Ice cream isn't typically thought of as an East Asian delicacy, but SnoCream, a dessert shop outside of Washington, DC, shows that ice cream is a global treat. SnoCream sells Taiwanese shaved ice, a Pacific island take on ice cream, with flavors that reflect its geographic separation from the world of North American and European ice creams.
In North America, sweets make up the majority of common ice cream flavorings: things like chocolate, caramel, candies, and cookies. Gelato, the Italian dish, often opts for fruit and nut flavors like pistachio, chestnut, fig, or cantaloupe. Taiwanese shaved ice combines the best of both of these. SnoCream lets diners top their creations with candies and cookies, and its base flavors include fruit, but it can also mix in distinctly Asian fare like lychee, taro, and tapioca balls.
Taiwanese Shaved Ice
SnoCream Offers an East Asian Take on the Dessert Dish
Trend Themes
1. Global Ice Cream Flavors - Exploring and incorporating unique ice cream flavors from different cultures and regions can create disruptive innovation opportunities in the ice cream industry.
2. Fusion Desserts - Combining traditional desserts from various cultures, like Taiwanese shaved ice, with popular Western treats can lead to disruptive innovation in the dessert industry.
3. Customized Dessert Experiences - Allowing customers to personalize their dessert creations by offering a wide range of toppings and flavor options can drive disruptive innovation in the dessert industry.
Industry Implications
1. Ice Cream Industry - Exploring global flavors and introducing new, unique combinations can create disruptive innovation opportunities.
2. Dessert Industry - Fusing desserts from different cultures and offering customized experiences can drive disruptive innovation in the industry.
3. Food Service Industry - Providing customers with diverse and customizable dessert options can lead to disruptive innovation in the food service industry.