle varieties of your choosing. For a creative culinary experiment, you can set aside three different bowls of pickle-topped ice and garnish each dish with either cayenne pepper, chamoy, or chili salt. This is the kind of taste test that is sure to get your friends talking.