The love of frozen treats transcends cultures and continents, with countless flavors and textures to savor. Around the world, frosty desserts are enjoyed by all ages, creating new memories and sparking nostalgia with every bite. From ancient recipes to modern innovations, each country boasts its own unique icy treat.

DONDURMA

Turkey

Turkish for “freezing,” dondurma stands out for its taffy-like texture. The frozen treat gets its thick and stretchy consistency from salep, a flour made from orchids, which also contributes to its high resistance to melting. Street vendors are known to use long metal rods to twist, twirl and even snatch back the frozen treat in a playful display of trickery before serving it to customers.

HELADO

Argentina

Although helado may mean ice cream, in Argentina the dense, silky and rich frozen dessert more closely resembles gelato. Ordering can be a bit intimidating for the first timer since flavors are typically separated into categories by base type, including dulce de leche, chocolate, crema, sambayón and the heladería’s specialty flavors, each with their own long list of offerings to choose from. In addition to having a novel- length menu, heladerías are also known for being open until 1 or 2 a.m. to satisfy late night cravings.

ES DOGER

Indonesia

Es doger is a shaved ice dessert made using coconut milk that is known for its pink hue, which comes from rose syrup, cocopandan syrup or pink food coloring. It is often served with red tapioca pearls, avocado, tapai (sweet fermented black rice), jackfruit, diced bread and plain or chocolate-flavored condensed milk.

I-TIM-PAD

Thailand

Making I-Tim-Pad, also known as rolled ice cream, involves pouring a liquid ice cream base onto a freezing cold plate, where it’s chopped, mixed and spread until it solidifies. Once the creamy mixture forms a thin layer, it’s rolled into ice cream rolls. Its popularity has spread globally due to the unique preparation technique and endless possibilities of flavor combinations and mix-ins.