From those born and raised in New Orleans to those of us who just arrived at Tulane, we can all agree that August in New Orleans can be brutally hot. While it may be too hot to enjoy the outdoors, there’s no better way to escape the heat than by trying one of New Orleans’ favorite summer treats: the sno ball?
Last week I visited three of the most popular sno-ball stands near campus — Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, Imperial Woodpecker And Plum Street Snoballs — to provide some clarity on what to look for in a true New Orleans Sno-Ball and to find out what each stand does best by evaluating their flavors, ice cream quality, and my overall experience.
While there are variations of shaved ice around the world, locals know that a true New Orleans Sno-Ball is something very special. Regaining Their Popularity in the 1930sThe New Orleans tradition of sno-balls began when the locals Ernest Hansen of Hansen’s Sno-Bliz fame and George OrtolanoFounder of Snow Wizardcreated their first electric ice shavers. Since the invention of electric ice shavers, sno balls have been a staple of every New Orleans Spring and summerwith stands all over the city during the season. But what makes a Sno-Ball different from other snow cones?
While the ice of a snow cone is grainier, the name of a New Orleans Sno-Ball refers to its finely grated, fluffy texturereminiscent of snow. In addition to their texture, Sno-Balls are known for homemade syrups and cream flavors common in ice cream, such as chocolate and wedding cake. Sno-Ball stands are also known for toppings such as Condensed milk and whipped cream and “stuffed” snowballsoften filled with ice cream. Overall, sno-balls and snow cones seem interchangeable, but once you try a sno-ball for yourself, you’ll realize that the similarities end at the visual similarities.
To begin my search for my favorite Uptown snoball spot, I visited Plum Street Snoballs, just west of campus, a 15-minute walk away. Loved for years Loved by Uptown residents and students alike, Plum Street is your classic New Orleans sno-ball stand: traditional flavors, friendly staff and loyal customers. I tried two of their cream flavors, peach cream and nectar cream, as well as a Tulane color combination, spearmint and blue bubblegum.
Their flavors were consistent, and I especially liked their cream flavors, which made Plum Street stand out through their Commitment to traditionHowever, if you are looking for more unique flavors or natural flavors, I think there are far better ones out there.
For a stand to stop by on the way down Magazine Streetyou should definitely visit Imperial Woodpecker. About 10 minutes drive from campus, Imperial Woodpecker is a relatively new stand that opened its doors in 2011but don’t let the recent launch fool you. While Imperial Woodpecker still offers popular chocolate and fruit flavored syrups, it also has unique house-made flavors like pineapple coriander and cream of Earl Grey, both of which I’ve tried.
Pineapple Coriander was the perfect summer treat with its sweet but natural pineapple notes combined with the spiciness of the coriander. Unfortunately, Earl Grey cream wasn’t my favorite as the tea flavor was a bit bland, and I think Plum Street would be a better choice for cream flavors. However, in both Sno-Balls, the ice cream was smooth with few lumps, and overall I highly recommend Imperial Woodpecker.
And last but not least, New Orleans is unbeatable oldest continuously open standHansen’s Sno-Bliz, for the best and most original flavors in town. My personal favorite of the three I visited this week, Hansen’s is about a 10-minute drive from campus, in Tchoupitoulas Street. Hansen’s is a proven sno-ball stand for 85 years Thanks to Ernest Hansen’s electric machine and its Founded by a small family businesswhich is now run by his granddaughter, Ashley Hansen. But aside from its novelty, Hansen’s is worth a visit for so many more reasons. This week I ordered satsuma and watermelon — both from local production — and lavender and mint.
Both sno balls tasted very natural and refreshing, and I especially liked the tartness of the satsuma mixed with the lighter flavor of the watermelon. Hansen’s also had by far the softest ice cream I’ve tried, and matched his reviews and make this place my favorite place in the city.
Although it’s too hot to do much outside this time of year, I encourage you to try Sno-Ball at least once this season and get a taste of New Orleans culture with a sweet treat. No two Sno-Ball stands in the city are exactly the same, but no matter which one you visit this year, you’ll truly feel a taste of New Orleans with every bite.
