The use of stored and gathered ice for use in confections has been documented in ancient Persia since 400 BCE onward.

[1] In imperial Japan, the dessert was a treat reserved for royalty, as it was made of natural ice formed during the coldest period of winter, which was stored in icehouses.

Shaved ice varieties can be found around the globe with Asia being a particularly popular region.

[6] In Latin America shaved ice desserts have influences from North American cultures, in many of these locations the Spanish name is either raspado, or its variations; raspa, raspao, raspadinha (raspar is Spanish for "scrape"; hence raspado means "scraped", referring to the ice, therefore also meaning shaved), or granizado, granizada, granizo (from granizo, meaning hail stone).

In South Asia, snow cones are enjoyed as a low-cost summer treat, often shaved by hand.