Paleta Supremacy

Ice cream has long held dominion over the summer season as the perfect summer food. But I'm here to champion a new contender, a suitable heir to the Summer Throne . . . paletas! The most delicious, convenient frozen treats to ever freeze your tongue.

Paletas have gained increasing popularity in the U.S. these past few years, but according to Michele Spinogale (2016) they are a creation over 80 years old and are originally a Mexican treat. Spinogale (2016) explains that in a town called Tocumbo there was a shop called La Michoacana that primarily sold ice cream before creating paletas Unlike popsicles in North America that are made of water and artificial flavors (or natural juices, sometimes, I don't know), paletas are milk-based and use fresh chunks or fruit or herbs. And all I can do is sincerely thank these families, and wish that they had been hailed for the geniuses of flavor that they were because paletas beat out regular old popsicles by 10 miles.

Now every paleteria (the name of a shop that sells paletas) can sell some similar flavors, and some sell wildly different flavors, so the answer to the question of: "Well how many flavors of paleta are there?" is . . . infinite? There are seemingly infinite possibilities for the flavors that can be made, so these sweet creamy treats can never get boring. There's the most typical flavors- coconut, manga, pineapple, vanilla, chocolate . . . and then there's some more inventive ones I've seen like- dulce de leche, avocado, ginger and lime, guanabana- and I'm excited to see what else could they possibly turn into a paleta.

But why is the paleta the king of summer foods? Elementary, my dear. From personal experience, I can tell you that paletas are more convenient to-go treats than, say, an ice cream cone or a cup of frozen yogurt. They don't melt as fast as ice cream does for sure! I find them easier to carry around and eat because of that slower melting ability, and I find them gentler on my tastebuds somehow as opposed to typical American popsicles. Plus they're super healthy, and I would even argue they're healthier treats than frozen yogurt. Paletas are made with real fruit (fruit chunks are literally IN that paleta), and natural herbs sometimes. And with some paleterias making vegan paletas (so just switching the milk types is all), it's literally nature's bounty frozen on a stick? And, you know what, I'm tired of only being able to rely on expensive ass Cold Stone Creamery or Haagen-Daz at my local mall/outlet mall for some sweet cold relief. Yeah, yeah, cookie dough ice cream is my favorite, and nothing's wrong with some old fashioned butter pecan or chocolate ice cream- I'm not arguing that?

But the . . . the novelty of a cookies and cream paleta filled with chocolate in the middle . . . . the complex delight of destroying a pineapple and mint paleta, the tart-sweet pineapple attacking the primly sharp taste of mint . . . when I hit the jackpot and find the tequila paletas?!

Can't you just picture it? A hot summer day on the coastline, your clothes are gently tugged by a shy breeze that will flutter away at the last gold ribbon of sunset to make room for the still, stifling night. You're just walking along, just walking and eyeing the filled up bars and cafes where patrons willingly risk overdraft fees in exchange for the building's air conditioned respite. You're not so desperate (yet) but a cold drink or a cold something does seem good right now. A hand rises up to swipe away the thin sheet of sweat on your brow before it clutters your vision, and its when your eyes track the alarming drip of salt water that it spots that bright, clean sign and the booth filled with vivdly colored things. Paletas! The sign reads, and the distantly polite smile of the cashier beckons you over as you start to recognize the shape of frozen treats. You rush over and, oh . . . . oh, there they are. Sweet, simple favorites like strawberry, banana, or passion fruit are nestled in cases alongside bolder options like cafe, lime, and . . . butter? Shaking your head, you toss aside adventure for comfort and order your tried and true coconut paleta, practically vibrating as you pay for it and the cashier plucks out the white, thick block of heavenly bliss. You walk away, conscious enough to realize that giggling and gnawing at this thing in front of the poor worker would be gauche at best and . . . well, when you've walked far enough you slow down. You slow down until you're walking to a somber, extended beat, as you raise the paleta to your lips. It glistens, and you can see the little bits of true coconut flaking along the surface as your lips part. The cold of the bar hits your lips first, and you almost flinch, but the whisp of coconut scent hits your tongue and your nostrils and you're a goner. You take your first taste. Feel the cream and the rasp of coconut, taste the cold and the delight, and you're groovy, baby.

It's more than food. It's cinema, and that's very special to me. Listen, I can't tell you what to do and I don't want to. However! I think you're doing yourself a major disservice, taste wise, if you don't try a paleta today. And, if you've had paletas before and just read this article to see if I even knew what I was talking about, please go and have another paleta for me. I haven't had one in ages and I'm hurting.

Sources Cited

Sponagle, M. (2016, July 22). Your Ultimate Guide to Paletas, Mexican-style popsicles. Foodal. Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://foodal.com/knowledge/paleo/mexican-paletas/