Just in time for rising temperatures, a new business at Findlay Market is bringing natural ingredients to an old summer standard: shaved ice. Cincinnati local, Alia Ali, started
Chill Shaved Ice to share her passion for natural ingredients and healthy eating through a tasty summer desert. Stationed at Findlay Market on the weekends, and at other local mobile destinations during the week, Ali has already received positive feedback for her idea.
Ali, a fitness instructor, always wanted to increase community awareness about the importance of what you eat.
"I feel passionate about eating healthy and showing people that there are other alternatives and how it is not as hard as one may think," Ali explained.
So two months ago she began experimenting with different fruits, flavors herbs and natural cane sugar to make her natural syrups. She recently made watermelon mint syrup by cooking and mixing cane sugar. Ali said she adds other herbs to weaken and strengthen the flavor of the syrup. Her first taste-test weekend at
Findlay Market was a success as many people were pleasantly surprised with the new twist on an old favorite.
"People were a bit hesitant at first, asking questions because it wasn't something they were used to like your standard chemically processed syrups. But customers were pleasantly surprised, asking questions about the process and other services I may provide," Ali said.
She plans to stay at Findlay Market for the whole summer on the weekends and travel around to different local destinations during the week.
"Findlay Market is a neat place. I love the people and the energy at the market. I feel like there are a lot of progressive people involved at the Market, which makes it a nice environment for me as a beginning business owner," Ali said.
Ali said future plans include selling bottles of her syrups, selling her product to local bars to provide a new alternative for mixed drinks, and maybe even opening up her own store.
Writer: Lisa Ensminger
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