A new customer recently asked, "How do you make a shave ice? What is the best way?" I replied, "There isn't really a best way. It will come to you with practice."

The best shave ice comes from a block ice shaver; even the best cube shaver will come no where close to it. While loading a tempered block of ice onto the shaving plate, I make sure the blade is set at its lowest setting so it will not start shaving once I turn the machine on. After turning on the machine, I slowly turn the blade adjustment knob counter-clockwise to get the ice texture that I want. When I get the texture I want, I place a Drip Tray* at the bottom of the shaving plate at roughly 45 degree to catch the ice. As the machine is shaving, I slowly turn the Drip Tray so the ice is filling up consistently inside it. When the Drip Tray is filled up, I turn off the machine and gently pat the ice into the Drip Tray with my hand. I continue to do so until the Drip Tray is filled to the top. After that, I go onto making the dome top by slowly turning the Drip Tray of shave ice under the shaving plate and shaping the dome on top. When it gets to my desired size, I pour Hawaiian Snow syrup** over it. Lastly, I enjoy it.

I hope this can help our new business owners get started. For the experienced store owners, please share with us how you make your perfect shave ice!

*Dray Trays have bigger openings to catch ice so it's a lot easier and you won't be wasting as much ice.
**It is best to keep your syrup chilled or refrigerated so it won't melt your shave ice once you pour it on.

Practice makes perfect~!

Wow, that's a nice post.The way i make it is...spoon it! or funnel!

I use the same method. Ive never used a spoon or funnel but have watched plenty of videos on YOUTUBE.com of those who do.

I personally believe the best shave ice comes from hand packing. No matter what you say, funnels and spoons compress the ice too much. It's worse when they do that with cube ice shavers.

i like the hand method but I only use the spoon to move the ice to the side! When I am shaving the ice it should be going into the papercup and all you need to do is turn it so that the ice is nicely packed onto the cone ! note with practice you surely don't want to make it to packed because it's going to taste and fell like an ice cube you want it nice an fluffy.

Yep, hand packing is the best way to do it if you have the time and manpower.

Any experts out there ?