Guri Guri

Anyone who lives in Hawaii knows about guri-guri.  The phrase guri-guri is thought to orginate during the Hawaii's plantation days (starting in the late 1890s).  This treat was supposedly sold to Japanese plantation workers as "goodie-goodie", who pronounced this as "guri-guri".  The name stuck and here we are.

Guri-guri is a treat that's a hybrid, a cross between sherbert and ice cream, and it's so delicious.  Years ago, I used to frequent a shop near the old Honolulu Stadium that served guri-guri.  That shop, along with so many other favorite eating spots are now but a memory.  The most popular shop in all of Hawaii must be Tasaka Guri-Guri at the Maui Mall.  Whenever I visit Maui, this is the one thing everyone asks me to bring back as omiyage (gifts).

Several years ago, my grandfather shared this recipe for guri-guri with me.  While not the same as the guri-guri that you'll find at Tasaka's, this is good enough to satisfy my craving.  For those of you in the states and beyond, try this.  I'm sure you'll like it.

By the way, this is going to be THE easiest dessert you've ever made.

Guri-guri

2 cans (12 ounce) strawberry guava juice*
1 can (12 ounce) 7 UP®
1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir vigorously. Freeze for about 1-2 hours, remove from freezer and stir vigorously again (repeat at least twice).  Transfer to individual serving containers and freeze until firm, minimum 8 hours (preferrably one day or longer).

**NOTES**

-Instead of strawberry guava juice, you can use any flavor of soda or juice of your choosing.  When choosing your base flavor, just remember that it will be combined with condensed milk. 
-If you want, you can also use an ice cream maker.  If so, you won't need to re-stir this after partial freezing.

This guri-guri is enough to beat the heat and makes for a refreshing treat on a hot and humid day.  The sweet, creamy flavor is what makes this distinctive and delicious.

Enjoy!

Comments

[Cathy]

Hi Reid - this sounds great! I love that it's so easy. It'll be fun to try different juices. Does the carbonation from the 7-Up have any noticeable effect? I suppose Sprite would work as well (I think I might have a couple cans of that hanging around).

Have a great time in Singapore! Will you be enjoying some of the Chinese New Year festivities? Will you be visiting with anyone we know (Renee?) while you're there? Have fun!!!

[Reid]

Hi Cathy,

The carbonation from the 7-Up (Sprite) shouldn't have any effect, though, I normally open the can the night before I make this so that it gets a little flat.

I'm hoping to enjoy some of the festivities, and I am also hoping to get together with the Singaporean food bloggers. So far, Julia of Aroma Cookery, ST of Cheat Eat, Umami of Umami, and Min of Min's Food Journal have confirmed meeting on 02/19 (Saturday). I'm still waiting to hear from Renee of Shiokadelicious! and Ruth of My Little Cyberspot.

Thanks for the well wishes. Happy CNY to you too!

[Julia]

This sounds so delicious and refreshing, and yet so easy to make. Thanks for sharing, Reid. Is it ok if I don't let the 7Up go flat overnight?

Looking forward to meeting you in SG! :)

[Reid]

Hi Julia,

I don't think it would be a problem if you didn't let it go flat. Just make sure you stir vigorously and wait for the foam to dissipate. See you soon!

[MrsT]

Hey.. Reid.. the guri guri looks too yummy...but will prolly be a tat too sweet for me.. :)
I see you are all set with other food bloggies..in singapore.. :) Well.. you are definitely in good hands.. :)
Have a great time..!! and donch forget the pictures.. and learn the singlish stuff.. ;)
The lahs.. and the hors.. ;)

[AugustusGloop]

Great idea Reid. And perfectly timed too. It's been hot & humid in Sydney lately.

Bon voyage! I'm so jealous. Make sure you have an extra mouthful for Augustus and take lots of pics.

[Reid]

Hi MrsT,

Yes, it will probably be a bit sweet! =(

I'm looking forward to meeting up with all the Singaporean food bloggers. Can you imagine they are all women? Does that mean that Singaporean men don't like food? =)

I'll definitely have a good time lah! hehe!

Hi AG,

I hope you get to try this. If you do, let me know how you like it. I can't think of a single person who doesn't.

Don't be jealous. I may just be in your part of the world in a few months! Then we can have loads of fun eating our way through town! The hotel I'm staying in has a broadband connection, so if I can get my laptop up and running, I'll be blogging from Singapore!

[MrsT]

Cool.. Reid..:)
Blogging from Singapore.. way too cool.. :)

[AugustusGloop]

I'm still jealous. Exploring new gastronomic terrain in another country is always much more fun! :P

And yes, Sydney awaits your trust camera.

[tom]

I also tried Tasaka Guri guri in my recent Maui trip because my friend INSISTED that we must try.
We went there late so they only had 2 flavors left but it was great! They even had a picture of Clinton there. Thanks for sharing your grandpa's recipe. I miss that taste.
I thought guri guri came from mixing sound in Japanese. So it's good to know that its origin, goodie goodie!

[Reid]

Hi Tom,

Welcome!

I'm glad you got to try the guri guri at Tasaka. I think it's the only shop left in Hawaii that sells it (or at least the only one that I know). Normally they will have two flavors, strawberry and pineapple, and sometimes they will have a special flavor (when I was there it was lemon lime).

The name guri guri is a mystery to us all, but the explanation that I gave is the one that I hear most often. Who knows, it could be wrong.

If you do make guri guri using the recipe provided, I hope it works out OK and that you enjoy it. It's not the same as Tasaki, but .... well, you get the idea!

[jeje]

Whoa da bugga is ono.

[Reid]

Hi jeje,

Welcome to the blog. I'm glad you like it. I think it's perfect for summer!

[Kala]

Don't know any of you, but enjoyed reading the comments & it brought back some fond memories.

When we were little, the ice cream truck sold Goodie-Goodie. It was in a cone shaped Plastic ice cream cup w/a small rounded bottom that had a bubble gum in it. You would eat the goodie goodie sherbert & had an extra treat at the end. It came in strawberry & vanilla (which was blue) My dad (who grew up in Kaimuki & frequented that guri guri place by the stadium) made it for us when the ice cream truck stopped coming around. He used Diamond head Strawberry soda... Same recipe as Reid's.

For those who are concerned with the sugar or sweetness... he started using diet sodas when he got older & had to watch his sugar. Still sweet enough, but not as bad for you. Don't know if any one will see this now, but thought I'd share.

Hope you had an awesome trip!

[Brie Koyanagi]

Hi there all. I'm born and raised on Maui and now reside in Brooklyn NYC, what a pleasure to have bumped into this site and coming across the recipe for guri guri. I went to the Maui Mall at least 3 to 4 times a week for one reason or another and could not leave without getting guri guri (right across from "Don Tacos" if any one remembers, don't know if its still there) topped with sweet bean sauce. I speak often of guri guri and have cravings for it and now I'm making it, I am so happy and cannot wait for the damn thing to freeze so I can broke da mouth. Thanks to you all!!! I am one happy kama aina! Mahalo Nui Loa !

[lei]

!guri guri is so ono!
Every time we recycle, HI 5!, we go straight to Tasaka and buy as much guri guri as we can.
I'll certainly try the recipe.

[so_good]

hey this is an awesome recipe. i acutually tried it with strawberry soda the first time and it almost tasted like the real thing but it was alittle too sweet and icy. so i tried again and added whipping cream to the mixture and the consistency is more so like ice cream. i've even substituted the strawberry with pineapple juice. ONO!!! hahaha..

[Elaine Sissons]

Try 5 cans strawberry soda and 2 cans sweetened condensed milk or 5 cans orange crush, 1 sm can pineapple juice, and 2 cans sweetened condensed milk. I use an electric ice cream maker.