Question: What are Raspas?
Raspas are sold from little trailers that pop up on street corners throughout the hot Texas summers. You've probably had a raspa at some point in your life but just knew this frozen confection by another name.
Answer: A raspa is a Mexican snow cone - paper cups (replacing the old leaky paper cones) filled with crushed, chipped, or shaved ice and covered in sugary sweet flavored syrup or real fruit juice. You might know them as snowballs, sno-cones, water-ice, Italian ices, or Hawaiian shaved ice. However you spell it, whatever you call them, and whatever variety you prefer, raspas, snow cones, and shaved ice are a summer treat during the long Central Texas summers.
Snow Cones, Raspas, and Water-ice
Although some snow cone stands are year-round or semi-permenent - appearing in the same location year after year - others come and go or have irregular hours. To find a snow cone or raspas stand just drive around area shopping centers and busy intersections all over town during the summer months.
Here are just a few locations where you can get your snow cone or raspas fix this summer (days and hours of operation vary):
- Goyita's
2016 E. Cesar Chavez St. - Jim-Jim's Water-Ice
615 E. Sixth St - SnoBeach Hawaiian Shaved Ice
East 381/2 & I-35 (Fiesta Mart)
302 S. Lamar - Casey's New Orleans Snowballs
808 E. 51st St. and Airport Blvd. - Raspas
W. Anderson Lane and Mullen - Tropical Sno
Far West Boulevard and Woodhollow Drive