Yoga-urt Introduces New Fall Flavor, Pecan Praline

Fro-yo girl here. Yoga-urt just introduced a new flavor for the fall, Pecan Praline. This is actually their frist new flavor of 2021. The flavor is made with toasted organic pecans, housemade caramel sauce and Yoga-urt’s proprietary housemade almond/cashew base. And yes, Yoga-urt’s probiotic, dairy-free soft serve is hand-crafted, made from scratch, organic, kosher, gluten-free, and soy free.

Pecan praline is a pretty popular flavor, especially during the fall. It reminds me of my father-in-law and my father too. They both liked pecan praline.

Pecan praline froyo: Very smooth, rich, and thick, with visible pecan bits. The caramel makes it sweeter and warmer – very fall like. You can definitely taste the pecans more so than the almonds and cashews in the base. Recommended toppings: pecans, granola, and whipped cream.

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.

August 2021 Featured Flavors from Menchie’s

Fro-yo girl here. This month, Menchie’s has not two but THREE featured flavors: Vegan Wild Cherry Sorbet with a Touch of Lime, Fruity Candy Sorbet made with Swedish Fish, and S’mores frozen yogurt made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. I wanted to find a Menchie’s with all three flavors but only found two of the three featured flavors.

Vegan Wild Cherry Sorbet with a Touch of Lime: It was icier and not super smooth, but I enjoyed the flavor and texture as it reminded me of a Slurpee or Icee. The lime added a little tang but the cherry flavor was much stronger. Vegan Wild Cherry Sorbet with a Touch of Lime is gluten-free and is made with no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. Recommended toppings: Raspberries, Skittles, and gummy bears.

S’mores froyo made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate is labeled as new on the Menchie’s website but they introduced that flavor back in 2019. Maybe they tweaked it? Anyway, I did like it because the marshmallow and chocolate flavors were mild and it didn’t seem super sweet. The texture was smooth and creamy. Recommended toppings: Nilla Wafers, Hershey’s Kisses, graham cracker crumbs, whipped cream.

I noticed they had Swedish Fish available at the toppings bar. I’ll have to try Fruity Candy Sorbet made with Swedish Fish later.

FYI, Menchie’s is partnering with the Disney Channel to promote Disney’s new movie, Spin!, which premieres on August 13. On August 13, the first 50 guests in line at 3 PM will get 5 oz of free 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.

Menchie’s New July Flavors: Birthday Cake OREO Cookie & Raspberry HI-CHEW

     

Fro-yo girl here. This month, Menchie’s has two new froyo flavors. HI-CHEW Raspberry froyo features one of HI-CHEW’s newest flavors, Raspberry, a tangy and sweet flavor. This is the third collaboration between HI-CHEW and Menchie’s. HI-CHEW Raspberry is bursting with raspberry flavor and a perfect combination of sweet and tangy. It’s made with no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, no gluten, and no high fructose corn syrup. Because it contains dairy, HI-CHEW Raspberry is thicker and creamier. It did taste like HI-CHEW candy but I’m not sure that I’m a fan – even though I like HI-CHEW, I don’t want fruit candy flavored froyo. Recommended toppings: Strawberries, Nilla wafers.

Menchie’s has partnered with Oreo again for the new flavor, Birthday Cake Oreo Cookie – the classic Oreo Cookie with a sweet birthday cake flavored twist. Oreo comes in so many flavors now. Birthday Cake Oreo Cookie was pale brown (it looked like cookies & cream froyo) and it tasted extra sweet because of the birthday cake flavor. Recommended toppings: Oreo cookies, mini Hershey’s Kisses

These flavors are available for a limited time while supplies last. P.S. Self-serve has returned to Menchie’s Valley Village.

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 New Featured Flavors, Vegan Salted Caramel Made with Almond Milk and Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Banana Made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s has announced the first new flavors of 2021. There are two: Vegan Salted Caramel made with almond milk and Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Banana froyo made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate.

I had to wait a few days in order to find the flavors in my area and I finally found them at Menchie’s Mission Hills (Los Angeles). Bananas are my least favorite food ever, so I’d much rather try Vegan Salted Caramel. Since most Menchie’s don’t seem to offer samples now (for safety reasons), I probably can’t try a tiny bit of Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Banana. I may not try it at all. I hate bananas so much that I couldn’t possibly like any banana flavored froyo or offer an objective opinion.

Vegan Salted Caramel made with almond milk: The texture seemed off – too loose, icy and not frozen enough. The caramel flavor was super strong – too strong for me. It seemed very sweet and very salty, like butterscotch with salt. Recommended toppings: Something to mellow out the strong flavor – Cool Whip, almonds. I would not add candy. I think it would be better with some vanilla froyo. 

Vegan Salted Caramel made with almond milk is dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and made with no artificial colors, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. 

Be sure to use Menchie’s flavor finder (website, app) if you’d like to find the new flavors.

FYI, Menchie’s Burbank is now temporarily closed. It’s a good location, so I hope it reopens soon.

Menchie’s featured 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.

Menchie’s November Feature Flavor, Cinnamon Bun & Return of Veterans Day Offer

 

Fro-yo girl here. Back in November 2014, Menchie’s introduced a new froyo flavor, Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, featuring Cinnabon Makara cinnamon blended with their signature cream cheese frosting. They also provided two new toppings, Cinnabon morsels and sweet cream cheese icing.

Cinnamon roll/bun froyo is back at Menchie’s but it’s new and made with Philadelphia Cream Cheese frosting. Menchie’s describes the flavor as follows: “Taste a slice of cinnamon bun in every bite. Menchie’s new froyo flavor, Cinnamon Bun made with Philadelphia Cream Cheese Frosting, is gluten-free and made with real cinnamon and Philadelphia Cream Cheese. To make it an even sweeter treat, top off your cup with swirls of our new Cream Cheese Frosting topping!” Yes, they brought back a warm cream cheese frosting.

Finding the new flavor continues to be a bit of a challenge despite improvements to the Menchie’s app this year. Though they FINALLY added a flavor finder feature, most locations do not report their current flavors. And the locations near me rarely put in the new flavors around the time that they’re released. Valley Village has it though – that’s one location that I can depend on. They also update their flavors on the Menchie’s app. Due to COVID-19, they do not provide samples.

Cinnamon Bun froyo: The cinnamon flavor wasn’t as strong as I expected. It was definitely on the sweet side but tasted more like a butter caramel frosting than a cinnamon bun. The Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll flavor had more cinnamon flavor. The Menchie’s employee recommended pairing Cinnamon Bun froyo with Vanilla Snow. Recommended toppings: Heath & almonds.

I was also happy to see that Menchie’s will continue the tradition of offering free froyo (6 oz) to veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day, November 11. More Veterans Day froyo offers will be revealed soon (in the next post).

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 October Feature Flavor, Pumpkin Spice made with Nilla Wafers & a New Cup

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s has a new pumpkin flavor this month: Pumpkin Spice froyo made with Nilla Wafers! Also, there’s a new cup design for a new animated movie from Sony Pictures called Connected. And Menchie’s in Valley Village (Los Angeles, CA) had Halloween decorations and Halloween froyo cakes.

As for Pumpkin Spice froyo, it’s made with real Nilla Wafers and cinnamon and has no artificial colors. And it’s lowfat. Nilla Wafers are pretty mild but I like them. Pumpkin Spice froyo seemed sweeter and milder to me (vs. Menchie’s Harvest Pumpkin) though I could taste the warm spice. It’s not as gingery or spicy as Harvest Pumpkin. The creamy mildness was quite pleasant. Recommended toppings: Nilla Wafers, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Heath.

The Connected Cups and Pumpkin Spice froyo are available for a limited time, while supplies last. Menchie’s Valley Village is still full service.

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 New Flavors: Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip with Almond Butter & Café Mocha & a New Cup

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s had new flavors scheduled to come out in April, but then the coronavirus struck and many Menchie’s locations temporarily closed. Most Menchie’s have now reopened on a limited basis and I noticed a handful mention the new flavors, Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip with Almond Butter and Cafe Mocha.

Froyo samples still aren’t allowed in Los Angeles at this time. I read that some froyo shops in Orange County allow self-serve and provide customers with gloves, and to my surprise, self-serve is back at Menchie’s Eagle Rock. They ask that you use hand sanitizer. The toppings are packed in small cups or plastic bags for safety.

Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip with Almond Butter (vegan) is dairy-free, gluten-free, has no high fructose corn syrup, and is made with no artificial colors or artificial flavors. It sounded promising since I like mint chocolate. And, I did like it. It tasted less sweet and cleaner than the typical dairy-based froyo. The mint wasn’t too strong or toothpaste like. The texture was creamy yet not as rich as a dairy-based froyo. Recommended toppings: Andes Mints, chocolate shell, almonds. The sign did not mention live and active cultures.

Café Mocha froyo is made with real coffee and cocoa and no artificial colors or artificial flavors. It is lowfat, gluten-free ad free of high fructose corn syrup. I like coffee flavored froyo, so I was looking forward to this flavor. I asked the employee what it tasted like, since samples were not available. He said it tasted like chocolate with a coffee aftertaste, that the chocolate flavor was much stronger than the coffee flavor. I found it more balanced and the coffee flavor lingered longer than the chocolate. The texture was smooth and creamy. I tried it again and the chocolate flavor seemed stronger. Perhaps I confused the Mudslide Pie froyo in my cup with the Café Mocha flavor the first time I tried it? Recommended toppings: OREOs, chocolate shell, almonds.

I was pleasantly surprised to find new cups for the Scoob movie. The cups say that there are 7 dog tags hidden in the store and if you unscramble the mystery word, you’ll get a prize. I also picked up more limited edition yellow Sprinkle flower 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.

Yoga-urt Echo Park Turns One & Introduces a New Flavor Available This Weekend Only

Fro-yo girl here. It’s been a Yoga-urt tradition to celebrate store anniversaries with a new flavor introduction and the tradition continues. Yoga-urt Echo Park turns one on June 1 and is celebrating with a limited time NEW flavor, Rocky Road, available in Echo Park this weekend only. Rocky Road purchases will come with free vegan marshmallows and toasted almond topping. The flavor does contain soy (unlike their other flavors) since it’s made with Dandies Marshmallows. Dandies Marshmallows are vegan, kosher, gluten-free, free of corn syrup, and made with no artificial flavors or colors. 

I wondered why they made a flavor that contains soy and it’s because of all the requests they’ve received for a Rocky Road flavor. There are no domestic commercially available vegan marshmallows available that are soy-free.

Rocky Road vegan froyo: The newest addition to Yoga-urt’s flavor line-up is vegan, kosher, all natural, probiotic, hand-crafted and more. The chocolate flavor was very rich and had a hint of sweetness from the marshmallow. The vegan mini marshmallows tasted just like the regular ones and had the same soft, spongy texture. Recommended toppings: Chocolate cookies, nuts. Chocolate sauce might make it too chocolatey?

Yoga-urt Echo Park is open from 1 PM – 10 PM this weekend. Birthday Cake flavor is also available for this special birthday weekend. Call ahead for pickup or order online from the Yoga-urt website or for delivery, use Postmates or Grubhub. You can also walk over, look at the menu posted in the window, and call in your order, but customers aren’t allowed inside the shop. Everything is packed for takeout and samples are not allowed. 

Don’t forget that you can still help those in need enjoy Yoga-urt by making a donation to Yoga-urt, a Support + Feed partner. Support + Feed has partnered with plant-based restaurants in LA, NYC, and Philadelphia to help struggling plant-based restaurants and coordinate food deliveries to hospitals, first responders, senior centers, homeless centers, women’s shelters and others in need. Support a woman-owned, eco-conscious small business that helps others in need.

Happy 1 year anniversary, Yoga-urt Echo Park! You know I love you!

* YOGA-URT: 2211 W 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.

Menchie’s November Feature Flavors, Gift Card Special, Holiday Spoon, Holiday Cup & Contest

Fro-yo girl here. Happy Holidays! It feels like Christmas season starts the day after Halloween? Anyway, it’s the time of year for holiday froyo flavors. This November is a busy one at Menchie’s. There are two new holiday flavors, Frosted Cupcake froyo and Mrs. Smith’s Famous Apple Pie froyo. They also have a new limited edition holiday cup, a holiday spoon with two Sweet Friends on one spoon (one side with Kiwi, one side with Mellow), a new holiday spoon photo contest and a gift card special. The spoons weren’t available during my visit. If you take a selfie with the Menchie’s Snow One Like You spoon in your Menchie’s mix, post it on Instagram, tag @MyMenchies and use the hashtag #MenchiesSnowman, and make sure your account is public, you’ll be entered into the photo contest. The prize is a $25 Menchie’s gift card. One winner will be chosen every week in November and December

* Frosted Cupcake froyo: It tasted different than vanilla froyo…I guess it tasted more like vanilla cake with frosting. It was thick and creamy. Recommended toppings: Nilla wafers, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles.

* Mrs. Smith’s Famous Apple Pie froyo: I’ve never had apple pie or any pie from Mrs. Smith’s. I was surprised to taste apple first and then cinnamon. The yogurt muted the pie flavor so it wasn’t cloyingly sweet. I liked it better than the Frosted Cupcake froyo. Recommended toppings: pretzels and cheesecake bites.

There’s one new Holiday cup design featuring Menchie’s and his friends, Cup, Sprinkle, Kiwi, Chip, Mellow, Mookie, and Barry looking festive.

And the holiday gift card offer is back. When you buy $25 in gift cars, you’ll get a free $5 bonus card. 

Don't forget about the Veterans Day offer on November 11. Active and retired military get 6 oz of froyo free with military ID.

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 Holiday Flavor, Cranberry Orange Frozen Yogurt

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry just introduced its holiday flavor of 2019, Cranberry Orange (tart) frozen yogurt. Cranberries and oranges do go together, so I had high hopes for the new flavor. It’s available from October 25 until January 5, 2020. Pinkberry recommends pairing Cranberry Orange froyo with fresh orange pieces, dried cranberries and honey granola. I noticed cute table decals to promote the new flavor.

* Cranberry orange froyo: It was tarter than average which I appreciated. The yogurt was a pale pink color. Texture-wise, it was smooth and light. It melted quickly for some reason. I could definitely taste cranberry and only a hint of orange. The cranberry dominated the other flavors. I would have preferred a stronger note of orange. Recommended toppings: fresh orange pieces, almonds, and gummy bears.

It’s been many years since I last had Cranberry Orange froyo. Yogurtland had it back in 2013. I haven’t seen at Yogurtland in years.

Here’s the official press release from Pinkberry:

PINKBERRY INTRODUCES CRANBERRY ORANGE FROZEN YOGURT FLAVOR

This Tart Swirl is Available for a Limited Time Only

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinkberry® (www.Pinkberry.com) invites you to spend the holidays delighting in our new Cranberry Orange frozen yogurt flavor! This flavor will be available from October 25, 2019 until January 5, 2020.

This refreshing tart swirl will also be featured in a combination topped with cranberries, fresh orange pieces and honey granola to create the perfect holiday treat.

"The refreshing combination of tart cranberries and orange citrus is the perfect break from your typical decadent holiday treats," said Melissa Hubbell, senior director of marketing for Kahala Brands™, parent company of Pinkberry. "The new Cranberry Orange frozen yogurt will definitely make your season feel merry and bright!"

At Pinkberry, guests can customize their sweet citrus flair with a variety of toppings that include fresh, never frozen, fruit that is hand-cut in stores daily, along with premium granolas and nuts, specialty chocolates, and much more. Pinkberry is swirling with possibilities!

Promotional Flavor:

Cranberry Orange frozen yogurt

Promotional Combination:

Cranberry Orange frozen yogurt topped with cranberries, fresh orange pieces and honey granola

About Pinkberry

Pinkberry® launched in Los Angeles, CA in 2005 as the original brand that reinvented frozen yogurt. Today, over a decade later, Pinkberry continues to create great tasting treats with fresh ingredients in an experience comprised of distinctive product, outstanding service and inspirational design. At Pinkberry you can taste the difference of an uncompromising commitment to quality and freshness. Most recently, Pinkberry U.S. was acquired by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Kahala Brands™, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of nearly 29 fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands with approximately 3000 locations in 35 countries.

For more information about Pinkberry, visit www.Pinkberry.com.

For more information about Kahala Brands, visit www.KahalaBrands.com.

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 Artisanal Collection New Flavor: Ube Frozen Yogurt and Pre-packaged Froyo to Go

Fro-yo girl here. A new frozen yogurt flavor, Ube (purple yam), is scheduled to launch today at Yogurtland. Yogurtland describes it as inspired by the Philippines with “sweet, buttery, and nutty flavors.

The vibrant purple color of Ube makes this unique flavor looks so fun and scrumptious!” It’s nonfat, gluten free and has live and active cultures.

I confused Ube with Taro but it’s a different root. The Ube froyo looked was a much brighter, more vibrant shade of purple than the taro froyo. The flavor was sweet and mildly nutty with what seemed like a hint of coconut. The texture was smooth and thick. It tasted natural, I think, but I don’t eat ube, so I’m not an ube expert. Recommended toppings: raspberry puree, raspberries, white chocolate chips, coconut.

I noticed that Yogurtland San Gabriel started selling pre-packaged 16 oz cups for $5. They only had three flavors. If they ever have peanut butter froyo cups, I’m buying some. Oh, peanut butter froyo, I miss you so!

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 Feature Flavors, Halloween Spoon & Contest

Fro-yo girl here. Boo! Menchie’s is showing plenty of Halloween spirit this month. The October feature flavors are Haunted Harvest Pumpkin, Sugar Cookie Spell, Chocolate Cream Pie frozen yogurt. Harvest Pumpkin is a returning seasonal flavor. Sugar Cookie Spell might be new but I’m not sure, since Menchie’s did have Sugar Cookie frozen yogurt in 2015 during the PAN promotion. Sometimes a returning flavor has a different name. It wasn’t available during my visit. Chocolate Cream Pie is definitely new.

* Chocolate Cream Pie frozen yogurt: Made with no artificial colors or flavors, Menchie’s Chocolate Cream Pie is lowfat and made with real California milk. I’ve never had chocolate cream pie before, so I can’t compare it to the real thing. The chocolate flavor was mild, like milk chocolate. It tasted a little like chocolate cake. There was a bitter aftertaste. The texture was smooth and creamy. I found it bland. 

Update (10/9): It wasn't easy to find Sugar Cookie Spell frozen yogurt but I finally tracked it down. It did taste like sugar cookies and I found it very sweet and one-dimensional. The yogurt was also a touch icy, which didn't help.

I look forward to a new Halloween Menchie’s spoon every Halloween and they didn’t disappoint me this year. The new spoon features Menchie dressed as a vampire with a few bats on the front and Chip coming out of a pumpkin in the back. And there’s a Halloween froyo spoon contest! To enter, take a picture of Menchie’s new Spooktacular Spoon in a froyo mix and post it on Instagram with the tags @mymenchies and #menchiesspoon to enter. The prize is a $100 Menchie’s gift card. The last day to enter is Halloween.

I noticed a door decal for the new Monster Cakes. Those would be perfect for Halloween. The new cup design features Menchie’s froyo cakes. I didn’t see anything about World Smile Day, which Menchie’s has been celebrating for years. It takes place on October 4, 2019.

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 July Flavor at Menchie’s: Milk Chocolate ‘n’ Almonds & OREO Menchie’s Sweepstakes

Fro-yo girl here. The third new Menchie’s flavor for July is Milk Chocolate ‘n’ Almonds frozen yogurt made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar. The flavor wasn’t available on my previous visit to Menchie’s South Pasadena, though they had two of the three new flavors and that’s better than most Menchie’s locations near me. I have to try all the new flavors, even the chocolate ones (I don’t like chocolate frozen yogurt).

* Milk Chocolate ‘n’ Almonds froyo: It’s free of artificial flavors and colors. Hershey’s milk chocolate bars are all-natural? Good to know. I liked this flavor because it was mild and didn’t taste too much like cocoa powder. The almond flavor was very subtle. The texture was smooth and creamy. Recommended toppings: Hershey’s Milk Chocolate pieces, M&Ms, chocolate shell, Special Dark. Anything chocolate!

There’s also a new OREO Menchie’s summer sweepstakes. The prize is $1,000. To enter, create your froyo mix with OREO cookie pieces, post a pic of your mix, tag @MyMenchies, @OREO and #OREOMenchiesSweepstakes by July 31, 2019. Good luck!

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 July Feature Flavors & A New Sweepstakes

Fro-yo girl here. It’s time for Menchie’s new batch of featured flavors. There are three new feature flavors. First, Menchie’s partnered with HI-CHEW for HI-CHEW Dragon Fruit frozen yogurt, inspired by HI-CHEW’s Dragon Fruit candy. The nonfat flavor contains no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and no high fructose corn syrup. I’ve been a fan of HI-CHEW by Morinaga for many years. I like the firm chewiness of the candy. It’s similar to Starburst but with more interesting, better flavors. The imported Japanese HI-CHEW candy tastes better than the ones made in the US though. The imported ones even look better (more uniform shape). Sigh.

HI-CHEW Dragon Fruit frozen yogurt: I went to Menchie’s South Pasadena to try the new flavors and their yogurt has been consistently icier than other Menchie’s locations lately. The flavor was candy-like but nice and dragon-fruity. It wasn’t tangy. But the texture was so icy that it did not seem like frozen yogurt. It was like sorbet. I’ll have to try it again at a different location. Recommended toppings: popping boba, gummy candies, kiwi.

Menchie’s Chocolate Hazelnut dairy-free soft serve made with cashew milk: This had a cleaner, lighter aftertaste than their Nutella dairy-based frozen yogurt. It’s lowfat and made with no artificial flavors or colors. The hazelnut flavor was very pronounced. It was creamy and thick. Recommended toppings: chocolate shell, almonds, Heath, OREO.

The third new flavor is Milk Chocolate ‘n’ Almonds made with Hershey’s Chocolate frozen yogurt. Menchie’s South Pasadena did not have this flavor yet. I’ll have to try it later.

I picked up a sample of Dragon Fruit HI-CHEW, which was accompanied by a $1 coupon and coupon code for 10% off your order from www.HI-CHEW.com.

I also noticed signs for another Menchie’s contest, this time with OREO. The prize is $1,000. To enter, make your Menchie’s mix with OREO cookie pieces, post a pic of your mix and tag @MyMenchies, @OREO, and #OREOMenchiesSweeptakes. Enter by July 31, 2019. Good luck!

Here’s the official Menchie’s press release: 

A Mouthwatering Collaboration from HI-CHEW™ and Menchie's Frozen Yogurt

Introducing the must-have treat for July, HI-CHEW™ Dragon Fruit Frozen Yogurt

Jun 27, 2019, 10:00 ET

IRVINE, Calif., June 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HI-CHEW™, the immensely fruity, intensely chewy candy, and Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, North America's largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise, have teamed up to announce this summer's go-to new sweet treat: HI-CHEW™ Dragon Fruit Frozen Yogurt. As the vibrant fruit has grown in popularity, the limited-edition HI-CHEW Dragon Fruit frozen yogurt flavor arrives at the perfect time, offering a burst of refreshing fruit flavor with a sweet tartness in every spoonful. The Menchie's HI-CHEW Dragon Fruit frozen yogurt flavor will be available at Menchie's stores nationwide throughout the month of July.

As rising temperatures make their seasonal debut and a cold pick-me-up is essential, this exciting mashup is the ideal treat to enjoy all month long. Inspired by HI-CHEW's™ new Dragon Fruit candy, the team at Menchie's worked closely with HI-CHEW's flavor experts to develop a delicious frozen yogurt that brings the candy's burst of fruit juices to life. The mouthwatering new flavor highlights the rich pink color of the real tropical fruit, combined with the creamy, cooling delight frozen yogurt naturally delivers. This nonfat flavor contains no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and no high fructose corn syrup.

The HI-CHEW™ Dragon Fruit candy debuted earlier this year in the HI-CHEW™ Superfruit Mix, which also includes Açaí and Kiwi. The candy flavor made its way to the United States after winning HI-CHEW's 2018 East Meets West Flavor Challenge, in which consumers nationwide voted for the top Japanese flavor they would like to see available this year. Dragon Fruit has continued to be incredibly popular and beloved by HI-CHEW™ fanatics and candy fans across the country.

"We are continuously looking for creative opportunities to excite and attract new HI-CHEW™ fans, and we're intrigued by the idea of reimagining HI-CHEW's true-to-fruit flavors in an unexpected way," said Tatsuya Takamiya, Chief Marketing Officer of Morinaga America, Inc. "We're thrilled to collaborate with Menchie's to bring a refreshing new way to enjoy HI-CHEW™ Dragon Fruit. It's also exciting to see the Dragon Fruit flavor trending outside of candy and being introduced in other categories such as in beverages and snacks."

"Menchie's is committed to providing delicious, high-quality, innovative frozen yogurt flavors that make our guests smile," said Elizabeth Berry, Senior Director of Marketing at Menchie's. "There's always a new flavor to taste at our stores and we're thrilled to partner with HI-CHEW™ this summer on the new Dragon Fruit frozen yogurt flavor that we know will surprise and delight our fans."

HI-CHEW™ continues to conduct intensive research to perfect its chews for the American palate, adding new and unique options to its portfolio each year. The candy brand has grown immensely since entering the U.S. market, with business up 122% from 2017 to 2018 and year-over-year double-digit growth over the past eight years. As one billion pieces of HI-CHEW™ were eaten this past year, the growing fanfare and love for the brand's unique, fun offerings show no signs of slowing down. Similarly, Menchie's is known for delighting fans with a wide variety of flavors since 2007, making the self-serve frozen yogurt company the perfect partner to create this delectable new delight.

The new HI-CHEW™ Dragon Fruit Frozen Yogurt is available for purchase for a limited time at Menchie's locations beginning July 1st. For more information on Menchie's, including how to find a store near you, please visit www.menchies.com, or like us on Facebook, or follow @MyMenchies on Instagram and Twitter.

To learn more about HI-CHEW™ and purchase your favorite flavors, please visit us online at HI-CHEW.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram (@HICHEWUSA) and Twitter (@HICHEW).

About Morinaga America, Inc.:

Established in 2008, Morinaga America, Inc. is the official manufacturer and distributor of HI-CHEW™ in the United States. With over 185 flavors of HI-CHEW™ having debuted in Japan, Morinaga America, Inc. has introduced the United States market to the best of Japanese confectionery. Morinaga America, Inc. (marketing and sales) and Morinaga America Foods, Inc. (manufacturing) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morinaga & Co., Ltd., which began in 1899 as the first, modern candy maker and producer of chocolates in Japan. Morinaga America, Inc. opened in the United States in 2015.

About HI-CHEW™:

The history of Morinaga stretches back over a century when company founder Taichiro Morinaga brought his candy making skills to Japan from America in the 1800s. HI-CHEW™ has long been the best-selling soft candy in Japan and continues to see year-over-year growth throughout other parts of Asia and in the United States. In the United States, HI-CHEW™ is currently offered in the following flavors: Strawberry, Green Apple, Mango, Grape, Banana, Kiwi, Açaí and Caramel Apple. HI-CHEW™ also offers a Tropical Mix with Kiwi, Mango, and Pineapple, a Superfruit Mix with Açaí, Kiwi and Dragon Fruit and a Sweet & Sour Mix with Grapefruit, Lemon and Watermelon. HI-CHEW™ is made with real fruit juice and purees and is 100% free of gluten, cholesterol and artificial colors. HI-CHEW™ continues to expand fruity, chewy flavor offerings annually.

About Menchie's Frozen Yogurt:

Menchie's is North America's largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise. With more than 500 stores, the franchise has locations open in the United States, Canada, Japan, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Puerto Rico. Guaranteeing happiness in every cup, the brand offers guests premium rotating yogurt flavors and delicious toppings for unlimited combinations in every bite. The proprietary collection is made from the milk of "happy" California cows, which have not been treated with artificial growth hormones (rBST). Menchie's frozen yogurt contains live and active cultures and has received the Live and Active Culture (LAC) seal indicating its endorsement by the National Yogurt Association.

1IRI Total US Multi Outlet + Conv 29 weeks 12/31/2017-7/15/2018

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 June Flavors at Menchie’s & New Peppa Pig Cup

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s has three new feature flavors for June and a new limited-edition cup design. The collectible cup features Peppa Pig and a few of her friends. Peppa Pig is holding a cone of cotton candy, which is appropriate since Menchie’s created the Cotton Candy frozen yogurt for her. There’s also a new topping, cotton candy fizzies.

Who is Peppa Pig? I only found out about her last year. She’s the star of a British animated series that debuted in 2004.

* Peppa Pig’s Cotton Candy froyo: I was pleasantly surprised by this flavor. I don’t like cotton candy since it just tastes like sugar. Cotton Candy froyo is better than cotton candy because the yogurt mutes the cloying sweetness of cotton candy. And this flavor is nonfat, gluten-free, and contains no artificial colors or flavors. Recommended toppings: Sprinkles, Circus Animal Cookies, white chocolate chips

Last year was the year of Jolly Rancher flavored sorbets. This year, it’s Sour Patch Kids turn. First Orange Leaf came out with dairy-free Sour Raspberry. Menchie’s Blue Raspberry sorbet is made with Sour Patch Kids flavor. I’ve always loved Sour Patch Kids, but a big part of why I love them is the chewiness of the candy. That’s not present in a sorbet.

* Blue Raspberry sorbet: It was certainly sour and tangy in a Sour Patch Kids way. The bright blue color was scary, though I would have loved it as a child. The sorbet is nonfat, dairy-free, gluten-free. Recommended toppings: Fresh fruit and popping boba.

The third flavor is S’mores frozen yogurt made with Hershey’s milk chocolate and real graham cracker crumbs. I’m not a fan of s’mores because they’re gooey.

* S’mores froyo: S'mores was creamy and tasted like milk chocolate, maybe with marshmallow. I could not taste the graham cracker crumbs. S’mores froyo contains no artificial flavors or colors and no high fructose corn syrup. Recommend toppings: Chocolate shell, Nilla wafers, chocolate chips.

Menchie’s is also sponsoring a sweepstakes. The grand prize is a trip for 4 to Hersheypark & Hershey’s Chocolate World. I think you’re automatically entered when you used your Mysmileage account at Menchie’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.

Pinkberry UglyDolls Sweepstakes, New Flavor, New Cup Design

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry announced a new UglyDolls promotion a few days ago. There’s an UglyDolls sweepstakes, new flavor, recommended swirl, and a new cup design too. The movie will be released on May 3.

Kiwi Strawberry frozen yogurt: I’m excited about this new flavor, which is tart based (yay!!!). New tart froyo flavors have become very rare. Kiwi Strawberry froyo is made with real kiwis and strawberries. I could see the kiwi seeds throughout and liked how they added a bit of texture to the otherwise smooth frozen yogurt. It was tangy but not as tangy as some of the other Pinkberry tart flavors. I’ve never had kiwi strawberry froyo before! Menchie’s had a Strawberry Kiwi Twist sorbet in 2015. TCBY offers a Kiwi Strawberry sorbet.

Moxy’s Kiwi Strawberry Swirl: Moxy’s Swirl consists of Kiwi Strawberry frozen yogurt topped with fresh cut kiwis, strawberries, and a sprinkle of candy hearts. The sprinkles added some crunch though I would have preferred mochi instead. But, pairing Kiwi Strawberry with fresh strawberries and kiwi makes sense and the sprinkles were cute.

UglyDolls Cup: The new medium cup design features 7 UglyDolls characters from the upcoming movie. I’m not sure what all their names are.

UglyDolls Sweepstakes: Pinkberry is giving away 75 UglyDolls Family Fun Packs. The fun pack includes 4 Fandango movie tickets and UglyDolls merchandise. You can enter at www.pinkberry.com/UglyDolls now through May 2, 2019

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 April Feature Flavors: Dairy-Free Cookie Sandwich & Orange Pineapple Sorbet

Fro-yo girl here. Happy April! Since it’s a new month, it’s also time for new feature flavors at Menchie’s. This month’s feature flavors have a dairy-free theme. Feature flavors are available for a limited time only, while supplies last.

* Cookie Sandwich made with Blue Diamond almond butter: This is dairy-free soft serve, not frozen yogurt. It does not have any yogurt cultures. It’s lowfat and kosher. If you’re familiar with Menchie’s classic flavor, I Dream of Cookies N’ Cream, Cookie Sandwich has a similar mild, sweet chocolate cookie flavor but it also has the taste of almond butter. It’s creamy but not as creamy and lighter than I Dream of Cookies N’ Cream. Recommended toppings: almonds, Oreos, chocolate shell

* Orange Pineapple sorbet: This is another dairy-free flavor. Orange Pineapple sorbet is made with real pineapple juice concentrate and real orange juice concentrate. It’s nonfat, gluten free, high fructose corn syrup free, and has no artificial colors or flavors. The pineapple flavor is stronger but I could taste the orange too. I like how the pineapple added some tanginess. Recommended toppings: fresh fruit, popping boba.

The Menchie’s I visited did not have the new cup for the Missing Link. P.S. If you haven’t downloaded the new Menchie’s app yet, do it. You’ll get a $5 credit towards your next purchase and double smiles for 60 days from your registration date.

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 Flavor, Thai Iced Tea, Introduced by Yoga-urt at Vegan Street Fair

Fro-yo girl here. Mr. Froyo and I went to the Vegan Street Fair in North Hollywood, CA this past weekend for one reason, to try the new froyo flavor, Thai Iced Tea, from Yoga-urt. I wasn’t feeling well, so we only went to Yoga-urt. The festival looked as crowded as ever and Yoga-urt had a long line. A single scoop was $4, 2 scoops $7, and 3 scoops $9. Mr. Froyo had Tantric Tart while I had Thai Iced Tea.

I’ve often wondered which spices go into Thai Iced Tea and what makes it so orange. When I get it at Thai places, it’s usually super sweet and creamy. Did you know that the orange color often comes from food coloring?

I’m sure Yoga-urt didn’t use food coloring, so their Thai Iced Tea froyo wasn’t bright orange. I could see various spices in the scoop but I’m not sure what they were. Mr. Froyo said he tasted cardamom for sure. I thought I tasted cinnamon and vanilla but definitely something else. Tamarind? Not sure, but I was intrigued. Also, I appreciate that the flavor wasn’t as super sweet as actual Thai iced tea.

Thai Iced Tea wasn’t available at the Glendale shop and I didn’t want to wait a whole month to try it.

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 January 2019 Feature Flavors: Golden Graham Cracker, Dark Chocolate Mousse

Fro-yo girl here. New year, new flavors. Menchie’s is featuring two flavors this January, Golden Graham Cracker froyo and Dark Chocolate Mousse dairy-free froyo made with almond milk. I could not find these flavors at the Menchie’s locations that are close to me. But, I know that Menchie’s Encino, Valley Village, and Northridge are usually good about carrying the new flavors. They're the best locations in the Los Angeles area.

* Golden Graham Cracker: It’s hard to believe that Menchie’s never had a graham cracker flavor before? I was very impressed with this new flavor. It’s one of the best Menchie’s flavors EVER. Yes, ever. I could see bits of graham crackers in the frozen yogurt. I love graham crackers. The froyo had a distinctive graham cracker taste, a smooth, creamy texture, and the sweetness wasn’t overwhelming. I think Golden Graham Cracker froyo could go with most toppings, but I like it with Heath, almonds, and chocolate shell. Cinnamon Toast Crunch would be great too. GGC is nonfat and made with real graham crackers. Get some!

* Dark Chocolate Mousse made with almond milk: I remember having this flavor before in 2016, so it’s not brand new. It tastes like dark chocolate and it’s quite creamy. It’s dairy free and lowfat. Recommended toppings: Cool Whip, Ande’s Mints, Oreos

I noticed a sign for National Frozen Yogurt Day, February 6. Menchie’s will offer the BOGO free offer again.

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 Gingerbread Flavor from Yoga-urt

Fro-yo girl here. Yoga-urt has a new seasonal flavor, Gingerbread. I had a cone full today – so good! I really noticed the warm, complex molasses flavor, and then the blend of gingerbread spices – definitely ginger was part of the spice mix. I could see the spices. The yogurt was thick, rich, and creamy. It wasn’t too sweet.

It’s all the things you’d expect from Yoga-urt – organic, gluten free, soy free, kosher, all natural, hand-crafted, probiotic, vegan, plant-based.

Recommended toppings: Turmeric granola, chocolate chips. It’s also particularly wonderful with a crunchy housemade, gluten free cone.

The holiday offer is still in effect: buy $25 in gift cards and get a free mini froyo. We already picked up our gift card.

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

* YOGA-URT: 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201

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.