The Bo'ai branch of the well-known Kaohsiung ice dessert shop Heyuan Sugarcane Shaved Ice will close at the end of August — bad news for longtime dessert lovers — the reason being an inability to find staff.

• The Bo'ai branch, which won the "Best Popularity Award" at the Dagang Yuebing ice festival for three consecutive years, will only stay open until August 31.
• The owner says the main reason is a severe labour shortage, which has left them running the shop single-handedly, tying up all their time and making it impossible to plan any expansion.
• The signature sugarcane shaved ice is made with pure sugarcane juice, with crisp flakes served alongside taro paste, taro balls, white rice-ball dumplings, and tapioca pearls, drawing many visitors from other counties and cities who make the trip especially to eat it.
• Closing the Bo'ai branch is meant to allow a focus on the brand and supply, so that Heyuan can go further.

Looking ahead: after the Bo'ai branch closes, the Kaohsiung Medical University branch and the Zuoying hotpot branch will remain open as usual, where the sugarcane shaved ice can still be enjoyed.