A Chinese street hawker has managed to redefine the concept of "cold cuts" by grilling ice cubes.
This astonishing moment was captured in a video filmed in Changsha, Hunan Province, that went viral on the internet.
As viewers watch in disbelief, the street hawker fearlessly places ice cubes on the scorching hot grill, defying all culinary norms.
While the video continues to circulate online, sparking debates and raising eyebrows, one cannot help but marvel at the audacity and creativity displayed by this Chinese street hawker.
After grilling the ice cubes, the Chinese street hawker also dusted the weird dish with a tantalizing blend of chili, cumin, scallions, coriander, and various other garnishes.
In the viral video clip, a curious customer can be seen bravely taking a bite of savory shaved ice creation that she describes the experience as "spicy" and "interesting."
Initially, the vendor introduced spiced ice as a specialty from Northeast China, pricing customers approximately $2 for each serving.
However, subsequent investigations by locals have debunked this claim.
A senior engineer from the Harbin Standardisation Research Institute emphasized that no specialty dish in Northeast China resembles grilled ice cubes.
“There is no such thing as grilled ice cube snacks in the northeast,” he declared. “This is a fabrication by the street vendor.”
The vendor's claim that spiced ice is a regional specialty remains unclear, raising doubts about its authenticity. Despite this, the viral sensation continues to captivate food enthusiasts.
There are varying beliefs regarding the origins of these edible spiced-ice cubes.
While some believe that the concept dates back to 2021 in Harbin, which interestingly hosts the renowned ice festival in the Middle Kingdom, others on TikTok argue that it was a creation originating in Changsha.
Chinese culture website Radii referred to the scorching snack as China's version of the "girl dinner" in an August Instagram post.
The secret to creating the grilled ice cubes is just enough fire to prevent the ice from burning, as TikTok channel Noodou explains.
"A lot of people wonder if the ice will melt, but because of its size, melting is difficult," they stated.
