Cold Drinks & Helados

Nieve de Mamey in Los Angeles

Look for tubs of creamy, salmon-orange frozen nieve churned from fresh mamey sapote, delivering rich notes of sweet potato and honey at Imperial Night Market in Downtown LA on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, when a vendor is serving it. Free entry.

2300 E 15th St, Downtown LA · Free entry
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CATEGORY
Cold Drinks & Helados
ORIGIN
Mesoamerica and Mexico
PREPARATION
Ripe mamey sapote pulp is churned with water, sugar, and shaved ice.
MARKET
Imperial Night Market, Downtown LA
HERITAGE

The origins of Nieve de Mamey

Mamey sapote, known in Nahuatl as tetzontzapotl, is native to Mesoamerica. Historical records note that ancient civilizations prepared iced sweets using mountain snow mixed with honey and fruits like mamey.

To make nieve de mamey, cooks scoop out the pulp and blend it with water and cane sugar. The mixture is poured into a cylinder nested in a wooden bucket packed with salt and ice.

Warm salmon orange hueCustardy and velvety mouthfeelNotes of honeyed sweet potatoSubtle hint of almond

If you like Nieve de Mamey

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Frequently asked questions

What fruit is mamey sapote?

Mamey sapote is a tropical Mesoamerican fruit with rough brown skin, a large glossy seed, and vivid orange-red sweet flesh.

Is nieve de mamey a water-based sorbet or ice cream?

Traditional nieves are water-based.

Sources