Yogurtland’s New Offering: Zoom, the All-New Way to Froyo

Fro-yo girl here. I recently noticed that Yogurtland Chino Hills, CA and West Covina, CA now offer Yogurtland Zoom. Zoom is a blended froyo product. You select the frozen yogurt flavor and the toppings and Yogurtland blends it together for you (similar to Dairy Queen’s Blizzard or McDonald’s McFlurry) using a machine.

I visited Yogurtland West Covina (1000 W Covina Pkwy). Zoom is priced by weight at the same price: 45 cents an ounce. There are taller Zoom cups, longer spoons, and signs with instructions and recipes.

I decided to mix Lucky Mint Crème froyo, Double Cookies & Cream froyo, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and Oreo cookies. I put everything in the cup (you don’t have to fill the cup) and handed it to the Yogurtland associate. The cup is placed into a blending machine and everything is mixed together. It doesn’t take long.

I liked what I blended together – the flavors were complementary. However, I noticed the add ins weren’t blended in well. The chocolate chips still seemed to be intact and there were big cookie chunks too. Other places do a better job blending the yogurt and toppings. The frozen yogurt comes out softer too. I like unblended frozen yogurt and toppings better.

Yogen Fruz is the leader in the mixed/blended froyo category. In Southern California, you can get custom blended frozen yogurt at Yogen Fruz in Tarzana, Humphrey Yogart in Sherman Oaks, 21 Choices in Pasadena and Claremont, and CDM Yogurt in Newport Beach (Orange County). You can also find custom blended frozen yogurt at Blush in Burlingame, CA, Tucker’s in Alameda, CA, Sweet Retreat in San Jose, CA, Oregon Frozen Yogurt in Oregon, WI, Angora Café in Boston and Loving Cup in San Francisco. Frozen Peaks, with locations in New Jersey and New York, offers FP Swirl, their custom blended frozen yogurt.

While a custom blended frozen yogurt can be tasty as it more evenly distributes the toppings so that there are toppings in every bite, it does change the flavor of the frozen yogurt (which can be good or bad). Some toppings don’t taste as good when they’re blended – for example, graham cracker crumbs become gritty when blended into the frozen yogurt, and mochi isn’t transformed, it just becomes smaller. The seeds get separated from the berry flesh. Cookies, candy and sauces make the best add ins. I’ve also noticed that on more than one occasion when a machine is used to blend the yogurt and toppings, sometimes the previous mix contaminates the next mix. The water flushing doesn’t remove all of the previous mix. The texture is also less smooth after toppings are blended in. Getting the right mix of frozen yogurt and toppings including the correct proportions can be tricky. 

Here are some of my recipes:

• Fresh strawberry froyo + frosted animal cookies + sprinkles + white chocolate chips
• Sumatra coffee froyo + crushed Butterfingers + Oreos
• Peanut butter froyo + Nutter Butter bites + peanuts + chocolate chips
• Matcha green tea froyo + Plain tart froyo + Fruity Pebbles 
• Coconut froyo + mango froyo + pineapple sorbet + coconut + fresh pineapple

Do you like custom blended frozen yogurt? Have you tried it? Would you be willing 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.

Lotte Foods Greek Yogurt Bars Review

Fro-yo girl here. It’s been awhile since I’ve spotted a new Korean frozen yogurt bar but I finally found a new variety, Lotte Foods Greek Yogurt bars. I found one flavor, blueberry, at Zion Market in LA’s Koreatown. The package was $6.99.

One package contains six individually wrapped frozen yogurt bars. One bar is 80 ml with 75 calories and 11g of fat. The bars are manufactured in Korea.

The bar smells nice, like yogurt and it has a small, thin blueberry swirl. The thin white coating is creamy and tastes a bit like sweet white chocolate. The interior is soft and creamy and not too dense – a better than expected texture for a frozen yogurt bar. The interior has a mild, milky flavor and the blueberry swirl adds hints of berry and lemon. The coating has the strongest flavor. The tang is very mild. Overall it’s an interesting creamy sweet treat. I wish it had a stronger yogurt flavor.

Ingredients: Water, yogurt coating (rapeseed oil, coconut oil, sugar, mixed milk powder, lactose), sugar, mixed milk powder (skim milk powder, sweet whey powder), thick fermented milk (milk, sugar, skim milk, lactic acid), blueberry syrup (blueberry, sugar, water, fructooligosaccharide, lemon concentrate), extra oligosaccharide (starch syrup, isomaltooligosaccharide, fructose), processed butter (milk, cream, butter, coconut oil), milk, artificial flavor (yogurt), citric acid, mixed formulation (guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, tamarind gum), emulsifier, greek yogurt powder

As you can see, the list of ingredients is lengthy.

I wonder if it comes in other flavors? Apparently Lotte Foods has a new macaroon ice cream product. I’d like to try it.

4 out of 5 stars.

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

* ZION MARKET: 3500 W 6th St., Ste 100, Los Angeles, CA 90020

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.

Claire’s Strawberry Froyo Flavored Lip Balm

Fro-yo girl here. I’m not sure how but I stumbled upon the fact that Claire’s had a froyo flavored lip balm that came out last summer while researching something online. It took me a few months to find out about it, so the strawberry froyo lip balm was no longer carried at several locations. I finally found it and tried it.

The Claire's brand strawberry froyo jumbo lip balm is $3.50, .32 ounces, and raspberry pink in color. While it’s called strawberry froyo flavored, it doesn’t taste like strawberry or yogurt. It’s just sweet. It does smell vaguely like strawberry candy though (like strawberry Hi Chews in particular). It goes on with a pretty faint berry color. The balm has an unpleasant waxy scent and even a waxy flavor. Maybe it was the synthetic wax that they use.

I don't think they had other froyo flavor/scents of lip balm.

I should probably stop by Claire’s periodically since I missed out on their frozen yogurt lipglosses. Also they carry Shopkins merchandise and the froyo character might be represented at times. Those soft serve earrings might be 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.

New Chain Review: Yalla Mediterranean

Fro-yo girl here. The race is on to be the next Mediterranean version of Chipotle. Yalla is a new concept from the owners of Daphne's California Greek chain. Yalla launched in Pleasant Hill in 2014 and now has 7 locations in the Bay Area and Southern California. They have that assembly line where you choose your style/base and choose your protein, sauces and toppings. Choose a wrap, salad, or plate. Then pick a protein (falafel, shawarma, kabobs), add sides, toppings and sauces. 

I won’t go into too much detail about the food since what I really care about is their Greek frozen yogurt. The Greek frozen yogurt set up reminds me of SF’s Souvla. They use the same Carpigiani machine, offer only one flavor (plain), and offer similar Greek toppings.

The yogurt is apparently a “special house recipe.” It’s available with honey, chocolate or sour cherry sauce for $2.25 or with chopped baklava or chocolate pita crumbles for $2.95. It’s a small portion but good for dessert.

How was it? Souvla’s Greek frozen yogurt is definitely better in terms of flavor and texture; it's creamy, smooth and tastes like yogurt. Yalla’s frozen yogurt is smooth but icy and it tastes like original tart yogurt. Yalla's sour cherry syrup isn’t very sour but it’s very good with yogurt.

The frozen yogurt was disappointing and the food was as well. Their hummus was so salty. The falafel was salty too. But Chipotle is also a sodium bomb, so maybe people will like their extra salty food.

I’m hoping that San Francisco's Souvla or GRK opens in SoCal one day. Or maybe Spitz will add froyo. GRK, which got its start in NYC, recently opened a location in Dubai but they aren't present on the West Coast yet.

* YALLA: 3141 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA 94538

3.5 out of 5 stars

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

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

Future Froyo Shop Picture: SunLife Organics

Fro-yo girl here. A few years ago I went to the Getty Villa and stopped by SunLife Organics for some organic froyo. Since then they’ve opened additional locations in Malibu, Calabasas and Thousand Oaks. The fifth location will be in Pasadena at the Commons, 146 S Lake Ave. Suite 103, Pasadena, CA, 91101. It’s the courtyard area behind Lemonade and Williams Sonoma.

SunLife Organics carries organic froyo, smoothies, shakes, paninis, superfruit bowls, soup and bone broth. A healthy lifestyle store, it also sells supplements, books and superfood powders. It will join Lake Avenue District’s bevy of healthy restaurants with Lemonade, Saladfarm, Veggie Grill, Souplantation, Real Food Daily, and Nekter. Yogurtland is also on Lake.

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.

Ice Cream Shops With Froyo Worth Trying

Vanilla pear froyo, Sweet Rose Creamery

Fro-yo girl here. You won’t find me in an ice cream shop too often but when I do visit one, I always look for frozen yogurt. The newer artisanal ice cream shops rarely make or offer frozen yogurt. The old school or mainstream ice cream shops are more likely to have frozen yogurt but they usually offer boring flavors, chocolate and vanilla, and their frozen yogurt feels more like low fat ice cream than an offering that appreciates the unique qualities of yogurt.

When an artisanal ice cream maker actually likes yogurt and makes frozen yogurt, something magical can be the result.

These are my top picks for artisanal ice cream shops that carry frozen yogurt.

* JENI’S ICE CREAMS: Jeni loves frozen yogurt and she makes unparalleled frozen yogurt that’s super tangy and explodes with flavor. I think her scoop shops always carry at least one frozen yogurt. Her favorite is Lemon Buttermilk Frozen Yogurt. The current seasonal flavor, black currant, has a sweeter profile but it's still deeeelicious. Find a Jeni’s scoop shop at https://jenis.com/scoop-shops/

* HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE (San Francisco, CA): HS rarely makes frozen yogurt but when they have it, make a beeline over there to get some because it sells out fast. They recently had blood orange frozen yogurt. There are two locations: 2709A Harrison St. and 1 Ferry Building. Get your flavor updates from @humphryslocombe

* SWEET ROSE CREAMERY (6 locations in the Los Angeles area): Sweet Rose Creamery uses organic ingredients and the fruits and nuts are usually sourced from the Santa Monica Farmers Market. They usually have one froyo flavor inspired by in season fruit, like vanilla pear.

All three of my picks also offer nationwide shipping!

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 and Peeps Bring You Marshmallow Mania

Fro-yo girl here. Happy March! Easter is coming early this year; it’s on March 27. Menchie’s has just introduced its newest flavor, Marshmallow Mania, inspired by PEEPS. PEEPS is the number one non-chocolate Easter candy brand.

The new PEEPS inspired flavor is sweet, creamy and bright yellow to match PEEPS signature color. As part of Marshmallow Mania, Menchie’s is also offering a limited time only topping, yellow Marshmallow PEEPS Chicks. Select Menchie’s locations will have a PEEPS froyo cake.

There’s also a Marshmallow Mania Sweepstakes. Prizes include free froyo for a year, a Giant PEEPS Plus or Menchie’s gift cards. Visit Marshmallowpeeps.com for your chance to win.

The Marshmallow Mania is sweet and creamy, and the marshmallow flavor is mild enough that it should go well with any topping. The flavor is nonfat and while sweet, it’s not cloying.

Recommended toppings: Nilla wafers, rainbow sprinkles, frosted animal cookies, Magic shell

Since March also happens to be National Peanut Month, Menchie’s has brought back the popular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup flavor as a featured flavor of the month.

“From March 1st to March 31st, Menchie’s locations will be “PEEPed” out with the addition of a creamy marshmallow flavored frozen yogurt inspired by PEEPS®. Snack size PEEPS® Chicks will be available as a topping - for fans who really want to show off their PEEPSONALITY®. And as if it couldn’t get any more PEEPS®-a-licious, a Marshmallow Mania Froyo Cake topped with PEEPS® will also be available at participating Menchie’s stores, starting at 190 calories per serving, so you can have your cake and eat it too!”

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.