3 Inexpensive Icy Treats to Get You Thinking About Summer -- While Still in Winter
By Tyler Foley
By Tyler Foley
Faloodeh, an Iranian sorbet, contains rose water, giving it a yummy smell. It’s not traditionally eaten with blackberries, but I thought I’d give it a try and it was great.
When I was younger, my family would go to Rockville every weekend and we’d grab lunch or a snack in one of the area’s many strip malls. While there are a lot of yummy meals to try, the real draw for me of the area was--and still is--the frozen treats!
When most people think of ice cream or cold drinks they think of summer. I’m here to tell you winter is a great time to eat something cold too. I am one of those kids who loves the cold. I wear shorts and a T-shirt until it’s basically freezing and eating something icy in the winter makes it extra cold. Winter is a great time to eat cold food because it does not melt as quickly if you are outside, and I hate it when it melts. If you’re indoors with all that heating, having an icy treat will bring back memories of summer and get you thinking of pools and the beach.
Here are some of my favorites:
1. Faloodeh
This is a traditional sorbet from Iran and is made from frozen sugar syrup, rose water and very thin vermicelli noodles. Yasaman Bakery makes it in-house and you can buy it in small individual-sized containers or larger ones for sharing. You might enjoy it with a squeeze of lime juice, cherry syrup or even a sprinkling of nuts. It’s similar to vanilla shaved ice with noodles in it, but smells like roses! When I had faloodeh a few weeks ago, I had it with a scoop of saffron ice cream, also from the same bakery and it was amazing. When I first described faloodeh to a friend I said it’s “a combination of sweet and sweet” but it is somehow not overpowering and very refreshing. Sometimes when I get it, I eat it in the car so quickly that it’s gone before I get home.
Yasaman Bakery, 785 Rockville Pike suite J, Rockville, MD 20852
Starting at $6.
2. Taro Boba
Bubble Tea, or Boba, is everywhere these days but ordering from the huge menu of flavors might seem daunting. You can typically choose a base flavor such as strawberry, mango, or black tea, and can add different types of chewy gelatinous blobs for texture. Some places let you choose the amount of sugar to add or let you mix in milk. You can also order a slush which is blended with ice. I’ve tried dozens of combinations and my absolute favorite is Taro.
Taro Boba has a distinctive purple color. Taro is a root vegetable and it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a sweet drink, but believe me it’s amazing. I get mine with 100% or “extra” sugar. I also add in regular tapioca pearl bubbles. Taro Boba has a crazy unique flavor. Some people describe it as “milk when you finish your cereal,” “mild cookies and cream” flavor or “buttered popcorn jelly beans.” For others, it’s a bit nutty and a bit like vanilla with a twist. My brother says it’s kind of like pumpkin pie ice cream minus the cinnamon and nutmeg. For me, the flavor is really hard to describe. It doesn't taste like anything I’ve ever had.
Kung Fu Tea, 275 N Washington St d, Rockville, MD 20850
Starting at about $5
3. Chocolate-covered bananas
This treat is really easy to make at home or you can buy it at your local grocery store, but for some reason it tastes better when you walk into a shop and get one that is freshly made for you. It makes me feel like I’m traveling for some reason. The combination of the sweet chocolate and the iciness of the bananas is the best. A lot of people like to wait a little bit after taking the frozen banana out of the fridge so that it softens but I like to eat it frozen and cold. There are some great popsicles to try here too in flavors like mango and strawberry.
Las Americas International Market, 785 Rockville Pike suite E, Rockville, MD 20852
About $2
When I was younger, my family would go to Rockville every weekend and we’d grab lunch or a snack in one of the area’s many strip malls. While there are a lot of yummy meals to try, the real draw for me of the area was--and still is--the frozen treats!
When most people think of ice cream or cold drinks they think of summer. I’m here to tell you winter is a great time to eat something cold too. I am one of those kids who loves the cold. I wear shorts and a T-shirt until it’s basically freezing and eating something icy in the winter makes it extra cold. Winter is a great time to eat cold food because it does not melt as quickly if you are outside, and I hate it when it melts. If you’re indoors with all that heating, having an icy treat will bring back memories of summer and get you thinking of pools and the beach.
Here are some of my favorites:
1. Faloodeh
This is a traditional sorbet from Iran and is made from frozen sugar syrup, rose water and very thin vermicelli noodles. Yasaman Bakery makes it in-house and you can buy it in small individual-sized containers or larger ones for sharing. You might enjoy it with a squeeze of lime juice, cherry syrup or even a sprinkling of nuts. It’s similar to vanilla shaved ice with noodles in it, but smells like roses! When I had faloodeh a few weeks ago, I had it with a scoop of saffron ice cream, also from the same bakery and it was amazing. When I first described faloodeh to a friend I said it’s “a combination of sweet and sweet” but it is somehow not overpowering and very refreshing. Sometimes when I get it, I eat it in the car so quickly that it’s gone before I get home.
Yasaman Bakery, 785 Rockville Pike suite J, Rockville, MD 20852
Starting at $6.
2. Taro Boba
Bubble Tea, or Boba, is everywhere these days but ordering from the huge menu of flavors might seem daunting. You can typically choose a base flavor such as strawberry, mango, or black tea, and can add different types of chewy gelatinous blobs for texture. Some places let you choose the amount of sugar to add or let you mix in milk. You can also order a slush which is blended with ice. I’ve tried dozens of combinations and my absolute favorite is Taro.
Taro Boba has a distinctive purple color. Taro is a root vegetable and it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a sweet drink, but believe me it’s amazing. I get mine with 100% or “extra” sugar. I also add in regular tapioca pearl bubbles. Taro Boba has a crazy unique flavor. Some people describe it as “milk when you finish your cereal,” “mild cookies and cream” flavor or “buttered popcorn jelly beans.” For others, it’s a bit nutty and a bit like vanilla with a twist. My brother says it’s kind of like pumpkin pie ice cream minus the cinnamon and nutmeg. For me, the flavor is really hard to describe. It doesn't taste like anything I’ve ever had.
Kung Fu Tea, 275 N Washington St d, Rockville, MD 20850
Starting at about $5
3. Chocolate-covered bananas
This treat is really easy to make at home or you can buy it at your local grocery store, but for some reason it tastes better when you walk into a shop and get one that is freshly made for you. It makes me feel like I’m traveling for some reason. The combination of the sweet chocolate and the iciness of the bananas is the best. A lot of people like to wait a little bit after taking the frozen banana out of the fridge so that it softens but I like to eat it frozen and cold. There are some great popsicles to try here too in flavors like mango and strawberry.
Las Americas International Market, 785 Rockville Pike suite E, Rockville, MD 20852
About $2