Fro-yo girl here. Salt & Straw started the new year with an all vegan line-up of limited time (January) flavors. I think it’s the first time they’ve offered a “frozen yogurt” flavor, though they call it “faux-yo” and it’s plant-based. Their faux-yo is made with coconut cream and it’s scoopable.
Their Candied Mango Faux-Yo is described as: “We’ve done it! We’ve figured out how to make frozen yogurt using coconut cream. We hit it with a little lime and let it thicken. And then we add some sugar, mango puree, salt, vanilla, and yes, that is a little green cardamom you’re tasting. Then we fold in more pieces of candied mango for texture and fun, for a flavor that tastes like a fresh-fruit sorbet.”
Candied Mango Faux-Yo is available in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego scoop shops. Portland is serving Candied Apricot Faux-Yo. The Candied Apricot Faux-Yo sounds similar to the Candied Mango Faux-Yo based on the description: “We’ve done it! We’ve figured out how to make frozen yogurt using coconut cream. We hit it with a little lime and let it thicken. And then we add some sugar, apricot puree, salt, vanilla, and yes, that is a little green cardamom you’re tasting. Then we fold in more pieces of candied apricot for texture and fun, for a flavor that tastes like a fresh-fruit sorbet.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Candied mango sounded like it could be very sweet. Well, Salt & Straw’s faux-yo did not disappoint. The texture was super thick, dense, and creamy. It was hard to believe that it was vegan. The sweet mango flavor was the dominant, intense flavor, but I was also surprised that the faux-yo was tangy. The coconut cream flavor was noticeable but not strong. The backnotes of coconut cream, lime, and green cardamom just added to the complexity and deliciousness. There were very few candied mango pieces but the ones that I encountered were small and not overly sweet. The tang is different from yogurt tang but different can still be wonderful. The texture was much creamier and richer than a typical sorbet.
Try any faux-yo flavor you can, before it’s too late. Get a pint or two. I hope there are more faux-yo flavors in the future.
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 here. I’m not sure how proud I should be but this year I’m going to exceed my froyo consumption from previous years. Last year, I consumed 139 cups of froyo. This year I’ll hit 200 cups of froyo consumed in one year. So yes, I’ve eaten lots of froyo and since I live in SoCal now, most of that froyo has been consumed in and around Los Angeles.
Every year I look forward to trying new froyo flavors. New flavors in 2015 included Southern Pecan Pie (Menchie’s), Pumpkin Spice Latte (Orange Leaf), Pear (Pinkberry), and Candy Clouds (Yogurtland). Which new flavor was my favorite? I decided to pick two, one from an independent froyo shop and another from a chain.
Vanilla Harmony from Yoga-urt in Glendale, CA: It’s vegan froyo made with almond milk. They make their own almond milk and add live and active cultures. I love how you can taste the almond milk and how it tastes fresh, less processed and more natural.
Pinkberry’s Raspberry White Chocolate: Lemon Lime Pinkberry was a close second. Pinkberry turned 10 this year and I have a new found appreciation for their flavors. Raspberry white chocolate surprised me because it was tarter then I expected it to be and the hint of white chocolate added a sweet mellowness. You can really taste the raspberries and the white chocolate was the perfect complement.
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.
Fro-yo girl here. Rawberri is a super healthy new shop that specializes in superfruit bowls. It’s very conscious of food allergies. They carry healthy, organic, dairy free, gluten free and soy free acai bowls, superfruit bowls, Cocowhip, Stumptown coffee, kombucha on tap and energy balls.
Bowls don’t interest me but CocoWhip does. Rawberri was the first in the US to carry CocoWhip, an Australian vegan, biofermented, frozen yogurt made with coconut water, organic bio-fermented coconut powder & vegetable sourced stabilizers. It has no added sugar and is 90 calories a serving.
Flavors of the day (CocoWhip):
* Original: airy, light, creamy, lightly sweetened – the texture was nice but the product had very little flavor, it had no tang at all, the aftertaste was clean though. This was too bland.
* Matcha slim: the texture was denser and icier than the original and it had flavor – it tasted like an icier green tea ice cream – imagine green tea sorbet. I liked how it wasn’t too sweet and it tasted clean/simple. It wasn’t tangy.
Toppings are healthy: fresh fruit, granola, nuts, seeds, goji berries, cacao nibs, agave, honey, vegan caramel, vegan chocolate sauce. The toppings are gluten free and I think soy free, dairy free, etc.
Prices: $5.95 for original w/o toppings, add $1 for 3 toppings; $6.95 for matcha slim w/o toppings, add $1 for 3 toppings
I think almond milk or soy froyo has the best flavor – it’s hard to say which is better because almond and soy milk taste different and both are good in frozen yogurt. On the other hand, coconut water doesn’t have much flavor.
The shop is by several gyms and is the perfect post-gym treat.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
Rating: 3.5/5
* RAWBERRI: 8582 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
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 here. I’ve had my eye on Eb & Bean since they first opened in June 2014 – their use of local organic milk, handmade flavors and artisanal toppings definitely appealed to me. They also offer vegan and gluten free froyo and toppings. It was my #1 Portland must see.
Their organic probiotic frozen yogurt is rBST free, GMO free and 100% natural. The thin, tall spirals of froyo on Instagram always look amazing.
They carry three everyday flavors (Vanilla, Chocolate, Tart) and special seasonal flavors. During my visit these were Ginger Caramel, Lemon Marionberry Buttermilk and Salty Pistachio (Non-dairy, made with almond milk). They’re always creating new flavors like Apricot Crème Fraiche, Grasshopper Pie, Garden Mint, Cardamom Caramel, etc. They haven’t had any seasonal flavor repeats. In their first year, they served 72 flavors.
Toppings are housemade or sourced from small batch local producers like Pinkleton’s salted vanilla caramel corn, Cary’s of Oregon almond toffee crumbles, and Honey Mama’s cacao nectar crumbles. The toppings aren’t what you’d find at your typical froyo shop. They have Bakeshop cookies, streusel, candy, Jacobsen salt, nuts, local honey, candied ginger, marionberry compote, bourbon sauce, non-dairy magic shell, cinnamon sugar potato donuts, honeyed whipped cream and the list goes on. I wanted to buy the toppings and bring some home.
Prices: Small $3.75, Large $4.75, Tots $2.75 (for kids only), Pints $6, toppings $1 for the first topping
The tart flavor was mild, lightly sweetened, and milky – it tasted more like milk than tangy yogurt. The tang wasn’t there but it had a smooth, light, refreshing quality. I liked the lemon marionberry buttermilk flavor better – it was light, fruity and smooth. It tasted more like berries than lemon and the flavor wasn’t so intense that it overwhelmed the yogurt flavor. The texture isn’t creamy but it is smooth and on the icier side. The salty pistachio (non-dairy) was very sweet and it had so much pistachio flavor that I couldn’t taste the almond milk.
The shop is sleek, minimalist yet still cute (that polar bear, the wall of paper mache froyo cones and cups). There’s one communal wood table, kids’ tables and counter seating by the window. They sell Eb & Bean t-shirts – I want one.
Cups and spoons are compostable, of course. Pick up a frequent buyer card.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
Rating: 4/5
* EB & BEAN: 1425 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
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 here. Congrats to Yoga-urt, LA’s first all organic, vegan froyo shop. The soft serve is also Kosher and gluten free. This past weekend was the grand opening celebration, with $1 soft serve (4 ozs) and 50% off other sizes, plus a prize raffle. On Saturday they ran out of several flavors.
I think my favorite flavor is Vanilla Harmony because I like the nutty almond milk flavor and that clean finish.
Here are a few pictures from the grand opening.
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.
Fro-yo girl here. It’s been quite some time since the last innovative froyo shop spotlight. I’m thrilled to have found a new innovative froyo shop. Yoga-Urt, which just had its soft opening last weekend, July 18-19, combines froyo with yoga and it’s organic, vegan, kosher and soy free. It’s LA’s first all organic non-dairy froyo place.
What makes Yoga-urt innovative is that it’s dairy-free, organic, all natural, and handcrafted. Their soft serve is made with dairy milk alternatives, mostly almond milk but they also have coconut and cashew bases. They actually make their own almond milk. Plus, all Yoga-urt soft serve has four strains of live probiotics. It’s all natural and good for you. They make their own gluten free vegan cones. Yes, it’s more expensive but the quality is higher.
They've developed nine dairy-free soft serve flavors that rotate. There are six flavors a day and it’s not self serve. The flavor names are influenced by the yoga theme. I saw one tart flavor on the menu (Tantric Tart) but it wasn’t being offered that day. The flavors are true to what they should taste like. Except for Tantric Tart, the flavors aren't tangy.
Toppings include fruit (fresh and dried), granola, coconut, mochi, nuts, chocolate chips and cacao nibs. Even the toppings are healthier. The gluten free waffle cones are made with rice milk and gluten free flour.
Froyo flavors of the day:
* Vanilla harmony: I’m a big fan – it reminds me of Pressed Juicery’s vanilla almond milk soft serve (Freeze) but much better. Vanilla harmony is creamier, less icy and less gritty but it still has that nutty flavor and very clean finish. It tastes less processed/more natural and less sweet.
* Chocolate bliss
* Salted caramel zen
* Strawberry serenity - tastes so good, like fresh strawberries but creamier
* Ganesha’s sweet greens: Features a thick cashew base, lots going on with kale, spinach and other ingredients but I kept tasting fresh mint which I really liked
* Peanut butter prana: super dense, thick, creamy with lots of peanut butter
Froyo prices: Mini $3.75/ Small $5.25/ Medium $6.75/ Large $8.25, first topping $1, 50 cents for all additional toppings
In addition to froyo, Yoga-Urt has organic smoothies and organic drinks. Cups and spoons are compostable of course. Their products are good for you and they care about the Earth.
Yoga-urt was founded by Melissa Schulman, LA based project manager and certified yoga instructor. Her dream was to provide a healthy treat for her vegan yogi friends. Yoga-urt is in quaint, health conscious Kenneth Village, close to a yoga studio.
Grand Opening July 25-26
Yoga-urt is having its grand opening event this weekend. Mini cups will be $1 and everything else is half off. They’ll be open 10:30 AM – 8 PM on Saturday, July 25 and 11 AM – 6 PM on Sunday, July 26. Also with any purchase during the grand opening weekend, you’ll get one raffle ticket and a chance to win prizes from Kenneth Village businesses.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
* YOGA-URT, 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201
http://www.yoga-urt.com/, @yoga_urt
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 here. SweetXO’s tagline captures the spirit of this innovative fro-yo shop: “Life in full color, full flavor and full fun.” SweetXO is much more than a fro-yo shop. It’s a sweets-focused experience. Bring your sweet tooth and plenty of time to explore.
Their displays of candy are dazzling...reminiscent of Dylan’s Candy Bar. I’m sure my eyes widened several times. There’s so much to take in, including candy in bins all around the large shop (sold by weight), display cases with cookies, brownies, make your own float machine with 125 flavors, mini and full size cupcakes, fudge, tea bar, hot chocolate, hot roasted nuts, ice cream sold by the scoop, and fro-yo. That’s just the edible portion of their offerings. They also have merchandise, like casual clothing for everyone in the family including pets, candles, toys, baby stuff, laptop bags, bath salts sold by weight, dishes, home decor, jewelry, colorful socks, quirky books, etc. There are several rooms that you can wander in and out of...it’s almost like a mini department store.
Back to the fro-yo, they must have at least 200 toppings. Of course they are particularly abundant in the candy department.You can add specific flavors of Jelly Bellies to your fro-yo. The warm syrups are all natural and from Sanders in Michigan. A wondrous machine dispenses fresh whipped cream (who can resist?) They have three flavors of pretzels: yogurt, chocolate and blueberry. You’ll find mochi, fresh fruit, popping boba, cookies (even Blue Oreos), many types of gummy candies, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate covered things, sugar free toppings, and more. You can add freshly roasted hot nuts to your fro-yo or a warm cookie or brownie. The fro-yo and toppings are 42 cents an ounce.
As for the fro-yo, they have 18 self-serve flavors a day. The LCD displays provide nutritional info and allergens. The flavors were chosen with care and included a vegan option (soyalicious vegan chocolate), no sugar added flavor, sorbets, 1 tart flavor, and a soft serve ice cream. The fro-yo I sampled had very good texture - smooth, creamy, not too airy, and firm. The vegan chocolate flavor tasted odd to me but I think soy and chocolate aren’t complementary flavors. I did like how it was creamy and not too sweet. The country vanilla flavor was very much like a vanilla soft serve ice cream and a wonderful base for candy toppings. I found the Euro tart too lemony.
Once you’ve selected your sweets, you can wander over to the lounge area which has fancy wallpaper, mirrors, a flatscreen TV and music.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
* SWEETS XO: 5825 Kanan Rd., Agoura Hills, 91301
Fro-yo girl here. While there are other kosher fro-yo places out there, including large fro-yo chains like Red Mango, Menchie’s and Tutti Frutti, Milky’s takes it one step further, offering 14 dairy and 4 kosher parve vegan self-serve fro-yo flavors a day. All their fro-yo and toppings are kosher but some are also parve and vegan. The vegan “fro-yo” is made with soy milk.
Plenty of toppings are kosher, including cheesecake bites, cookie dough, coconut, cereal, candy, nuts, sprinkles, cookies, chocolate chips and syrups, but not mochi.
I tried the simply tart (original fro-yo) and the original vegan fro-yo. Simply tart was soft, creamy, smooth and thick. I liked the sour, real fro-yo flavor. The original vegan soy fro-yo was a pleasant surprise. It was sweeter than I expected but also had a pleasant, mild tang. I could definitely taste the soy. It was icier than the simply tart but still smooth.
The prices differ (39 cents an ounce for non-vegan, 45 cents an ounce for parve/vegan) so if you want the vegan flavors, use a separate cup.
Sample cups are easily accessible and the toppings are labeled so you can easily identify which ones are parve. It’s a modern looking café with cute cups, a cat mascot, and free wi-fi. The cup was so cute that I saved it. I noticed the sign said smoothies but I didn’t see a smoothies menu.
You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
* MILKY'S FROZEN YOGURT: 1429 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035
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