Mikawaya Strawberry Mochi with Boba Ice Cream Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. I recently found Mikawaya Strawberry Mochi Ice Cream with Boba at the Grocery Outlet. A box of six pieces was $3.99, with a list price of $6.49. I remember hearing about the new strawberry with boba ice cream, but this was my first time seeing it in a store.

I also couldn’t find any information about Mikawaya Strawberry Mochi with Boba ice cream online. The Mikawaya website doesn’t list the flavor. They must have discontinued it or maybe it was a limited-time flavor.

Mikawaya invented ice cream mochi and they had a shop in LA’s Little Tokyo for over a hundred years. Sadly, the shop closed in 2021, Mikawaya was acquired in 2015, and Mikawaya’s treats were rebranded as My Mochi. My Mochi makes a strawberry with boba mochi ice cream, possibly identical to the Mikawaya ones. You can still buy Mikawaya branded mochi ice cream AND My Mochi branded mochi ice cream.

Strawberry Mochi with Boba: The pink mochi shell was thin, soft, chewy, and sweet. It was stuffed with a sweet and creamy pink strawberry flavored ice cream with a chewy, soft, super sweet boba center. The boba part was way too sweet. It would have been better without the boba center.

One piece is 1.25 oz, 80 calories, with 1.5g total fat, 16g total carbs, 12g total sugars, and 1g protein.

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

3 out of 5 stars.

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 Dark Green Yogurtland Logo Spoons, Returning Flavors, Leap Day Promo

 

Fro-yo girl here. I spotted the new dark green Yogurtland logo spoons at Yogurtland Eagle Rock. They’re similar to the other Yogurtland logo spoons, i.e., the spoons with Y from the logo. It says Yogurtland on the handle of the spoon.

I also noticed the return of two seasonal exclusive flavors: Thai Tea froyo, Lucky Irish Mint froyo. The return of Lucky Irish Mint for St. Patrick’s Day makes sense. I’m not sure why Thai Tea is a seasonal flavor. The sign for the Mint Cookies and Cream Swirl is also back.

Thai Tea froyo was first introduced last March.

And to celebrate Leap Year, Yogurtland is offering triple points on Leap Day, February 29.

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.

It’s Time to End Partial-Serve at Froyo Shops

Fro-yo girl here. Remember how during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, frozen yogurt shops couldn’t provide self-service or allow indoor dining? By 2021, partial-serve was being offered by some froyo shops. You could wear gloves and get your own froyo, but an employee would add the toppings. The toppings were kept on the other side of a clear plexiglass barrier.

I haven’t seen a froyo shop require or even recommend wearing a mask this year and the vast majority went back to self-serve in 2022. Yet, a few frozen yogurt shops still offer partial self-serve, including Yogurtland in Eagle Rock, Burbank, and East Hollywood. I can’t really understand it at this point. Partial-serve is more annoying than full-service or self-serve.

I don’t think any Menchie’s I’ve been to is still practicing partial-serve. However, the one “self-serve” Pinkberry shop in Burbank does practice partial-serve.

The problem with partial-serve is that it takes a long time to ask for each topping and if you don’t specify exactly how much you want, the employee tends to give you way too much. So, explaining how much you want and where you want it slows down the process further if you’re very particular about your froyo. Typically, one employee is assigned to put the toppings on and that’s much slower than allowing customers to get their own toppings. And the employee doesn't care what your cup of froyo looks like and doesn't place the toppings carefully. However, at counter-serve shops, the employee usually puts the toppings on carefully. 

If you want to layer your froyo and toppings, you'll have to wait in line twice. 

I’ve been avoiding Yogurtland locations that still practice partial-serve. Am I the only one who feels that partial-serve is the worst?

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 Testing New Flavor, Cap’N Crunch Cereal

 

Fro-yo girl here. While I was at Menchie’s in Encino, California, I spotted a new test flavor: Cap’N Crunch. I think it’s froyo but it didn’t say. It’s made with Cap’N Crunch cereal for sure. The froyo was creamy, thick, and smooth, but it didn’t taste like Cap’N Crunch to me. It tasted like vanilla with a hint of butterscotch.

Cap'n Crunch is a corn and oat cereal introduced in 1963 by the Quaker Oats Company. Cap’N Crunch is a popular froyo topping and it’s been offered as a froyo flavor by 16 Handles, Yogurtology, Aloha Yogurt, and others.

Test flavors are regularly offered at Menchie’s Encino and feedback is collected from Menchie’s guests.

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.

New Menchie’s Merch: Shoe Charms, Pop Keychains, Phone Grips

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s recently introduced new merch. It took me awhile to find the merch as it’s offered at every location. I found them at Menchie’s Encino. They’re very on trend.

• Menchie’s shoe charms, $7.99 for a pack of three. These are shoe charms that people add to customize their Crocs. Menchie’s shoe charms feature Menchie, Chip, and a cup of froyo.
• Menchie’s pop keychains, $5.99: Push pop fidget bubble toys are made out of silicone and have been popular for the last couple of years. I like how some people use them to make tiny froyo bites. Menchie’s pop toy only has three bubbles but the keychain makes it handy to carry around.
• Menchie’s phone grip, $9.99: Menchie’s version makes it easy to hold your froyo and your phone. It features Menchie’s face.

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.

New Froyo Squishmallow, Angelica

 

Fro-yo girl here. On February 6, National Frozen Yogurt Day, I received a package in the mail. Inside was Angelica, a new froyo Squishmallow from the Scented Parfume Mystery Squad. Squismallows Mystery Squad is a blind bag (i.e., you don’t know which plush toy you are going to get until you open it) that comes in 5” and 8” plush sizes. And they’re scented. Angelica smells like strawberries. She’s pink with sprinkles, a strawberry, a blueberry, and a spoon. Her squishdate is 7/13/2023.

Squishmallow launched in 2017 and they’ve been releasing Mystery Squad toys since 2020. They’re released as a series, with different squad members in each series. Each one has a birthdate, name, and story (just like Beanie Babies).

Angelica was part of the 2024 dessert squad which had 6 types of plush toys and was released in January 2024. I spotted the Mystery Dessert Squad bags at Target in Pasadena, California, for $8.99 each. Pro-tip: there are holes in the bottom of the package, so you can smell the toy and see the color. 

You can also buy Mystery Dessert Squad bags online on ToyWiz and other sites.

Angelica’s already been asking me to take her to all the best froyo spots. Expect to see her around 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.

Menchie’s February Promotions

 

Fro-yo girl here. It usually takes awhile for me to find the featured flavors at my local Menchie’s because many of them wait until they’ve run out of another flavor before they put in the new flavors. Anyway, thanks to National Frozen Yogurt Day, Menchie’s sold and gave away a lot of froyo and I found the featured flavors.

The featured flavors for February are: Gourmet Tiramisu gelato and Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate froyo. They’re both returning flavors.

Gourmet Tiramisu Gelato was first introduced in May 2021. It combines rich mascarpone and bold espresso flavors just like the decadent Italian dessert. The gelato has live and active cultures, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no high-fructose corn syrup. Gourmet Tiramisu Gelato was rich, thick, creamy, and smooth, it tasted like a sweet espresso mellowed by mascarpone. Recommended toppings: Nilla wafers, almonds, white chocolate chips

Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses froyo was introduced in February 2017. It’s made with Hershey’s Chocolate, of course, and it does taste like Hershey’s Kisses – a mild chocolate froyo that’s creamy and smooth. Recommended toppings: mini Hershey’s Kisses, chocolate shell, graham crackers, marshmallows.

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

While National Frozen Yogurt Day has come and gone, Menchie’s is offering double smiles when you scan the Menchie’s app from February 7 – 20. Once you earn 50 smiles, you’ll receive a reward of $5 in Menchie’s Money to use on your next froyo purchase.

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.

Prices Increase Again at Yogurtland Pasadena On Lake Avenue

Fro-yo girl here. In January, I thought I saw a sign saying that the price per ounce at Yogurtland Pasadena on Lake Avenue was $0.69/oz. It was $0.67/oz in December 2023. The price just went up again, to $0.71/oz, crossing the $0.70/oz threshold that many froyo shops were hovering just below.

Expect to see more price increases at froyo shops in California, particularly for the larger chains. Starting April 2024, fast-food workers in California who work for chains with 60 or more locations across the US will earn a minimum of $20/hr. The current minimum wage in California is $16/hr.

This will directly affect Yogurtland, Menchie’s, and sweetFrog locations in California.

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.

National Frozen Yogurt Day Report

 

Fro-yo girl here. Happy National/International Frozen Yogurt Day! It’s one of my favorite days of the year, of course, and I usually have froyo for lunch on NFYD. I actually had a dream about froyo spoons yesterday, NFYD Eve, and had difficulty sleeping due to the excitement of the big day.

On NFYD 2024, I had a choice between BOGO free at Forty Carrots, Menchie’s, Yogurtland, and Pinkberry and a 20% off offer at Yoga-urt.

My first stop was at Pinkberry in Silver Lake for the BOGO free deal. I didn’t have any issues redeeming the offer, though I didn’t see any NFYD signs inside the shop. They also announced the NFYD at the last minute (again). However, the NFYD deal is the best Pinkberry deal all year.

Yogurtland was so crowded last NFYD that there was a long line and they ran out of many toppings, so I went earlier and there wasn’t a line. Also, the toppings bar was well-stocked. The rain might have also had something to do with the absence of a crowd. Yogurtland’s NFYD 2024 offer is a buy one, get one free froyo deal for in-store purchases AND double points for Real Rewards members.

I picked up more of the Yogurtland heart sticker sheets and tried the new heart gummy topping. The heart candies are cherry-flavored.

I also stopped by Menchie’s which had a BOGO free froyo deal, but I didn’t see the February flavors, so I decided to go to Menchie’s another day. Menchie’s is offering double points when you scan the Menchie’s app from 2/7 – 2/20/24.

I can’t understand any froyo shop that doesn’t acknowledge and celebrate National/International Frozen Yogurt Day.

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.

Survey of Los Angeles Area Froyo Prices

Yogurtland,  Montebello

Fro-yo girl here. It seems that froyo prices increase every year, so I wanted to track what the prices currently are in the Los Angeles area.

Yogurtland seems to raise prices at the beginning of the new year (at least, several Yogurtland locations have done this). For example, Yogurtland Eagle Rock and Yogurtland Pasadena on Lake Ave. were charging $0.67/oz in December 2023 and now both are charging $0.69/oz.

Current prices for froyo

• Anita Gelato, Tarzana, $9 froyo with unlimited toppings (one size)
• Bloomfield Creamery, Pasadena, $0.65/oz
• Froyology, Montebello, $0.99/oz
• Go Go Froyo, Artesia, $0.64/oz
• Go Greek, Beverly Hills, $1.50/oz
• Go Greek, Santa Monica, $1.50/oz
• Kalamaki, Los Angeles, $11 for a small froyo with two toppings
• Menchie’s, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, $0.64/oz
• Menchie’s, Valley Village, Los Angeles, $0.63/oz
• Menchie’s Burbank, $0.65/oz
• Menchie’s, Encino, $0.66/oz
• Menchie’s, Sherman Oaks, $0.66/oz
• Pinkberry, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, small with toppings, $7.25
• Pinkberry Burbank, $0.74/oz
• The Yogurt Shoppe, Pacific Palisades, $0.98/oz
• Yogurtland, Arcadia, $0.68/oz
• Yogurtland, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, $0.69/oz
• Yogurtland, Montebello, $0.99/oz
• Yogurtland, Claremont, $0.66/oz
• Yogurtland, Santa Monica, $1.06/oz
• Yogurtland, Lake, Pasadena, $0.69/oz
• Yogurtland, East Pasadena, $0.69/oz
• Yogurtland, East Hollywood, $0.69/oz

In case you’re curious, I also looked at froyo prices in the Los Angeles area in August 2022. Go Greek and Yogurtland Santa Monica tied for the highest price, which was $0.99/oz back then. Go Greek still has the highest prices, at $1.50/oz currently. The lowest price was Menchie’s Valley Village at $0.63/oz and that’s one of the best Menchie’s locations (also the original Menchie’s location).

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.