The Great Debate... Snowballs or Snow Cones?
Whatever You Call Them, They are a Favorite in Anne Arundel County!
by Sarah Amyot
The sun is out, and temperatures are rising. This can only mean one thing: the hot and humid Maryland summer is here! And with it comes one of the great debates in Anne Arundel County: whether we call our traditional summer treat a snowball or snow cone. We will break down the difference between a ball and cone, and the various ways to order your treat. The Motherlode staff share their favorite snowball/cone order and give you some tantalizing ideas for your perfect icy combo. Of course, we also list some of the best local vendors in Anne Arundel County. Key Terms Snowball: Shaved ice in a cup covered with flavored syrup. The ice is fine and fluffy. According to Preservation Maryland, Baltimoreans have been enjoying snowballs since the 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution. A Baltimore classic is an old-fashioned egg custard snowball with marshmallow topping. Snow Cone: Crushed ice in a cup covered with flavored syrup. The ice is coarse and crunchy. The main difference between the two is the texture of the ice! Flavors: Some are obvious, like grape or cherry, but there are commonly found flavors with uncommon names, such as Starlight or Tiger’s Blood. Don’t be overwhelmed; it’s exciting to try them all, but we have found most people stick to their favorite once they have found what they like.
Ways to Order Round vs. Flat: You can choose to have the ice domed over the top of the cup or to have the top flattened. Some say flat is easier to eat and less messy. Marshmallow Topping vs Middle = Marshmallow can be either drizzled on top or added to the middle of the ice. In Baltimore, a snowball is not complete without this condiment. Some of us like to ask for extra marshmallow topping, it’s that good! Favorite Flavors from Annapolis Moms Media Staff: • Ashley - Cherry (classic) • Lisa - Egg custard with marshmallow on top, flat • Lissy - Blue raspberry • Jeff - Starlite with marshmallow on top, flat • Jessica - Chocolate (it tastes like Yoohoo!) • Sarah - Tiger’s Blood with cream • Sarah’s son - SpongeBob (lemon and blue raspberry) • Sandy - Shark Attack (Starlite with wild cherry) • Tiffany’s sons - Rainbow
SUMMER 2024 | 69
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