Unlike many frozen desserts, such as sorbet, shaved ice, and sherbet, nieves de garrafa do not have European or Asian provenance. Their history originates in ancient Mexico, before the Spanish conquest.Hundreds of years ago, emperors of Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City) would send servants to the tops of nearby volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl to gather ice, which would be flavored with fruit before being served to the higher echelons of society for a pretty penny.The appetite for the dessert continues today. Folks strolling across the plazas of Mexico might notice peddlers of nieves (“snows” in English) wedged between taco stands. Much like homemade ice cream, nieves are created by hand cranking ice, fresh fruit, and other ingredients, such as hibiscus, in metal tubs placed inside small…
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