If you’ve ever had shaved ice here in the U.S., you know it’s a simple but refreshing way to beat the heat. But for me, shaved ice will forever be “gola,” an Indian summer classic that’s so much more than just ice and syrup.
Earlier in August at an Indian festival here in Noblesville, I found myself grinning ear to ear, spoon in hand, as I slurped my way through flavors like Kala Khatta, Kachi Keri, Orange, Blueberry, and Pineapple. If that lineup isn’t enough to make you drool, I don’t know what is! The new local business Gola Gadi (which literally means “Gola Vendor”) served it just like back home – and oh my, it was delicious.
One bite instantly transported me to my childhood summers in India. I can still picture the street vendors rolling their colorful carts down the lanes. We kids would wait eagerly, clutching coins in our hands, ready for that first cooling bite of gola. The ice was drenched in tangy-sweet syrups and then crowned with toppings: tutti frutti, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, crushed cookies, peanuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios – you name it. Every gola was a rainbow of flavors and textures, a treat to savor before it melted away under the blazing sun.
Photo provided
This year, when I visited India, I got to relive that magic again – only this time the options had multiplied. Build-your-own gola stations let you load it with as many toppings as your heart (and sweet tooth) desired. It was indulgence on a plate, and I loved every bite.
Here in Indiana, after an evening of laughter and dancing with friends, ending the night with a gola felt just right. Cool, colorful, nostalgic, and oh-so-satisfying. Sometimes it’s amazing how a simple scoop of shaved ice can connect your present to your past, one sweet drip at a time.
Pooja Thakkar is working to build connections through cuisine. You can read her column each week in the pages of The Reporter.