How to Make Pandan Shaved Ice at Home

The pandan syrup

Great pandan shaved ice starts with a real-fruit syrup rather than a neon bottle. Simmer a simple syrup of roughly equal parts sugar and water, then work in pandan — fresh, frozen or as a quality puree — and strain until smooth.

Pandan is grassy, vanilla-coconut, so taste as you go and brighten it with a little citrus to keep the flavor lively. Pandan leaves are often called the 'vanilla of Asia' for how widely they perfume desserts.

Shaving the snow

Freeze a clear block of ice slowly, let it temper on the counter for a few minutes, then shave it into loose, fluffy ribbons. Pile the snow tall and pour your syrup over the top so it soaks down through every layer.

Flavor after shaving, never before — that's the secret to snow that tastes great from the first spoon to the last.

Toppings for pandan

To finish, lean into pairings that flatter pandan. We love it with coconut cream and grass jelly.

• Fresh fruit cut into little cubes
• A chewy topping like boba, mochi or jelly
• A drizzle of condensed milk or coconut cream
• A tiny sugar blossom, because presentation is half the fun

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