The heat might not have reached peak levels yet, but ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins marked the start of summer this week with two special crushed-ice treats for 2016. Each dessert (¥450) includes two layers of flavored shaved ice and is accompanied by a scoop of your preferred ice cream on top. The “Tropical Beach” variety looks refreshing, with its assortment of fruity flavors, but the watermelon offering is more eye-catching. It mixes watermelon and regular melon flavors together, creating something that resembles and tastes like melon soda. The inclusion of chocolate chips as “seeds” adds a welcome sweetness.
When temperatures do rise, this crushed-ice dessert will be a gaudy way to stay cool.