When the temperature tops 100 degrees, load the biggest ice chest you own into your car or onto a VIA bus and head on over to “El Paraiso” Original Ice Cream and Fruit Bars (also known as paletas) at 1934 Fredericksburg Road, next to the Woodlawn Theatre.
Founded in 1984, this family-owned business was the first paleta factory in San Antonio, according to Azucena Flores, daughter of Jose and Maria Flores, the owners. Maggie and Elizabeth, daughters, and Jose Jr., a son, also work at the factory and in the shop along with various uncles and cousins.
The Floreses produce more than 10,000 paletas a day. Strawberry is their number one seller, followed by lemon. Coconut and chocolate are tied for third, and vanilla/raisin comes in fourth. Other flavors include banana, mango, tamarind, pecan, pineapple, piña colada, horchata, cantaloupe, cookies and cream, watermelon, pickles, lucas (sweet and sour), cheesecake and coffee cappuccino.
The day my daughter and I filled up our cooler, we bought 25 paletas for $10. What a deal! “El Paraiso” provides dry ice to make sure your paletas survive the trip home. Coconut, chocolate, cookies and cream, coffee cappuccino, pecan and strawberry were our favorites. On the good news’ front, one paleta averages 140 calories, so you won’t blow your diet.
Maggie said that her father invented the pickles paleta after he saw kids, including herself, nibbling on giant sour pickles. That’s how he gets his ideas, by observing what people enjoy eating. The sisters also said that the “exotics,” like piña colada, cheesecake and coffee cappuccino sell very well.
The truth is that you don’t have to wait for the temperature to top 100 degrees to visit “El Paraiso” paletas. Ninety (or 80!) is good enough. Find out why other fans of paradise are loco for these delectable treats!
“El Paraiso” Original Ice Cream & Fruit Bars, located at 1934 Fredericksburg Road, is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Their phone number is (210) 737-8101.
Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been home ever since. For even more ideas of fun things to do and see in San Antonio, visit Barnes & Noble, The Twig or Whole Earth Provision Co. to purchase Denise’s book, “100 Things To Do in San Antonio Before You Die” . Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to design/lead a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!
These are absolutely the best. We even rented a whole cart full to serve at a backyard party before our daughter’s wedding. Thanks for reminding me to head back over thay way.
Gayle, What a great party idea! I thought it would be fun to rent a cart and ride around our neighborhood selling paletas. I’d get some exercise and make a little spending money! 🙂 Cheers, Denise
Denise, thank you for this! I did not know about the paleta factory–I only knew their pushcarts. I have pulled over many a time to give the paleta man my 50 cents for a chocolate or mango. When we lived on West Magnolia, I saw them all the time. They walk along busy streets in the heat, with their little bells ringing, and I always figured they deserved my business just for that–plus the paletas are so yummy. I never knew they are made right here. What a great local food story! I don’t see that in your tags, BTW… 😉
Dear Leslie, Thanks for reading/commenting! Don’t you think our neighborhood needs a paleta pushcart?! Also, thanks for the local food tag idea. I’ll include it! Cheers, Denise