Remembering Yeti Yogurt, the Pacific Northwest Froyo Chain

Fro-yo girl here. Back in April 2013, five years ago, I shared some pictures of the newly opened Yeti Yogurt in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, WA. The location in the University District of Seattle seems to have opened around the same time.

This was the beginning of Yeti Yogurt’s expansion as they sought to dominate froyo in the Pacific Northwest. Yeti Yogurt exploded onto the scene in 2013 in a way that I hadn’t seen before. They opened most of their locations in 2013. Suddenly, Yeti Yogurt had two locations in Tacoma, both opened in 2013, and locations in Sumner, Puyallup, Maple Valley, Tukwila and two in Canada, in North Vancouver and Burnaby. 

The Canadian locations were sold to Qoola. The other locations started to close. It looks like only one location remains, in Sumner, WA, with reduced hours (2 PM - 9 PM on weekdays, 11 AM - 10 PM on weekends). Their website domain, is available from GoDaddy. The last @yetiyogurt Instagram post was on June 7, 2016.

Yeti Yogurt stores featured a minimum of 16 flavors every day and over 60 toppings. The design was bright and colorful. The Yeti mascot likely appealed to kids. The Yeti bigfoot spoons appealed to people like me, the yogurt spoon collectors. They had proprietary flavors and more toppings and yogurt flavors than the competition.

How did Yeti Yogurt grow so quickly? The explanation seems to rest in the fact that it was started by BigFoot Investments, which also founded the BigFoot Java specialty coffee chain in the Pacific Northwest. Yeti Yogurt even offered some BigFoot Java branded flavors, such as Mythical Mocha®, Strawberry Sasquatch® or Nutty Yeti®.

What happened to Yeti Yogurt? Reading through the old employee and customer reviews, people cited lack of management and poor training. The stores started strong but later, towards the end, the yogurt was runny, the shop was dirty, and the price was very high. Another factor is probably location. People don’t eat as much froyo in the Pacific Northwest compared to California.

Sadly, I never tried Yeti Yogurt, but on the bright side, I do have their yogurt 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.

Homemade Kombucha Kefir/Yogurt Experiments

Fro-yo girl here. Kefir is typically made with kefir cultures but it is possible to make something like kefir with kombucha SCOBY. I’ve read that kombucha kefir can be made with any type of milk, dairy or non-dairy. Since I love yogurt and kefir, I was very excited to make my own kefir kombucha or yogurt kombucha.

I tried making kefir kombucha using three different methods.

Method 1: Add SCOBY to milk 

I started with Whole Foods brand 2% milk. After preparing the kombucha yogurt by adding a SCOBY directly to the milk, I checked on it every day. It never smelled pleasant and the SCOBY curled up and looked like it had died. After three days at room temperature, the mixture separated and remained in liquid form. The bottom half of it was whey. It smelled and looked awful, so I threw it away without trying it. 

In retrospect, it seems odd to put a SCOBY in refrigerated millk, since the SCOBY prefers a warm environment. It seemed like a good idea to try Method 2, scald the milk first and incubating in a warm place. 

Method 2: Scald the milk, then add SCOBY 

This time I used 2% milk from Aldi (Friendly Farms brand). I scalded half a gallon of milk, and let it cool to a warm bath temperature. I added a SCOBY around 9 PM. The next day I warmed the oven three times (at the lowest temperature setting) and put the jar of milk w/ the SCOBY in the oven. About 24 hours later, the mixture separated. It was still liquid but there was whey on top. It didn’t smell as bad as what I created w/ Method 1, so I gave it a try. It tasted okay but didn’t have much flavor or tang. Since it didn’t get thicker, I don’t think this method worked for me. But small curds had formed and they tasted okay. I didn’t like the texture. 

Method 3: Incubate your SCOBY first using kefir, then add milk 

This method involves creating a hybrid kefir/kombucha mother first. Since it involves buying commercial kefir first, I tried this method last.

Basically, you put your SCOBY in a jar and pour a layer of kefir on top, swirl it and leave it for a few days. Repeat the process until you’ve used up the bottle of kefir. This creates a hybrid kefir/kombucha mother.

I used a quart of unsweetened, original Lifeway Kefir made with whole milk. I poured some in for five days straight, swirled it around, and on the fifth day, added a quart of 2% milk from Aldi. I waited two more days before pulling the SCOBY out.

The SCOBY was definitely doing something to the kefir. The kefir smelled warm and yeasty and it looked bubbly. When I tasted it, it was very sour. It was a bit thicker than milk and it had curds, but the whey hadn’t separated out. It smelled similar to my batches using Methods 1 and 2 but it looked better since the whey hadn’t separated out.

I made this kefir during the summer, when the temperatures were in the high 90’s during the day and the 70’s at night.

It tasted okay – it was too sour even for me. When I sweetened it, it tasted better but it still didn’t seem worth the effort because I like commercial kefir better. I could have strained it to thicken it up, but it didn't seem worth the hassle.

Method 3 was the only method that worked for me.

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.

Pressed Juicery Testing New Products, Overnight Oats and Chia Pudding

Fro-yo girl here. During my recent visit to the Pressed Juicery in Hollywood to get my Pressed Freeze, I spotted a sign for overnight oats and chia pudding. I haven’t seen that sign at the other Pressed Juicery locations that I’ve been to. They had four varieties for $5 each:

• Almond Vanilla Chia Pudding with Berries 
• Lemon & Blueberry Overnight Oats 
• Coconut Chia Pudding with Blueberries 
• Peanut Butter & Banana Overnight Oats 

The price seems very reasonable. I didn’t try it but I should have bought one for later. I made overnight oats once, but I didn’t like the mushy texture at all. Chia pudding has some texture that overnight oats lack.

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

* PRESSED JUICERY: Pressed Juicery, 6201 Hollywood Blvd., Ste 128, Los Angeles (Hollywood), CA 90028

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 Pie Froyo Returns to Yogurtland, Early!

Fro-yo girl here. It doesn’t feel like fall until I’ve had my cup of pumpkin pie (or pumpkin) frozen yogurt. Yogurtland brought back Pumpkin Pie froyo late last year. Fortunately, it’s back early this year, at certain locations. Check the Flavor Finder feature on the Yogurtland website or Real Rewards app. I wasn’t sure if they’d bring back Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin Whip, or offer a different pumpkin flavor altogether.

This year it’s Pumpkin Pie froyo’s turn and I’m happy with that. It’s their classic pumpkin flavor. Pumpkin Pie froyo is made with real pumpkin and real pumpkin pie spices. I love the warm notes of cinnamon and nutmeg in the yogurt. My favorite Pumpkin Pie froyo toppings are whipped cream, almonds, graham cracker crumbs, Nilla Wafers, and occasionally crushed Butterfingers.

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 Frozen Yogurt Survey Launched, Respondents Have Chance to Win Froyo Prizes

Fro-yo girl here. The National Frozen Yogurt Survey, sponsored by the International Frozen Yogurt Association, is back. 

The consumer survey is now open. All survey participants who respond by September 19, 2018, will be entered into a drawing to win one of five $30 froyo shop gift cards to any US shop that offers online gift cards. The survey is open to anyone over 13 who lives in the US.

The five minute survey has questions about frozen yogurt loyalty, current consumption, future consumption, frozen yogurt attitudes and preferences, and demographics. This year, the IFYA will compare the current results with last year's results. 

Take the National (US) Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey, http://tinyurl.com/2ndfroyoconsumersurvey

Tell others to take the survey too!

Anyone who is interested in the survey results simply needs to share the survey invitation. There are several ways to share the survey invitation, including sharing IFYA’s pinned Facebook post about the survey (https://www.facebook.com/froyoassociation/), pinned tweet (@froyogirl) or Instagram survey post (@intlfroyoassn) before the survey closes.

For the complete contest rules, visit http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/second-annual-national-frozen-yogurt-consumer-survey-official-rules/

The Shop Operator Survey

The frozen yogurt shop operator survey will launch in late September, after the consumer survey closes. The shop operator survey will include questions about shop performance and outlook, operations, main challenges, and more. Anyone who takes the shop operator survey will receive the results. Suppliers and others will also be given the opportunity to share the operator survey in order to obtain access to the full set of results.

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.

Yes To Superblueberries Skin Recharging Greek Yogurt & Probiotic 3-in-1 Mask, Scrub & Cleanser Review

Fro-yo girl here. Yes To Superberries is a newish line of products that includes moisturizer, hand soap, skin repair serum, face oil, night cream, eye cream, cleansing wipes, and a variety of masks. All of the products contain blueberries. Most contain Greek yogurt as well.

Yes To Superblueberries products are made with 95% natural ingredients. According to Yes To, “Superblueberries [are] a vital nutrient that contains reservatrol, known to keep skin radiant and youthful.

Greek Yogurt & Probiotics [have] high levels of lactic acid and bacterial cultures [that] balance skin without stripping moisture.”

I found the 3-in-1 Mask, Scrub & Cleanser 4 oz tub at TJ Maxx for $3.99. The MSRP is $15.99, so it was a steal.

To use the mask, you scoop however much you want with the little spoon they include, apply to the skin, leave on for 10-15 minutes, and rinse off with water. As you rinse, scrub the mask to activate the exfoliating beads.

The mask was thick, creamy, and white, with tiny blue exfoliating beads throughout. It smelled like a cleanser; the scent was slightly floral, not like blueberries or Greek yogurt. Like other masks, it feels tighter as it dries out. It left my skin feeling softer and also the exfoliation really helped, since I hadn’t exfoliated in quite some time. I didn’t love the scent though.

3-in-1 mask ingredients: Water (Aqua), Bentonite, Glycerin, Kaolin, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Betaine, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Yogurt Powder, Inulin, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene, Linalool.

You can buy the Yes To Superberries line on Ulta.com.

4 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.

626 Night Market Asian Food Trends Report

Fro-yo girl here. 626 Night Market continues to be the place to see and taste Asian street food trends. This year they added a Northern California version, but I think the Arcadia market is still the biggest and best. I haven’t been to the OC or Northern CA night markets.

The layout was similar to last year. Start at the information booth to study the map if you’re looking for specific vendors or foods. The vendors are also listed on the 626 Night Market website.

This year I noticed a few trends:

• More Korean foods, including Korean pizza, Korean fries, Korean corn dogs, and more. Apparently South Koreans call corn dogs hot dogs and one of their hottest street foods is hot dogs (but they’re actually corn dogs). Some are encrusted in French fries and others are sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with ketchup and mustard. Ghostix had both kinds. The Cheeze on Stix featured a huge mozzarella cheese stick dipped in batter with tempura flakes, sugar, mustard, and ketchup ($10): The batter was lighter and crunchier than the typical cheese on a stick. The sugar added a little sweetness. It was interesting but didn’t have Korean flavors. I like Hot Dog on a Stick’s cheese on a stick better. 
• More puffle cones. Puffle cone vendors have been at 626 Night Market for years, but there were more of them than ever. 
• More drink vendors, especially milk tea vendors. Those baby bottles were everywhere. 
• Elote, corn in a cup and Cheetos. Elote has been at 626 for years, but colorful versions were all over this year, including those coated in Cheetos. 
• Foot long French fries - these are a new street food trend in Japan. I'm not sure where to get them other than the 626 Night Market.

I didn’t see froyo, but there was an ice cream truck with soft serve. I also got a free cup of Alove Yogurt and free Puchao candy.

Free parking. Admission is $5.

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.