TruJoy Yogurt Frozen Greek Yogurt Review of All Flavors

 

Peanut butter chocolate chip

Blueberry parfait

Classic tart

TruJoy Yogurt

Fro-yo girl here. I recently tried TruJoy Yogurt, an award-winning line of frozen Greek yogurt from Austin, Texas. While TruJoy Yogurt is not yet available in California, expect to find it in California next year (fingers crossed). You can also order TruJoy Yogurt online.

The founder, Charlie Gentry, wanted to create a healthier frozen treat with simple, clean ingredients that actually tasted good. TruJoy Yogurt is made with Greek yogurt, cane sugar, and live & active cultures. It’s high in protein and gluten-free. What sets TruJoy apart is the clean ingredients and the creamy, scoopable texture (without a crazy amount of sugar). Other frozen yogurt brands sold in supermarkets tend to be too airy or too hard. I also don’t like the use of monkfruit and Stevia (TruJoy Yogurt doesn’t use either).

The packaging is cheerful and each pint is described as “one pint of joy.”

I tried all seven flavors of TruJoy Yogurt, and I’ve ranked them in order of preference.

#1) Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip: As a huge fan of peanut butter froyo, I approve of this flavor. It’s packed with peanut butter flavor and has tasty dark chocolate shavings. The texture was thick, creamy, smooth, and dense. It’s not overly sweet.

#2) Coffee: The texture was slightly less creamy, but I loved the coffee flavor's strength.

#3) Madagascar vanilla: The yogurt had lots of vanilla flecks and a lovely vanilla flavor. It was creamy and rich.

#4) Blueberry parfait: With swirls of blueberry ribbons and granola, this flavor had a mild blueberry flavor. The swirls of blueberry and granola made it texturally interesting. I would like a stronger blueberry flavor.

#5) Lemon velvet: This is a sweet lemon ice cream with a bit of tang. I wanted more vanilla flavor.

#6) Strawberry: Such a pretty light pink froyo. The flavor comes from ripe strawberries blended into yogurt. It’s sweet and mild.

#7) Classic tart: I was impressed by the creamy, smooth texture, but it wasn’t that tart or tangy. It tasted a little like cream cheese.

The fruit flavors and the classic tart weren’t as tart as I expected. They’re still good, but I think adding cream mutes the yogurt flavor.

To find TruJoy Yogurt near you, check the product locator. You can also learn more about TruJoy Yogurt on their website, or on Instagram/Facebook @trujoyyogurt.

Thank you, TruJoy Yogurt, for the froyo!

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.

365 Whole Foods Market Organic Gingerbread Greek Yogurt Bars

Fro-yo girl here. I just found 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Gingerbread Greek Yogurt Bars at the Whole Foods in Pasadena. A box is 10 fl oz and contains four individually wrapped bars.

A box of Gingerbread Geek Yogurt Bars is $4.99 regular price.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had 365 Whole Foods Greek yogurt bars. I don’t think they’ve introduced a new flavor for a long time or they did and I didn’t notice it.

Gingerbread Greek Yogurt Bars: The bar is a pale light brown color with darker brown swirls in the center. I liked how it was light, creamy, and quite spiced. I could taste the molasses too. It wasn’t crazy sweet. I wasn’t expecting it to be that strongly spiced. It didn’t taste like yogurt.

One bar is 90 calories with 1g of total fat, 15g total carbs, 12g of sugar, and 4g of protein.

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.

Yoga-urt x Frauth NEW Mindful Matcha Latte Flavor

Fro-yo girl here. I wasn’t planning on getting froyo today, but then I saw the new flavor announcement from Yoga-urt. Yoga-urt locations are swirling the new Mindful Matcha Latte flavor this weekend only. It’s made with Frauth matcha, a ceremonial grade matcha from Japan. The flavor is available at all the Yoga-urt locations through November 10, unless they run out before then.

As a matcha lover, I was impressed by how strong the matcha flavor was and the soft serve (aka vegan froyo) was so smooth and rich. It also wasn’t too sweet! If you’ve had Yoga-urt’s Green Tea Tranquility, Mindful Matcha Latte has a stronger matcha flavor and is a darker green. Try it with Strawberry Serenity and fresh strawberries.

Go get some while you can. Yoga-urt is in Kenneth Village (Glendale), Echo Park, Santa Monica, and Granada Hills.

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.

IFYA Announces the Results of the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey

Fro-yo girl here. The National (US) Frozen Yogurt Survey is an annual survey sponsored by the National Frozen Yogurt Association. Each year, frozen yogurt consumers in the United States over 13 years old take part in an online survey that measures frozen yogurt preferences, current and future consumption, loyalty, and more. The results are compared to previous year’s findings to understand trends over time.

This year there were 258 survey responses.Respondents were:

• 59% female, 41% male, 2% other
• 56% between 25 – 34 years of age, about 77% have children under 18 in the household (the same as in 2023)

Froyo shop visit frequency and loyalty were stable for the past few years, but there was a large increase in the percentage of respondents who have reduced froyo consumption due to price (56% in 2024 vs. 37% in 2023). That’s the majority of respondents, for the first time. On a more positive note, 79% of respondents said they were willing to pay more for high quality froyo.

Respondents liked most of the major frozen chains in the US. When asked about their favorite shop, Yogurtland ranked #1, Pinkberry #2, and Menchie’s #3 The most important froyo shop attribute was a tie between quality froyo and great taste, followed by cleanliness and value.

The National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey is the only one to measure consumer sentiment, behavior, and attitudes towards frozen yogurt. This year, the survey found evidence that consumers have become more interested in quality frozen yogurt. The survey also revealed what other products respondents would be willing to try at froyo shops and what might increase froyo shop visit frequency.

The full results are also available for $150. To order the report or for more information, please contact info@internationalfrozenyogurt.com

A limited set of results is available for IFYA members in the members only Resources section of the IFYA website.

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.

November at Menchie’s

 

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s is looking festive these days with new holiday cups. The red cups feature Menchie, Chip, Sprinkle, and Mookie by a sign that says Happy Holidays and a holiday to-do list.

There are two new froyo flavors this month, HI-CHEW Key Lime Pie and Caramel Apple Pie.

HI-CHEW Key Lime Pie froyo joins a long list of HI-CHEW flavors at Menchie’s. I love key lime pie and HI-CHEW. The texture of this frozen yogurt is like a sorbet. It doesn’t taste or eat like a froyo. That aside, the key lime flavor lacks tang and is more candy like. It’s decent. This flavor is nonfat, gluten-free, and made with no artificial flavors, no artificial flavors, and no high fructose corn syrup.

Caramel Apple Pie froyo was inspired by Thanksgiving. It’s made with real graham crackers and apples. I could taste the caramel, cinnamon, and the apples. I found it unpleasant and strange for some reason. But it was creamy.

The new Chip Falling for Froyo spoons were delayed but finally arrived. The brown spoons feature Chip and it says Falling for Froyo on the handle. These look like fall spoons.

Menchie’s will be honoring vets and active duty military on Veterans Day with 6 oz free. Also, app members can enjoy double smiles on November 12 & 13. And the holiday bonus card offer is back. Spend $25 in gift cards and get a $5 bonus card for free.

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.

Yogurtland Gets Festive

 

Fro-yo girl here. The holidays have arrived at Yogurtland in a big way. First, there’s a new flavor, Peppermint Fudge Brownie, frozen yogurt. It’s described as “a rich, fudgy brownie flavor that meets refreshing peppermint for a winter wonderland in every bite.” I think that’s accurate. It is rich and more fudgy than minty. I could taste the mint though.

To pair with the new froyo, there’s a new topping, mini gingerbread men cookies. The cookies are thick and crunchy. They’re dusted in sanding sugar.

There’s a new holiday cup design that features three different gingerbread men, the Yogurtland logo, and a green background of snowflakes, candy canes, hearts, peppermint candies, and gingerbread cookies.

The new gingerbread man spoon is gingerbread colored. On the back of the spoon, it says Happy Holidays.

The new holiday sticker sheets feature gingerbread men, a Christmas tree, candy cane, peppermint candies, a Yogurtland spoon, gingerbread cookie, and Yogurtland logo. The images look similar to the ones on the holiday cup.

Everything is available for a limited time only, 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.

New Pinkberry Flavor, Snickerdoodle Cookie

 

Fro-yo girl here. It’s always nice to start the new month with a new froyo flavor. Pinkberry just released its new festive flavor, Snickerdoodle Cookie frozen yogurt. The non-tart froyo flavor tastes like cinnamon and sugar.

Snickerdoodle Cookie frozen yogurt: It’s no secret that I prefer tart froyo, but I liked this flavor. The texture was very smooth, creamy, and light, but it still felt satisfying without being heavy or too rich. The cinnamon flavor wasn’t too strong, and it wasn’t crazy sweet. The shortbread crumbs were a perfect crunchy topping though I do wish the crumbs were larger. Recommended toppings: nuts, shortbread cookie crumbs, dark chocolate crisps

Pinkberry recommends topping Snickerdoodle Cookie frozen yogurt with cinnamon dusted shortbread crumbs and chocolate chips.

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 Strawberry Yogurt Mille Crepe Cake From Yu Cake

Fro-yo girl here. It was love at first bite when I first tried Yu Cake’s Blueberry Yogurt Cake Roll in 2022. I was impressed enough to want to try all their yogurt cakes, so I tried the yogurt box cake and the raspberry yogurt cake. The Blueberry Yogurt Cake was still the best.

Recently, they introduced a new yogurt cake, the Strawberry Yogurt Mille Crepe Cake ($9.75/slice, $97 for a whole 8” cake). It’s flavored with yogurt powder. Like all Yu Cakes, the cake looked beautiful with thin layers of crepe and cream. There was also a thicker layer of cream with strawberry bits and a strawberry gelee layer.

Strawberry Yogurt Mille Crepe Cake: This was my least favorite Yu Cake to date. The cake had one texture – soft and creamy, but it also had a strange gummy texture. The cream didn’t have much flavor though I did appreciate that the cake was not too sweet. I could also taste a bit of the yogurt and the fresh strawberry flavor. The strawberry gelee was slightly tangy. Something about the texture of the crepes and cream wasn’t quite right.

Yu Cake closed the Rosemead location, so I went to the one in San Gabriel. They also didn’t have the other yogurt cakes that I tried in the past.

* YU CAKE: 301 W Valley Blvd # 111, San Gabriel, CA 91776

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 Disney Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Free Froyo Event

 

Fro-yo girl here. Disney Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is now streaming on the Disney Channel and will be available tomorrow on Disney+. Thanks to the new movie, Menchie’s had a free froyo event on October 29 at 3 PM. The first 29 guests in line received a free trick-or-treat bag and 5 ounces of free froyo.

I went to the Menchie’s in Burbank because they’ve been very organized during previous free froyo events (other locations are not so organized). This was a smart move because they were organized again, handing out 29 slips of paper to the first 29 guests.

The trick-or-treat bag was a plastic bag with an image from Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on one side and a cup of Menchie’s froyo on the other side.

I’m having a hard time finding the new Falling for Froyo Chip spoons, but I’ll keep looking. I’m going to finish the Smile Challenge app game tomorrow.

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.

2024 Halloween Froyo Shop Spirit Award Winner Announced

 

Fro-yo girl here. Happy Froyo Halloween! It’s that time of year when I eagerly look for signs of Halloween spirit in my neighborhood and at froyo shops around the world. I’m always amazed to see Halloween celebrated in so many countries.

The Halloween Froyo Shop Spirit Award can go to a froyo shop in any country. I consider the shop décor, special flavors, costume parties and events, special Halloween toppings, and more.

This year’s winner was clear. They won in 2014 and now again in 2024. Congratulations, 16 Handles. They just introduced Squid Ink Black Matcha frozen yogurt, inspired by Squid Game: Season 2. Like Squid Game, they also have a variety of contests like the Black Tongue Challenge, Dalgona Cookie Challenge, and the Tug of War Showdown. Prizes include $250 Visa gift cards.

The winner of the 2023 Halloween Froyo Shop Spirit Award is…SWEESH Fro-Yo in Indonesia. They created a new Halloween flavor, Butterfly Pea froyo, that they call Mud Blood.

Here are the previous winners:

• 2023: SWEESH Fro-Yo, Indonesia
• 2022: Funky Frozen Yogurt, Norway
• 2021: Menchie’s, US
• 2020: Pinkberry, Japan
• 2019: Menchie’s, US
• 2018: Smile Yogurt, Hong Kong
• 2017: Yogurty’s, Canada
• 2016: Menchie’s, US
• 2015: Wakaberry, South Africa
• 2014: 16 Handles, US
• 2013: Menchie’s, US

Find the most comprehensive list of froyo shop Halloween specials and events at https://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/news/happy-froyo-halloween/

For over 2,800 Halloween froyo images, visit IFYA’s Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/froyogirl/halloween-froyo-froyo-shop-decorations/

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.

Deshi Milk Flavored Brick Shape Ice Cream Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. Good Fortune Supermarket’s Alhambra location has a freezer near the front door filled with interesting popsicles/ice pops from China. They open boxes of popsicles to sell them individually. The packaging is all in Chinese with no English translation.

I bought a package of Deshi Big Milk Brick ice cream. The packaging also says thirty years ago and not too sweet on it.

It’s a rectangular brick-shaped, milk—flavored ice cream bar. One bar is 70g. It’s realty good – very thick, creamy, and rich. It tastes rich and indulgent and it’s sweet but not crazy sweet.

The bars come in a box of five. At Good Fortune, one bar was just $1.29. They had another flavor, possibly chocolate.

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

5 out of 5 stars.

* Good Fortune Supermarket, 300 W Main St, Ste 120, 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.

Great Forest Summer Lemon Flavor Ice Bar Review

Fro-yo girl here. Photogenic Chinese ice pops/ice bars/popsicles, particularly the fruit shaped ones, have been a huge hit in 2023 and 2024, thanks to TikTok. The fruit ice cream craze started with Propitious Mango ice cream. A mango-shaped ice cream from the same brand is also popular. The latest flavor to appear in the US is Summer Lemon.

The fruit-shaped ice cream is so popular that it sells out quickly and is hard to find. It’s carried by Asian markets like 99 Ranch and HMart. I’ve also seen it for sale in boba shops. The fruit ice cream trend seems to have replaced the boba popsicle trend from a few years ago.

Summer Lemon Ice Cream comes in a box of three. The lemon-shaped ice cream bars are individually packaged. I found them at 99 Ranch in Alhambra, CA, for $10.99 a box. The bars are imported from Jilin City in China.

Summer Lemon Ice Cream: The thick, dense, and creamy ice cream is made with sweetened condensed milk. It doesn’t melt quickly and it’s not super sweet. The ice cream is very tasty but it doesn’t taste like lemon. It’s coated in a thin, crispy yellow white chocolate shell. The shell is made with lemon juice but I could barely taste it. The plastic popsicle stick is shaped like a leaf. Cute. 

One bar is 204 calories, 15g total fat, 15g total sugars, 3g protein, and 16g total carbs. 

While I enjoyed the lemon ice cream bar, it barely had any lemon flavor.

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.

Fro-yo Girl Speaks 16th Blogiversary

Easy Breezy, Walnut Creek

Fro-yo girl here. Fro-yo Girl Speaks turns 16 today, so I’d like to reflect on the year in froyo. Of course, I still love froyo, and I think it’s been a good year for froyo. I’ve visited seven new places for froyo:

• Cuppa Yo, Dublin
• Easy Breezy, Walnut Creek
• Golden Spoon, Tustin. I made it to the grand opening for free froyo.
• Go Greek, Studio City
• Scoop & Cone, West Hollywood
• Yoga-urt, Granada Hills. I made it to the opening day.
• Yogurtland, Santa Monica

The grand openings aren’t what they used to be. They’re very modest these days. I haven't been devastated by any froyo shop closings this year, so far.

It’s been a great year for froyo spoons too. I collected nine new froyo spoons and a new one is coming soon to Menchie’s. Yogurtland has been coming out with more giant spoons and they’ve also had more promotions, e.g., A Laufey Day. Froyo Games for the Olympics, PAC-MAN. Multiple Yogurtland locations in the area have been remodeled this year. And they finally got rid of partial serve (i.e., you couldn’t add your own toppings).

Top It! Yogurt Shoppe

I visited Seattle and Salt Lake City and enjoyed some wonderful froyo during those visits. Top It! Frozen Yogurt in Snohomish, WA, was worth renting a car to visit. I finally made it Yagoot, which started offering froyo way back in 1977 (in Ohio) and opened in Salt Lake City last year. I have plans to take another froyo trip this year.

Sadly, the Pinkberry vending machines in the area that were installed last year have disappeared. I do think they were too limited though – offering only one flavor and a few toppings. Amazon Go stopped offering self-serve Pinkberry but they still carry froyo. Prices also continue to rise and average about $0.75/oz now vs. $0.70 this time last year.

Enlightened introduced frozen yogurt bark, which wasn’t any better than the frozen yogurt bark I could easily make at home.

Both Yogurtland and Menchie’s came out with shoe charms. I have both sets but refuse to wear Crocs.

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.

Froyo Scene in Salt Lake City

Fro-yo girl here. Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, has a population of 204,657 (2022), making it the most populous city in Utah. It’s also the world capital of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka Mormons). The metro population is 1,257,936.

Froyo has a long history in greater Salt Lake City and Utah. Back in the 1980s, Golden Spoon had multiple outlets in Utah, and these outlets were renamed Golden Swirl. Golden Swirl, which had 71 outlets, was acquired by Yogen Fruz, the world’s largest franchiser of frozen yogurt outlets, for $5.2 million in 1997. Unfortunately, I was unable to determine where these Golden Swirl outlets were in Utah.

When TCBY was acquired by Mrs. Fields Famous Brands in 2000, the headquarters moved to 1717 S 4800 W, Salt Lake City. Mrs. Fields Brands filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and was restructured to become Famous Brands International. The head office moved to Bloomfield, CO, in 2012.

Today, there are three froyo shops and two dessert cafes that serve froyo in Salt Lake City. I found 18 closed froyo shops and 1 shop that stopped serving froyo but is still open. Spoon Me was the first Pinkberry-like shop to open in SLC in 2007, and Juicy Berry was the first self-serve froyo shop in SLC. 

There were three froyo shops at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Today, there is no froyo at the airport, although there is a gelato shop and an ice cream shop. There is also no froyo in downtown SLC.

Current Froyo Shops

• Boba Bee, 1330 E 200 S, is the boba shop that took over Ugurt’s space and carries froyo. It’s right by the University of Utah.
• Menchie’s, 3171 E 3300 S, opened at the Canyon Rim Center in November 2011. This was the fifth Menchie’s to open in Utah.
• Sweet & Cool, 3410 S State St, unit 5, South Salt Lake, opened in Salt Lake Chinatown earlier this year. The dessert cafe offers self-serve froyo, bingsoo, taiyaki, and boba drinks. 
• TCBY, 2274 S 1300 E, opened in the Sugar House Shopping Center in 2010. It’s self-serve.
• Yagoot, 932 E 900 S Suite C, is a branch of Yagoot, the Ohio-based, counter-serve frozen yogurt chain. Yagoot started making froyo in 1977 and is known for tart froyo. The shop also serves acai. It opened last year in the Sugar House neighborhood.

Not Closed But No Longer Serves Froyo

• Roxberry Juice Co., 50 South Main St, served froyo (and smoothies) when it opened in 2013. Roxberry no longer serves froyo but has added acai and pitaya bowls.

Closed Froyo Shops

• Crave Dessert Lounge, 675 E 2100 S Ste G, was a short-lived self-serve froyo shop that also served bubble tea and Liege waffles. Crave may have opened in 2013.
• Frogurt, 2240-2358 W 3800th S, was a froyo shop that was open in 2013.
• Juicy Berry Yogurt Lounge, 175 Rio Grand St, was a froyo shop at the Downtown Gateway Mall. The shop opened in 2009 and offered self-serve froyo and toppings. It closed in 2016.
• Lunaberry, 358 S 700 E, offered fat-free froyo, crepes, bubble tea, shaved ice, fresh juice shop that opened in 2008. The froyo was counter-serve and was similar to Pinkberry or Red Mango. The last review was in 2016.
• Pinkberry, 1776 N Terminal Dr Concourse C, was inside the Salt Lake City International Airport from 2012 – 2020.
• Red Mango, 301 W South Temple, was near EnergySolutions Arena in downtown SLC. It may have opened in 2007 and closed in 2017. It was the first Red Mango in Utah.
• Red Mango, 1511 E. 2100 South, opened in 2010 in the Sugar House neighborhood and closed in 2017.
• Red Mango, 6950 S Park Center Dr, was open from 2009 – 2019. It was counter-serve.
• Spoon Me, 532 E 400 S, opened in 2007 and was a counter-serve froyo shop. It closed in 2011. Spoon Me was a Utah-based froyo chain that specialized in tart froyo.
• TCBY, 1717 South 4800 West, was a branch. I don’t know when it opened or closed.
• TCBY, 776 N Terminal Dr Concourse C, had a branch inside the Salt Lake City International Airport.
• Top It Frozen Yogurt, 877 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, may have opened in 2011 and didn’t stay open long.
• Ugurt, 1330 E 200 S, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2013 and closed in 2023.
• U-Swirl had a froyo truck in Salt Lake City in 2017
• Yogi Berry, 395 N Redwood Rd, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2010 and offered six froyo flavors a day. The last review was in 2013.
• Yogurt Stop, 2153 E 2100 S, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2010 and closed in 2014. Also served bubble tea. I’m not sure if it’s related to the Yogurt Stop in Sandy.
• Yogurt Vibes, 3649 W 10400th S Unit 102, was a froyo shop
• Yovana Yogurt Café, Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah. Yovana by TCBY was a new test concept from TCBY. The kiosk opened in Salt Lake City’s airport in 2007 as part of an airport remodel. Yovana served froyo, yogurt parfaits, smoothies, and more. The last review was in 2012.
• Yogurtland, 2121 S McClelland St #107, was open in the Sugar House neighborhood of SLC from June 2013 – 2018. It was the only Yogurtland in Salt Lake City proper. There is a Yogurtland in West Jordan, a suburb of Salt Lake City, and in Orem.

Did I miss any Salt Lake City froyo shops? Let me know.

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.

Yagoot: From Ohio to Salt Lake City

 

Fro-yo girl here. I was surprised to learn that Yagoot opened in Salt Lake City last year. Somehow, I missed the announcement. I remember back in 2017, I heard Yagoot planned to open in Hollywood and I’m pretty sure that they never did. But Yagoot SLC franchise store is real!

I’ve been wanting to try Yagoot for many years now. Yagoot started making froyo in Ohio in 1977 and the SLC location is the only one outside of Ohio at the moment. The yogurt is made with hormone-free dairy sourced from local (Ohio) farmers and the recipes are Scandinavian. Packed with live, active cultures, the yogurt is 99% fat free, gluten-free, hormone-free, and kosher. They’re known for their tart froyo!

Yagoot is in the Sugar House neighborhood, I think (I’m not that familiar with SLC). It’s a new looking space without much decoration – white walls, white counter. Choose from signature bowls, smoothies, cups, parfaits, and floats. They also have froyo treats for dogs. I noticed there were a lot of frozen dessert options in the same neighborhood, on the same street even. Yagoot is the only froyo shop in SLC to specialize in tart froyo.

There were six flavors to choose from. Ask for samples. All the flavors are tart!

Froyo flavors:

• White chocolate raspberry: didn’t notice the white chocolate because of how tangy the raspberry was
• Coconut
• Mango
• Original: tangy, refreshing, light
• Strawberry
• Key lime pie: lip-puckering tang, soft in texture, strong key lime flavor

A small cup is $5.50, add $1.50 for up to three toppings. The parfait is the best deal – you get more froyo and toppings for $7.50: 3 toppings, 4 layers of froyo. The small cup is nice for a snack. The parfait is more like a meal. They also had prepacked pints of the froyo.

If you enjoy tart froyo, you should like Yagoot. I enjoy tart froyo and was still surprised by how tart the froyo was. My issue was the texture – the froyo melted quickly and seemed a tad too soft and airy to me. It’s light and refreshing rather than dense and creamy.

They had the typical toppings like cereal, mochi, brownies, coconut, granola, sauces, nuts, candy, cookies, chocolate chips, etc. I spotted Halloween toppings as well.

You know you love me. Xo xo, fro-yo girl.

* YAGOOT, 932 E 900 S Suite C, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

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.

Froyo Scene in Brea, California

Fro-yo girl here. Brea is a city in northern Orange County that's about thirty miles southeast of Los Angeles. The word Brea means “tar” in Spanish and reflects the city’s history as a center for crude oil production. The population of Brea in 2022 was 46,993 with a median household income of $122,051. It's smaller than neighboring Yorba Linda and La Habra.

TCBY was probably the first froyo shop in town or it could have been Golden Spoon. It was inside the Brea Mall. I’m not sure when it opened or closed. The newer shops were mostly self-serve. 

Yogurtland is the only froyo shop left in Brea. However, there are two places to get soft serve froyo in Brea in 2024. With Pita GR opening in Brea, Brea residents have access to froyo with housemade baklava. Drool. 

Current Froyo Shops

• Pita GR, 2445 E Imperial Hwy, Unit F, opened in August 2023. This is the second location. The first opened in Downey in September 2018. The chef is Greek and they make their own Greek froyo. The froyo toppings are Greek-inspired. It's not a froyo shop but a fast-casual restaurant that serves froyo.
• Yogurtland, 730 E Imperial Hwy B, opened in 2009. The froyo was $0.30/oz back then. Yogurtland was founded in Orange County; the first location was in Fullerton.

Former Froyo Shops

• Freshii, 855 E Birch St, was inside Target Brea from 2016 – 2017. They served bowls, smoothies, and froyo. Target closed all the Target Freshii locations in 2017.
• Golden Spoon, 101 E Imperial Hwy # D, closed in 2017 and seems to have been open before 2008. It had the older Golden Spoon look. It was counter-serve. Golden Spoon was founded in Orange County.
• Pinkberry, 1623 E Imperial Highway, opened in 2011 in Brea Plaza and closed in 2015. It was one of the few self-serve locations.
• Prinkipia Frozen Yogurt, 315 N Puente St, Ste G, has no reviews so I’m not sure when it opened or closed. It was self-serve.
• TCBY, 2116 Brea Mall, was inside the Brea Mall. I couldn’t find the opening or closing date.
• Tutti Frutti, 955 E Birch St, opened in 2009 and closed in 2016. It was self-serve and $0.35/oz in 2009.
• Yogurt Hub, 1065 Brea Mall, opened inside Brea Mall in 2017 and might have closed in 2017. It was self-serve.

Did I miss any froyo shops in Brea? Let me know.

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 October Promotions

Fro-yo girl here. Happy Month of Smiles! For October, Menchie’s has brought back two fan favorite flavors: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup froyo and Harvest Pumpkin froyo. It’s a given that they had to bring back Harvest Pumpkin froyo, right? It’s made with real pumpkin, cinnamon, and ginger. And the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup poster has ghosts and bats.

Also, the Smile Challenge app game is back. Three squares are super easy to check off. For two squares, just answer the questions. For the third, scan the QR code at the register with the Menchie’s app. There are lots of prizes but the grand prize is free froyo for a year. Remember to scan the app at the register to play. Once you complete all the squares, you’ll earn a $5 reward from Menchie’s.

Save the date, October 29. The first 29 guests at Menchie's on 10/29 at 3 PM will get 5 oz of free froyo and a free trick-or-treat bag to celebrate the premiere of Disney's new show, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

I’ve seen a teaser for a new spoon coming soon. It’s brown. That’s all I know so far.

Menchie’s in Burbank did have Halloween decorations!

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 Spoon Day Event: Yogurtland’s Apricot Giant Spoon

 

Fro-yo girl here. Happy National Spoon Day! Yogurtland is celebrating National Spoon Day with a special promotion, a new giant apricot Yogurtland spoon. The new apricot spoon is available on 10/7 with a minimum $12 in-store purchase and a limit of four spoons per transaction. Third party delivery and online orders are excluded.

The Yogurtland that I visited had two boxes of giant spoons, or 200 giant spoons. During the last giant spoon giveaway, they ran out of giant spoons by early afternoon. People do show up before Yogurtland opens for the giant spoons.

In case you’re wondering, the previous National Spoon Day giant Yogurtland spoons were: pink and green (2020), raspberry (2021), turquoise (2022), and dark blue (2023). There was a giant orange Yogurtland spoon in 2019 and that orange was lighter than the Apricot giant spoon.

The giant spoon says Yogurtland on the front of the spoon (on the handle) and nothing on the back. The spoon is exactly 12 inches long.

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.

Pumpkin Yogurt 2024 Rankings

Fro-yo girl here. I’m ranking this year’s crop of pumpkin yogurt from as many brands as I could find. Whole Foods had the best selection of pumpkin froyo. I found all but the Chobani Flip Pumpkin Harvest Crisp at Whole Foods. You can get the Chobani Flip Pumpkin Harvest Crisp at Walmart and Sprouts.

The contenders:

• Chobani Flip Pumpkin Harvest Crisp, 4.5 oz, lowfat pumpkin spice Greek yogurt with oatmeal pastry pieces, creamy icing chunks, and cinnamon frosted cookies
• Ellenos Pumpkin Pie, 7 oz, whole milk Greek yogurt, with pie toppings in a separate compartment
• La Fermiere Pumpkin Spice, 5.6 oz, whole milk, French style yogurt
• Noosa Pumpkin, 8 oz, whole milk Australian yogurt
• Siggi’s Pumpkin & Spice, 5.3 oz, lowfat Icelandic skyr

As you can see, several styles of yogurt were represented in a side-by-side tasting.

Ranked in order of preference (based on yogurt, not the included toppings):

• Ellenos: This pumpkin filling on the bottom yogurt was the clear winner as it was last year. Ellenos Pumpkin Pie has more pumpkin puree and it’s the only pumpkin yogurt that tastes like pumpkin pie. It has more of a cooked pumpkin pie flavor. And then they give you pie crust pieces to add on top!
• La Fermiere: The pumpkin puree was on the bottom. It was flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. The yogurt was creamy, smooth, and very sweet. It also had some tanginess. The spices were mild. The yogurt is pot set, so it’s more like a custard.
• Siggi: Blended yogurt flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, it was noticeably tarter and lower in sugar, with a sour edge. It wasn’t as smooth.
• Noosa: The pumpkin puree was on the bottom and they also added cream cheese. It seemed crazy sweet with some tang and mild spices.
• Chobani: blended yogurt was creamy, tart, and tangy with a sour edge. It didn’t taste enough like pumpkin.

The good news is that none of them were bad.

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.

IKEA Burbank Gets a New Soft Serve Machine

Fro-yo girl here. The Taylor soft serve machine at IKEA in Burbank, CA, was down for much of the summer, so IKEA could not serve vanilla froyo or strawberry soft ice. And one day, there was a brand new soft serve machine by Carpigiani (a fancier machine from an Italian brand). Froyo is back!

It may be a setting issue, but the vanilla frozen yogurt texture seems lighter (more air). There might be too much air in the mix, because the flavor seems bland. It’s almost like eating marshmallow fluff. The strawberry soft ice is denser and icier, with a definite tang.

A child size froyo cup is $1.50 and a child size soft ice cup is $1.40.

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.

Time Is Running Out to Take the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey, Five Respondents Will Win $25 Froyo Gift Cards

Fro-yo girl here. If you visit froyo shops and you’re over 13 in the US, you're invited 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 preferences. The survey takes about 7 minutes to complete.

Take the Online Froyo Survey and Be Entered to Win Froyo Prizes

All eligible survey respondents will be entered into a random drawing to win one of five $25 froyo shop gift cards to any US shop that offers online gift cards. Winners will be selected in a random drawing and can choose their froyo gift card. One entry per person.

Winners will be contacted and announced on the IFYA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/froyoassociation/), Instagram, and Twitter by October 9, 2024. If any prizes are unclaimed by October 16, 2024, alternate winners will be selected until all prizes are awarded. Contest rules are posted on our website.

Purpose of the National Frozen Yogurt Survey

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, including preferences, brand loyalty, and consumption. The survey results will be shared with frozen yogurt shops and others in the frozen yogurt industry so that they can make better informed decisions.

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.

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Xiaomei Vanilla Ice Cream Cup Review

Fro-yo girl here. I found these Xiaomei ice cream cups at Good Fortune Supermarket in San Gabriel, CA. These ice cream cups are imported from Taiwan. I’ve had Xiaomei’s boba ice cream bars before, so I was somewhat familiar with the brand. However, I didn’t know the rich history of Xiaomei’s ice cream cups.

The founder of Xiaomei Ice Cream launched Taiwan’s first homemade vanilla ice cream in 1948. The ice cream is known for its taste and reasonable price. I imagine generations of Taiwanese have grown up eating Xiaomei ice cream cups.

The ice cream is sold a plastic bag that contains ten individually packaged cups. Good Fortune sells them individually for $0.84/cup. One cup is 66g.

Vanilla ice cream: The ice cream was fluffy, creamy but with icy edge, and with a strong vanilla flavor and scent. It was sweeter than I expected (too sweet), but pleasant. I can see it appealing to kids. It didn’t taste like high quality vanilla ice cream to me, but it was under $1, so I’m not surprised. It had too much air and was too sweet.

Available flavors: vanilla, chocolate, Swiss chocolate, yogurt

What? They have froyo. I have to look for it.

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

* Good Fortune Supermarket, 300 W Main St, Ste 120, Alhambra, CA 91801

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 Spoon Day at Yogurtland: Apricot Giant Spoon

Fro-yo girl here. Save the date: National Spoon Day is October 7. Yogurtland is celebrating National Spoon Day by releasing a giant spoon, available for one day only, on Monday, October 7, obviously.

This year, the giant spoon is apricot. You’ll get a giant apricot spoon with every $12 minimum in-store purchase (maximum of 4 spoons per transaction). Third party delivery and online orders are excluded.

In case you’re wondering, the previous National Spoon Day giant Yogurtland spoons were: pink and green (2020), raspberry (2021), turquoise (2022), and dark blue (2023).

Serious spoon collectors will show up early for these giant spoons. Be sure to get yours early because they do have a limited supply of giant spoons.

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 Froyo Prizes

Fro-yo girl here. Frozen yogurt eaters, the International Frozen Yogurt Association, IFYA, wants to hear from you. Take the short online frozen yogurt survey for a chance to win froyo gift cards. Five winners will be randomly selected from the survey respondents. Each will receive a $25 gift card. Winners can choose gift cards to any froyo shop in the US that offers online gift cards. The survey is open to anyone over 13 living in the US. One response per person, please.

Take the 7-minute survey at: http://tinyurl.com/2024froyosurvey

The survey is now and will close at midnight PST on Monday, September 30, 2024.

Winners will be contacted and announced on the IFYA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/froyoassociation/), Instagram, and Twitter by October 9, 2024. If any prizes are unclaimed by October 16, 2024, alternate winners will be selected until all prizes are awarded. Contest rules are posted on our website.

The frozen yogurt survey asks about your frozen yogurt consumption, attitudes, and preferences. The results will be shared with frozen yogurt shops and industry stakeholders.

Share the Survey Invitation to Receive Survey Results

Frozen yogurt shop operators and others interested in the survey results can receive them by sharing the survey invitation. Simply share our pinned Facebook post (https://www.facebook.com/froyoassociation/), survey Tweet (@froyogirl), or Instagram survey post (@froyoassociation) by September 28, 2024. Send us a DM after sharing the post and provide your email address. Your profile must be public to qualify.

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.

La Fermière Yogurt & Dessert Experience Pop Up Shop Opens in Los Angeles

 

Fro-yo girl here. I visited the La Fermière pop up shop in Silver Lake (Los Angeles) today. The pop-up is open for four days, September 19 – 22. It’s a shopping opportunity but they also have a few fun events planned like personalized terracotta pots, fresh flower bouquet workshop, astrology and tarot card readings, and more.

You can shop for a wide selection of La Fermière yogurt (including some hard to find flavors like Matcha Lime and Hibiscus Raspberry), their creme desserts, La Fermière merch (bamboo lids, spoons, tote bags, stickers, clothing, yoga mats), and a special dessert (chocolate creme with olive oil and sea salt). I wasn’t sure what to expect but it seemed like a place to relax, shop, and have a sweet treat.

The space is beautiful and chic. They painted the exterior the color of a La Fermière blue pot. They package up your yogurt so nicely and even tie the bag with a ribbon. Service was amazing. The person I spoke to was very knowledgeable and could answer all my questions. I think all the employees were French! They gave me an extra pot, the one with my astrological sign that I've been looking for.

Their yogurt and creme desserts, made with French recipes, are all delicious and all natural. And the pots are too cute to throw away.

Pistachio creme dessert ($3.50): it was a perfect small treat, creamy and sweet (like creme brulee) without being heavy or cloying.

I love their yogurt, especially the pressed lemon, rose, and jasmine flavors.

* La Fermière: 3118 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

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.