July 28, 2007

Delicias de Mexico [Santa Ana]

Driving north on Harbor, you'll see NEVERIA in big pink letters announcing that you've arrived at Delicias de Mexico. It's right after Trask before you see the freeway entrance, so keep your eyes peeled for the neon green lights and painted glass windows.

Neveria is Spanish for ice cream shop with the suffix "-ria" indicating that it is a type of food shop. Carniceria (butcher), panaderia (bakery), pasteleria (cake shop)--you get the point. At Delicias, there are an assortment of helados (ice cream), paletas (popsicles), licuados (fruit smoothies), y agua frescas (fruit juices) to cool you down on a hot summer day.



Fruit flavors are mostly found in the paletas, which are either water or milk based, while the ice creams are paired with sweeter flavors such as coffee, vanilla, and chocolate. The ice creams are rich and creamy, though they were out of the chongos, which is a distinctly Mexican-flavored ice cream with milk candy chunks and cinnamon in it.

The paletas were too pretty to eat and filled the case with every color in the rainbow. Some of the more exotic offerings were yam, corn, and pico de gallo, though our taste buds weren't up to the challenge on this particular night. We opted for the pineapple, watermelon, and guava paletas, which were all a little on the sugary side. The water-based paletas are essentially frozen slushies, though the fruit chunks and seeds found inside give them a nice homemade feel. Eat fast because the bars start melting pretty quickly after you get them.

Maybe she was having a bad day, but the owner was extremely rude and trite with us. She rolled her eyes at our curiosity and sighed impatiently while we asked questions. At least all of the signs are in English, so you can easily avoid communication if the environment seems hostile...can't we all just get along?

Delicias de Mexico
13466 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA 92843
(714) 590-0031

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