Even though modern ice cream carts are found all over Guatemala, these traditional ice cream carts are still quite present, especially around La Antigua Guatemala. So, what the scoop with these traditional carts? Usually the old-fashioned ice cream carts carry vanilla flavoured ice cream and they top it with acid-sweet syrup that ice cream vendors called salsa [sauce] or jarabe [syrup]. As I have explained before, these carts are made out of wood, with a few hands of oil-based paint, a cartoon drawing of the ever-present Disney characters. Inside there is a metal bucket which holds the ice cream, a ring of large ice pieces and a larger outer bucket that holds the hold thing. Don’t forget the ice cream cone holder, the purified water bottle and we are ready to hit the streets. Take a look a the pictures below which show the inside of a traditional ice cream cart.
© 2015 – 2020, Rudy Giron. All rights reserved.
Nice write-up about these traditional ice cream carts. And I like the photo as well.
Thanks Stefan for the feedback. I am sure you have this ice cream if you were to visit La Antigua Guatemala.
I’m going to assume that it is NOT safe for non locals to eat
Personally, Lulu, I don’t see why not. My kids have had them (born and bred Angelenos) and are looking forward to them when we go. Considering the lack of chemicals, additives and artificial sweeteners, if anything, they’re almost healthy.
Well said, Jose Byron, thanks for coming forward with a response.
It’s not about what’s in them it’s the conditions of how it is served. You have to be really careful when eating from the street. My husband is from Guatemala and he is very careful about where and what we eat from the street. But it looks great, would love to have some.
Depends Lulu, if you are lactose intolerant, maybe not, but I don’t see how this could not be safe for everyone else.