SLW Yogurt Drink Review

Fro-yo girl here. I was shopping at Good Fortune Supermarket in Monrovia, CA when I spotted bottled yogurt drinks. They looked like glass baby bottles and were priced at $2.99 each for a 280ml drink. The drinks are from Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China.

The original drink was creamy, tangy, and sweet. It reminded me of Beijing Yogurt. It was sweet but not crazy sweet and tasted more natural and more like yogurt than Yakult. Surprisingly, it wasn’t refrigerated.

One bottle is 200 calories, 4.5g total fat, 37g total carbs, 36g total sugars and 3g protein. The ingredient list is longish (it’s not just yogurt and water).

Available flavors: Mango, original, strawberry

4 out of 5 stars.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Holsum/Holsom by Yogurtland, New Concept Coming Soon?

Fro-yo girl here. Trademarkia is an interesting site which allows you to search for trademarks. Current and expired trademarks are searchable.

On April 3, 2020, Yogurtland Franchising, Inc. filed a US federal trademark registration for HOLSOM BY YOGURTLAND and HOLSUM. Holsom by Yogurtland and Holsum are trademarks for a restaurant concept “featuring bakery products, acai bowls, yogurt, frozen yogurt, frozen yogurt toppings, coffee, tea and smoothies.”

Could Yogurtland be planning a name change to reflect an expanded menu? Or will Holsom/Holsum be a related concept? Yogurtland has already served all the items listed on the trademark application – not chain-wide but in a few test stores. I miss those croiffles!

Do you like the name Holsum or Holsom? I don’t…but I’m biased against non-standard spellings. Holsum/holsom conveys a sense that the offerings are healthy though. I guess Wholesome was already taken? Nourish, Nourished, Be Nourished are taken. Maybe Y Nourish? Orange Leaf had Purpose, a Snackery, which was a cute name.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

85C Bakery’s Ice Cream Mochi

Fro-yo girl here. The 85 Degrees in Pasadena, CA has been closed for months (temporarily?) due to the coronavirus, so I hadn’t visited one in months. They added oolong milk tea (yay, finally) and ice cream mochi since my last visit. The mochi ice cream come in a pack of two for $3.50. There were three flavors: mango, strawberry and vanilla.

Vanilla: The mochi shell part looked yellower than it would naturally but was soft and chewy. However, it was also crazy sweet. The ice cream part didn’t have much vanilla flavor and had an icy edge.

Strawberry: The shell looked unnaturally pink. The shell was soft, chewy and way too sweet. The ice cream had an unpleasant aftertaste.

The mochi ice cream are flatter but bigger than the leading brand, Mikawaya. Mikawaya’s mochi ice cream is far tastier than 85C’s version.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

85C Bakery Café: 300 W Main St., Ste. 100, Alhambra, CA 91801

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Time Is Running Out to Take the National Froyo Consumer Survey, Take the Survey for a Chance to Win Free Froyo

Fro-yo girl here. If you’ve ever visited a froyo shop and you’re over 13 in the US, you're eligible to take the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey. The short survey, sponsored by the International Frozen Yogurt Association, asks about your current froyo consumption, and your frozen yogurt attitudes and preferences.

All eligible survey participants will be entered into a random drawing to win one of four $30 froyo shop gift cards to any US shop that offers online gift cards. The survey is open to anyone over 13 who lives in the US. The four winners will be selected through a random drawing. One entry per person.

Take the 6 minute survey at https://tinyurl.com/froyoconsumer

The survey closes at midnight PST on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

Survey Purpose

The annual National Frozen Yogurt Survey, sponsored by the International Frozen Yogurt Association, captures trends in the frozen yogurt market from the perspective of the consumer and the shop owner. This year's consumer survey has been modified with new questions about the impact of COVID-19 on frozen yogurt consumption and attitudes. The IFYA will also compare this year's results with last year's to uncover interesting market trends. The results will be shared with frozen yogurt shops and others in the frozen yogurt industry.

The National Frozen Yogurt Shop Owner Survey launches in early October. You'll be hearing more about the shop owner survey soon.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Cocojune Organic Cultured Coconut Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. The new coconut-based yogurt products keep coming. I recently found Cocojune on sale at Sprouts for $1.99 (regular price, $2.29). The shelf tag also said it was new. Cocojune’s line of organic cultured coconut yogurt is plant-based, vegan, probiotic (with billions of probiotics), non-GMO, pesticide free. The flavors also sounded interesting and appealing. One container is 4 oz (smaller than usual).

The paper cup is eco-friendly. They also claim to have better probiotics. “Our probiotics are science-backed. We’ve teamed up with a leading Danish culture bank to develop our probiotic blend. Each serving of cocojune comes with 30 billion CFU, and includes some of the world’s most researched probiotic strains, such as “BB-12” and “LA-5”. We believe in using cultures with proven potency, as not all strains are created equal.”

Available flavors: Pure Coconut, Vanilla Chamomile, Strawberry Rhubarb, Lemon Elderflower

Strawberry Rhubarb: The consistency was not as thick as Greek yogurt but the yogurt was pretty smooth after stirring. Flavorwise, I really liked how it tasted natural and tangy, and it wasn’t too sweet. The luxurious coconut cream flavor dominated but I could taste the strawberries too. The finish was clean and the berry/rhubarb flavor lingered. Wish it were thicker though. One serving is 15g total fat, 11g total carbs, 7g total sugars and 1g protein.

Lemon Elderfower: The Lemon Elderflower yogurt was a little clumpy because the cream seems to rise to the top. I recommend stirring. The consistency seemed a little thicker than the Strawberry Rhubarb. Lemon Elderflower was quite tangy and sourer than Strawberry Rhubarb. The floral hint of elderflower was pleasant and lingered. The lemon was lost in the sourness and the strong flavor of the coconut cream. One serving is 16g total fat, 10g total carbs, 7g total sugars and 1g protein. Ingredients: organic coconuts, spring water, organic elderflower, organic cane sugar, organic lemon juice, vitamin C, organic cassava root, organic carob bean gum, vegan probiotic cultures.

The verdict: Cocojune is one of the better coconut based yogurts available, second only to Culina.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

What Happened to Orange Leaf’s Orange Unicorn? He Must Have Retired

Fro-yo girl here. Remember Orange Unicorn? He was hired to be Orange Leaf’s “spokes-thingie” in April 2016. His first task was to promote "You Be You Day" on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. On You Be You Day, which was a cute promotion where Orange Leaf guests were encouraged to celebrate their uniqueness and be rewarded with free froyo. He represented being unique and original.

Sadly, there was only one You Be You Day. Orange Unicorn was featured in an augmented reality coloring page, YouTube videos, on Orange Leaf cups, plush toys, and in-store signage. He liked to say things like #beweird, #beorange, be yourself, it’s the only thing you’re super good at, don’t be afraid of being different, be afraid of spiders, and why not is more fun than why.

There is no sign of Orange Unicorn on the current Orange Leaf website. The last Instagram post by Orange Leaf that mentions Orange Unicorn was in February 2018. The cups no longer feature Orange Unicorn. But his trademark is still active.

Orange Leaf no longer has a spokes-thingie but it has a slogan, Flavor Freedom. “Orange Leaf offers freedom from average every day options. From flavors, cups, and cones, to smoothies, shakes, and cakes, we give our guest the freedom to create whatever sweet treat they can come up with next. Our froyo flavors are the best, because we make them that way. No really, we do. Each flavor recipe is uniquely ours and you can’t get it anywhere else!”

Orange Unicorn was cute but the slogan is more mature. I hope Orange Unicorn is doing well in his froyo forest.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

The Rise and Fall of Purpose Snackery

Purpose Snackery, Milton, Georgia

Fro-yo girl here. Plenty of froyo shops close, but Purpose Snackery caught my eye back when it opened in August 2017 in Milton, Georgia at 12630 Crabapple Rd., Ste 100 inside Crabapple Market. The concept from Remarkable Brands LLC was different (focused on serving wholesome snacks from purpose-driven brands, including Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt) and the images very cute and modern. Georgia Franchise Group was the Territory Developer. They hoped to create a new franchise but only had two locations.

When the first location opened, they served flatbreads, toasts, smoothies, coffee, handcrafted soda and self-serve Orange Leaf froyo with toppings. They charged by froyo cup size not weight. Here’s their own description:

"At Purpose Snackery®, we recognize that America has become a nation of snackers, so we have created a snack shop that offers a little something for everyone. With a variety of wholesome grab-n-go snacks, signature baked Snackbreads™, a selection of frozen desserts fueled by Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt®, and specialty craft sodas and coffee drinks from EOTE Coffee Company®, Purpose Snackery is your one-stop snacking destination."

"Through our shared vision of having a purpose beyond profit, Purpose Snackery™ works with local, regional and national purpose-driven brands to provide a variety of wholesome grab-n-go snacks, signature baked Snackbreads™, a selection of frozen desserts and specialty cold brew coffee drinks."

Cute posts continued for about two years. Early in 2018 or even late 2017, they stopped carrying frozen yogurt and switched to soft serve gelato (sad face). Purpose opened another location inside Airborne Canton Aerial Adventure Park in the fall of 2018.

The last FB post from Purpose Snackery was in March 2019. The last Instagram post from Purpose Snackery was in June 2019. The post said that they were making changes to the Milton location. The Purpose Snackery trademark was filed by Orange Leaf Holdings and abandoned in late 2017. The Purpose Snackery website disappeared. Airborne closed permanently due to COVID-19 and so did the Purpose Snackery inside. RIP.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Pasadena 2020 Froyo Report

Fro-yo girl here. Has it really been over seven years since my last Pasadena froyo report? The coronavirus outbreak has inspired me to update my old posts. I can’t go out for froyo that often, so it’s a good time to reflect.

Every froyo shop mentioned in the 2013 report has closed, except for 21 Choices, which moved about a block or two from its previous location in Old Town Pasadena. The new address is 44 N Fair Oaks Ave.

Closures since 2013 report:

• Buzio’s
• Cherry on Top
• Moka Café
• Pinkberry

Cold Stone Creamery is still open, but it’s not a froyo shop. I think they still have scoopable froyo. Jamba Juice stopped offering mix-in froyo at all their locations.

Since the 2013 report, the following froyo shops have opened in Pasadena:

• Blissery Frozen Yogurt, 1727 E Washington Blvd, took over the Yoguroo space in East Pasadena and was in business from 2013-2017. They made the space more colorful.
• Bloomfield Creamery, 1727 E Washington Blvd, took over the Blissery space in 2017. They kept the self-serve froyo but added their own ice cream and cookie dough. They made it less colorful.
• Freshii inside Target on Colorado briefly served froyo starting in 2016 and then closed in 2017.
• Froyolife, 1709 E Colorado Blvd, was part of a small local self-serve froyo chain which only has one location left, in downtown Montrose. The Pasadena location was across the street from Pasadena City College and was only open from 2014-2015. The Los Feliz location was razed and will be replaced by a medical office. Yawn.
• Sunlife Organics, 146 S Lake Ave., opened in 2016 and had organic froyo. It was one size, huge, and it wasn’t that good. I’m not sure if they still offer froyo but it isn’t listed on their online menu.
• Yogurtland Lake, 415 S Lake Ave., C107, opened in 2013 and was my regular location for years. I have many fond memories of this location. Sadly, ownership changed in December 2018 and things went downhill quickly. It’s still open but a shell of its former self.
• Yogurtland Old Town Pasadena, 30 W Colorado Blvd, was the second Yogurtland location to open in Pasadena, CA and it operated from 2014-2019. The Old Town location was smaller with fewer machines than the Lake location. It looks like someone new is taking over the space.

So, the current places for soft-serve froyo in Pasadena are: 

• 21 Choices
• Bloomfield Creamery
• Yogurtland Lake

And in South Pasadena:

• Menchie’s 
• Penguin’s

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Menchie’s September Feature Flavors: Gourmet Caramel Vanilla Gelato & Peppa Pig Cotton Candy

Fro-yo girl here. It’s nice to see that a new month once again means new feature flavors from Menchie’s. September 2020’s feature flavors are:

Peppa Pig cotton candy frozen yogurt: This flavor returns by popular demand.

Gourmet Caramel Vanilla gelato: Inspired by Italy, Menchie’s has introduced NEW Gourmet Caramel Vanilla gelato. Menchie’s describes Gourmet Caramel Vanilla as “made with rich caramel and hints of vanilla and contains live and active cultures. Drizzle caramel sauce on top for an extra sweet treat.” The new flavor is gluten-free, free of high fructose corn syrup, and made with no artificial colors or flavors. It also has live and active cultures. Menchie’s gelato is richer and higher in fat than their frozen yogurt. I found Gourmet Caramel Vanilla Gelato at Menchie’s in El Monte, CA. The description was accurent since the caramel seemed much stronger than the vanilla. It reminded me of butterscotch, rich and warm. Recommended toppings: Butterfinger, Nilla wafers or graham crackers, cheesecake.

Both flavors are available for a limited time, while supplies last.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Take the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey for a Chance to Win Free Froyo

Fro-yo girl here. Froyo fans, the Fourth National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey, sponsored by the International Frozen Yogurt Association, is now open. We'd love to hear from you!

Complete the froyo survey by midnight Pacific Time on September 23, 2020 for a chance to win one of four $30 froyo shop gift cards. Winners can choose a gift card from any froyo shop that sells online gift cards. 

The survey is open to anyone over 13 who lives in the US. Responses will remain anonymous. Winners will be selected based on a random drawing. One entry per person please.

Take the 6 minute survey at https://tinyurl.com/froyoconsumer

The annual IFYA National Frozen Yogurt Survey captures trends in the frozen yogurt market. This year's consumer questionnaire has been modified with new questions about the impact of COVID-19 on frozen yogurt consumption and attitudes. The results will be shared with frozen yogurt shops and others in the frozen yogurt industry to help shape the future of the industry.

Tell others to take the survey too!

Anyone who is interested in the survey results simply needs to share the survey invitation using a public profile. There are several ways to share the survey invitation, including sharing IFYA’s pinned Facebook post about the survey (https://www.facebook.com/froyoassociation/), pinned tweet (@froyogirl) or Instagram survey post (@intlfroyoassn) before September 21, 2020. Then, after sharing, send the IFYA a direct message with your email address. 

For the complete contest rules, visit https://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/ifya/official-rules-for-the-national-frozen-yogurt-consumer-survey-sweepstakes/

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Lay’s Lactobacillus Yogurt Soda Flavored Potato Chips Review

Fro-yo girl here. I’ve had some good and some bad experiences with Lay’s flavors from other countries. But when I spotted the yogurt soda Lay’s at HK2 Food District in West Covina, CA, I had to try it. Soda-flavored potato chips. Hmm. The chips were manufactured in Shanghai, China. One bag is 2.29 oz. HK2 Food District was selling Lay’s from China for $1.99/bag.

* Yogurt soda Lay’s: The scent was pleasant – like sweet yogurt soda with a hint of potato chips. The flavor was better than I expected as well. It was definitely tangy and I love tangy potato chips. The flavor grew on me because it is different – tangysweet with a carbonated scent and flavor. If it weren’t for the tang, the chips would have been too sweet. The chip was light, thin, and crispy.

Sounds weird but tzatziki, raita or labne + zaatar potato chips all appeal to me. It’s the soda part that’s offputting and doesn’t sound natural. Those yogurt sodas are usually too sweet and too artificial. But these chips were better than yogurt soda! The other online reviews are mostly favorable as well.

4 out of 5 stars.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* HK2 FOOD DISTRICT: 987 S Glendora Ave., West Covina, CA 91790

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

New Flavor at Yogurtland: Honey Roasted Peanut Soft Serve

Fro-yo girl here. I haven’t seen the official announcement yet, but Yogurtland has a NEW flavor: Honey Roasted Peanut soft serve. Made with real roasted peanuts and honey, the flavor is described as “a timeless flavor, rich and salty peanut butter balance with sweet and mellow honey.” Sounds good! It’s also gluten-free and calcium fortified.

Honey Roasted Peanut: I LOVE Yogurtland’s Peanut Butter froyo flavor, so a new peanut butter flavor definitely piqued my interest. The good news is that Honey Roasted Peanut soft serve is one of Yogurtland’s better flavors. The texture was smooth and creamy. It was sweet but not crazy sweet and I could taste honey and pb because neither was overpowering. It’s mellow and milky. I still prefer the Peanut Butter froyo because I like my pb straight up and it’s froyo, but I would get Honey Roasted Peanut again. Recommended toppings: Nutter Butter, peanut butter chips, Cap’n Crunch.

Yogurtland Alhambra is still full-service, which is fine with me. And samples aren’t being given out at this time (due to the coronavirus).

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

2020 Froyo Guide to Los Angeles

Pita GR

Fro-yo girl here. My froyo guide to greater Los Angeles will be six years old in October. With so many froyo changes since then, the guide could definitely use an update. Some of the shops in the 2014 guide have closed (e.g., Yogurtland CityWalk, SweetXO) or moved (e.g., Humphrey Yogart).

Downtown/Central LA

Spread Mediterranean Kitchen (334 S Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90034) isn’t a froyo shop and that’s a good thing because you can enjoy a delicious meal here with froyo for dessert. They also have craft cocktails. I like getting the hummus plate with lamb meatballs or falafel, cheesy and spicy style. I also like how the froyo comes in a mini size, perfect for dessert or a snack. The housemade Greek froyo comes in one flavor, plain and it’s icy and refreshing. Note: Spread is currently a specialty market (delivery or pickup only).

Craving super flavorful, tart froyo? Head to an ice cream shop! Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Los Feliz (1954 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027) makes scoopable frozen yogurt that will leave tart froyo lovers swooning. Rainbow Yo features three tangy froyo flavors all made with biodynamic dairy from Ohio.

Yoga-urt

East

21 Choices Frozen Yogurt (44 N Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105, additional locations in Claremont, CA) stays on the list because it offers something hard to find: housemade froyo flavors that you can customize with mix-ins. Your custom flavor is mixed before your eyes on a frozen marble slab. They’re known for unique flavors like Circus Animal and Nutella Cookie Dough. If you love toppings, this is the place for you. If you like your froyo with more texture, try their Crunchy Choices which has bigger pieces of toppings. 

Yoga-urt (two locations: 1407½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91202 & 2211 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026) was the first plant-based, gluten-free, kosher, soy-free, organic “froyo” shop in Los Angeles. I’m thrilled that they’ve done well enough to open a second shop in Echo Park. They make their own froyo (yes, it is froyo because it’s probiotic) from scratch. The main base is almond and cashew milk. Their flavors are unique and often intriguing, e.g., Purple Power has beets, Ganesha’s Sweet Greens has spinach. Their yogurt is so fresh and delicious that you don't miss the dairy at all. My favorite flavors are Vanilla Harmony, True Tahini, Pistachio Passion, and Ganesha’s Sweet Greens. 

West Side

While the original Pinkberry location in West Hollywood has closed, the Beverly Hills Pinkberry (240 S Beverly Dr #A, Beverly Hills, CA 90212) continues to offer what Pinkberry is known for: original tart froyo and a chance to spot a celebrity or two. While you’re in Beverly Hills, you can walk over to the next spot, Go Greek.

Another returning shop from the 2016 guide, Go Greek (425 N Bedford Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210, other locations in Santa Monica, Woodland Hills & Las Vegas) offers self-serve premium froyo made with Greek yogurt, smoothies, and fresh Greek yogurt. Authentic imported Greek toppings like sour cherry, quince, rose and carrot are available. Their froyo is super thick, creamy, and rich.

South

Pita GR (9905 Paramount Blvd., Downey, CA 90240) is a fast casual Greek street food eatery with a Greek chef. They make their own frozen Greek yogurt with their own recipe. There's only one flavor, plain. It can be topped with sour cherry syrup, lemon preserve, housemade baklava, or wildflower honey. The food is also delicious. Warning, the froyo is large so don’t order a big meal. Save room for froyo!

OC

Yes, there are countless Yogurtland locations in Southern California, but there’s only one original location and it’s in Fullertion. Yogurtland Fullerton (501 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92831) opened in February 2006 and has been remodeled several times over the year, but a few things stayed the same: self-serve froyo and proprietary froyo flavors.

San Fernando Valley

Menchie’s started in Valley Village, CA in May 2007 and grew to become the largest self-serve froyo franchise in the world. The original location feels different. The décor is a bit different and the service is something that every Menchie’s should strive towards. Even the cheerful phone manner makes this location different. It’s always clean and well-stocked.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.