After stir-fried stones, aka suodiu, China has brought us another unusual street food trend. This time around, it is grilled ice cubes.
In one of the videos shared on social media, a news reporter can be seen ordering grilled ice cubes from a street vendor. The vendor takes a scoop of ice cubes, places it on the grill, and then brushes it with oil. Next, they add spices and sauces, including chili and cumin, before serving the dish.
According to the news reporter, grilled ice is spicy but has a “wonderful taste.” One portion costs $2.
The origins of this unusual dish remain unknown. The street vendor featured in the video said that it is a popular street food dish in northeastern China, but that has since been debunked.
According to reports from Chinese media outlets, the dish might be a creation of a street food vendor from Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. According to one report, the vendor wanted to think of something to help its customers cool down on hot days.
This vendor told the reporters that he originally envisioned grilled ice cubes as a joke, but it became so popular that he couldn’t stop making them. Also, his servings of grilled ice cubes are free.
