What Is TikTok's Powdery Ice And How Do You Make It?
TikTok has been responsible for exposing users to everything from "secret" Starbucks menu drinks to unique twists on classic cocktails. Now the social network is exposing us to another unique drink trend: powdery ice.
Exactly what it sounds like, powdery ice is a type of ice that looks like a powder rather than a frozen block of water. Also known as "snow ice," videos of the frozen specialty being made and consumed are all over the social network. Unlike a regular ice cube or even crushed ice, powdery ice has a snow-like consistency that can make it almost chewy to eat with a soft crunch as you bite in. It looks a lot like the ice you might see accumulate on its own on the side of your freezer, which you definitely don't want to eat, but prepared fresh it can be a tasty and unique treat.
Powdery ice is so popular in fact that the hashtag #powderyice has amassed more than 280 million views. But just what is it, exactly, and how is it made?
How to make powdery ice
To make powdery ice you'll need a blender, a freezer with some space in it, and pre-made ice. Given the sheer amount of space you need in your freezer to make the ice you need, making powdery ice might be a good excuse to pick up a 2 or 5-pound bag of ice at the store rather than trying to make a ton on your own, but any ice will do.
Before making the ice you'll first want to freeze your empty blender jar. The idea behind freezing the blender jar first is similar to why your favorite local bar might pour your beer into a chilled glass: Putting ice in a cold vessel will keep it colder longer. Since you're going to ultimately blend this you want all those blender components that are going to come in contact with your ice to be as cold as possible.
Once your blender jar is frozen, YouTuber Shavonda Banks notes that you'll want to fill it roughly halfway with ice and then blend it on high until your ice gets to that snow-like consistency. That's it. Some TikTokers also add a scoop of cornstarch in the blender to give the ice a smoother texture.
How to eat powdery ice
The easiest way to eat powdery ice is to just take a bite. You can eat it right out of the blender with a spoon, or put it in a glass or bowl to enjoy. Just like snow, due to its powdery nature, it's prone to melting fast, so you'll want to make plans to consume it as quickly as possible after you finish blending.
It's probably no surprise that snow cones are a popular way to consume powdery ice. One TikToker posted a tutorial for easy-to-make snow cones that just involves topping your powdery ice with the fruit juice of your choice.
That said, TikTokers have gotten creative. One poster, @softicebabe, has even gone as far as to make a powdery ice version of chips and dip. To make the treat she used the middle of a plate to create flat discs of ice to use as "chips" and then made powdery ice to use as the "dip" for it.
The best way to enjoy powdery ice is of course the way you like it. The only real rule is that you'll want to enjoy it before it melts away.