Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2023.
While we strongly believe it's acceptable to eat frozen treats year-round in Tucson, icy snacks are even more tempting when summer hits.
From raspados and paletas to shaved ice delights, here are eight tasty frozen treats that aren't ice cream. (But don't worry, we have a list of places to get locally made ice cream, too.)
Indulge in bingsoo, Korean shaved ice
Pictured is the Pot Bingsoo from Takamatsu, with the frozen berries pushed aside for a better viewing of the colorful mochi in the center.
Bingsoo is often described as Korean shaved ice, sometimes with toppings such as condensed milk, red beans, mochi and chunks of fruit.
Over at sushi and Korean barbecue spot Takamatsu, bingsoo comes with crunchy ice, and is covered in colorful mochi, frozen berries, red beans and cereal powder.
Location: Takamatsu, 5532 E. Speedway.
Visit Takamatsu's website for more information.
Halo-halo, for the ube and shaved ice lovers
This halo-halo at Fiesta Filipina is shaved ice with ube-flavored condensed milk, jellies, fruit and beans.
Ube is one star of the show in the halo-halo dessert. The bright purple yam-like food can be found in Filipino desserts like jellies, puddings and cookies. It's mild in flavor, but still sweet. It's a bit nutty and some say it tastes vanilla-like.
Halo-halo typically consists of shaved ice, plus ube-flavored ice cream, condensed milk or whipped cream. Toppings can include jellies, beans and fruit chunks.
Location: Nick's Sari-Sari Store, 2001 S. Craycroft Road.
Visit the Nick's Sari-Sari Store website for more information.
Go for a sweet or bold raspado
Arizbeth Valdez adds the crowning touch, a serpentina on the straw of a Niño Mango, at Mangos Refresqueria Y Cafe, one of the many shops you can find selling raspados and icy treats around Tucson.
Raspados are among the best treats in Tucson.
Sweeter versions typically come with shaved ice, chunks of fruit, fruit juice, vanilla ice cream and lechera (sweetened condensed milk). But then there are also the bolder flavors, like the mangoyada, which can come with more tangy fruit options, plus chamoy and toppers like tamarindo candy sticks or Serpentinas candies.
Lucky for us, raspados can be found allover Tucson. See our list of raspado spots here.
So many popsicle flavors to choose from
Find dozens of paleta flavors at Paleteria y Neveria la Michoacana, including the pictured strawberries with cream, and cookies and cream.
When you walk into Paleteria y Neveria la Michoacana, you'll very quickly be enticed by the giant images of their treats allover their counters and along the pink-and-white-striped walls.
The space is home to paletas (popsicles), chocolate-covered bananas, smoothies, aguas frescas, ice cream, raspados and other antojitos. The flavor list for the paletas is the most extensive of all, with more than two dozen flavors ranging from fresh fruit popsicles to creamier versions.
Other raspado shops also sell paletas, including a mangoyada pop at Delicias de Michoacan. Tanna's Botannas and Adis both sell paletas with spicy candies stuck on top.
The newest addition to the popsicle scene, though, is PopHeads. The spot has a menu of juice- and dairy-based popsicles (and pupsicles for your dog friends). Flavors range from cherry limeade and blue raspberry to banana pudding and butter pecan.
Eegee's, a Tucson favorite
Pictured is a strawberry and lemon Eegee. The July flavor of the month is watermelon.
What would this list be if it didn't mention the icon that is Eegee's? The homegrown chain's iced drink, of the same name, is a favorite of Tucsonans.
Standard flavors include strawberry, lemon, piña colada, berry and the Teagee. There's also a rotating flavor of the month. For June, that's orange dream. July is typically the very well-loved watermelon flavor.
Location: Multiple locations, see them here.
Visit the Eegee's website for more information.
Icy treats at your favorite tea spot
The snow smoothies at Bing’s Boba Tea are blended with ice and milk.
Snows and slushes are a common sight at spots that specialize in boba tea.
At Bing's Boba Tea, you can find slushes and snows (snows are flavored drinks blended with ice and milk). There are nearly 20 different slush flavors, including lychee, cantaloupe, strawberry and taro. You might get overwhelmed with the snow flavors though: there are 36 of them, including almond, coffee, pistachio, honeydew and raspberry.
Also check out slushes at tea spots Ni Hao Tea and Unitea. Transit Tea also serves up tea snows.
The fruity punch of shaved ice and Italian ice
Angel Lopez holds a lime Italian ice at Slice & Ice, 1905 W. Grant Road.
Sometimes you just want a classic shaved ice, topped with a rainbow array of flavors.
Food truck Lahaina's Shave Ice does just that, with its shaved ices (large and not as large). There are more than 20 flavors, including classics like blue raspberry and cherry, in addition to even sweeter choices like cotton candy and bubble gum. You can also get shaved ice from eHotPot, with flavors like lychee, green apple, caramel and passionfruit.
Italian ice is also on the menu at Slice & Ice, owned by one of the original founders of Eegee's. Newer spot Better Bevs has milk teas and boba on the menu, in addition to slushes, snows and Hawaiian shaved ice. Or, you may spot Tropical Shavings and Shaved Ice Saloon at events around town.
Slushes, both alcoholic and not
Try Me Again at The Pool Bar at The Tuxon Hotel
At Cuppa Gogo, they're not called slushes. Not slushies either. They're slooshies.
Cuppa Gogo, located at food truck park The Pit and known for its coffee, has nine flavors of slooshies, and even the option to add a Red Bull.
Alternatively, boozy slushes are definitely a thing. You can find two on The Tuxon's menu, including ones with rum and tequila, plus cider slushes at Bawker Bawker Cider House.
