After hearing of our interest in shaved ice desserts, Gary insisted that we visit a local favorite called Ice Monster (冰館). Having tried quite a few places in our lives, we were reluctant to give into the hype surrounding it.

Upon arrival we were greeted with a sizable line of people waiting to get in. However, after our short wait, we were pleasantly surprised as we ate our delicious order. The portions were also much larger than expected but I’m definitely not complaining.

The exceptionally fluffy yet smooth texture of the shaved layers of ice amazed me the most. It was like biting into the texture of a slightly more substantial cotton candy, but with the refreshing effects of the cool temperature. This style of shaved ice incorporates one of the flavors from the chosen order directly in the ice itself, making the watered down effect as the it melts less of a worry.

Being as hot as it was, we made it a point to visit Ice Monster twice during our stay in Taipei. This gave us the opportunity to try out a few of their most popular flavors.

We couldn’t help but stare longingly at the entrance as we waited in line.

The Fresh Mango Sensation that Ice monster is so well-known for. With mango flavor captured in various forms (shaved ice, sorbet, fresh slices), it didn’t disappoint.

Lime Jasmine Tea Sensation. Probably my favorite for the subtle yet refreshing flavors and greater mix of textures.

The Bubble Milk Tea Sensation was much better than expected. Having the milk tea flavor captured in the fluffy ice allowed you to control the mix of syrup and tapioca to adjust the sweetness and texture to your liking.