Water-Based Confections

Water-based ice confections are the classic icy poles and frozen fruit bars found in every Australian freezer during summer. Unlike ice cream, they contain no dairy — just water, sugar, and flavourings frozen into a solid block on a stick.

They range from simple sugar-water icy poles in bright colours to more sophisticated fruit-juice bars. Some are made with real fruit purée, while others rely on artificial flavours and colours. The texture is hard and icy rather than creamy, and they melt into a sweet liquid rather than a soft serve consistency.

They’re a lighter alternative to ice cream on a hot day, and a fixture at school canteens, corner shops, and backyard barbecues across Australia.

Produced
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Water is mixed with sugar, flavourings (natural or artificial), and often citric acid for tartness. The liquid is poured into moulds, a wooden or plastic stick is inserted, and the moulds are moved through a blast freezer. Once solid, the confections are demoulded, individually wrapped, and kept in continuous cold-chain storage until sold.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 67kcal
Protein 0.2g
Carbs 17.1g
Fat 0g
Fibre 0g Sugar 17.1g
Mass Distribution

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈0.23kg
Freshwater ≈1.43L
Land ≈0.11m²

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

Made from
Water, whole

In the kitchen

Used as

frozen dessert treat

Classic dishes
  • Fruit ice pop
  • Agua fresca paleta
  • Sorbet bar

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

FSANZ

How it was calculated

Analysed

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

Where to next

made fromWater, whole goes well withlime goes well withmango goes well withstrawberry goes well withwatermelon goes well withcoconut shares a sourceBottled Water (Still) shares a sourceDrinking Water shares a sourceEnergy & Functional Drinks shares a sourceEnhanced & Flavored Water shares a sourceSoft Drinks & Tonic Water shares a sourceSparkling & Mineral Water
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