Locals and tourists have been lining up at this Homestead fruit stand for decades to savor one of its milkshakes while perusing the selection of local produce and honeys. There is a list of perennial milkshake flavors, but the seasonal specialties made with exotic locally grown fruit are the real attraction here, and summertime offers the largest variety of these very South Florida treats. In keeping with current health trends, Robert is Here offers sugar-free and vegan smoothie options, too.

A mainstay in Little Italy neighborhoods around the United States, Italian ice is a light, water-based frozen treat that is softer than sorbet and comes in a myriad of flavors. Richie’s in Oakland Park has been serving Broward this traditional Italian refreshment for over 20 years. The takeout window features fruity flavors like cherry and watermelon, as well as vanilla chip and cotton candy, in servings as small as a cup and as large as a gallon.

Cold noodles are a summertime favorite enjoyed in many Asian countries, but Koreans taken them to the next level. Naengmyeon is a dish of cold, chewy buckwheat noodles in a slushy broth topped with cucumber, pear, hardboiled egg, and sometimes a slice of cold braised beef. Minji’s Café in Fort Lauderdale is a barebones Korean spot that offers this refreshing dish along with bibim naengmyeon. This spicy version of the iced noodle preparation is topped with a generous dollop of sweet, garlicky, chili sauce.

Halfway between ice cream and shaved ice, snow cream has been a staple in Taiwan’s tropical climate since it was invented there in the 70s. Sweet Tooth keeps things close to the Taiwanese original with typical flavors like milk tea and black sesame, as well as a summertime special made with local mangos. Each snow cream gets a drizzle of condensed milk and is garnished with traditional toppings that can include sweet red beans, puddings, or homemade rice or taro balls.

New Orleans summers can be brutally hot, but locals have devised a remedy to beat that heat in the form of snowballs. These extra fine shaved ices are doused in a nearly endless variety of syrups and typically finished with a generous squirt of condensed milk that dilutes as it mixes with the ice. Snoballs in Hollywood offers the complete Southern Louisiana experience from its typical shack-style digs to traditional flavors like nectar, similar to fruit punch or red cola.

This North Beach shop specializes in one of the newest trends in frozen desserts hailing from Thailand. Instead of churning ice cream until frozen and scooping it into balls, the ice cream batter is spread on a cold metal plate, mixed with flavorings, and then scraped into rolls that are neatly arranged into a cup and topped with a variety of goodies. BRRRR! offers a variety of flavor and topping combinations, including some very local options like key lime pie and dulce de leche.

Indonesia, located right on the Equator, has a cuisine that features many foods and beverages that help keep one cool in hot climates. Bali Café, Miami’s longstanding purveyor of Indonesian delicacies, offers a variety of icy desserts that are perfect for South Florida’s balmy summers. Menu items that contain the word es feature crushed ice with a variety of tropical fruits and syrups. The es campur – a perennial favorite in Indonesia – also contains creamy avocado. The es bali special is a deluxe version topped with gelatin and assorted Indonesian-style ice creams.

Mexicans have elevated the simple ice pop to an art form with their paletas. La Michoacana is a popular purveyor of paletas in Mexico with outposts in Homestead and Miami. The selection is divided into water-based and milk-based varieties. Flavors can range from the expected to more unique flavors like cucumber and chili, salted plum (chamoy), and avocado. The paletas’ vibrant colors make them as visually appealing as they are tasty and refreshing.

This Texas import offers a variety of refreshing options to combat South Florida’s infamous summer heat, including frozen lemonades and iced coffee drinks. Bahama Buck’s biggest draws, though, are its shaved ices. It offers moer than 75 flavors of syrups, including a “Thin Ice” selection of sugar-free options. Every cup of shaved ice is finished with a signature paper umbrella in keeping with the tropical theme.