Ellenos Greek Yogurt Now Available at Bristol Farms in Southern California

Fro-yo girl here. I was surprised to see Ellenos Greek Yogurt at Bristol Farms. Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt is a Seattle based family business that opened Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt opened at Seattle’s Pike Place Market in late 2013. Family owned, their probiotic Greek style yogurt is handcrafted using traditional methods and local ingredients, including local milk and local honey. The yogurt is all natural and does not use thickeners, stabilizers, or gelatins. It’s rich because they use whole milk. The yogurt toppings are all natural as well.

Bristol Farms started carrying Ellenos in December 2018. I missed the fact that Whole Foods started carrying Ellenos at their Northern California locations last summer. The small size is 8 oz and $3.99. The larger size is 16 oz and $6.49.

Ellenos has 1,617 reviews on Yelp with an average 5 star rating. It’s loved by people who love Greek yogurt and those who claim not to like Greek yogurt.

Marionberry yogurt: The texture was very smooth. The marionberry puree was not blended into the yogurt, so I was able to try the plain yogurt before mixing. The plain yogurt was very sweet, with no sourness and a tiny bit of tang. It was heavy and had a cream aftertaste. The marionberry puree was tangier, so mixing it with the plain yogurt improved the overall experience for me.

Lemon curd yogurt: The texture was also smooth. It was a bit sweeter than the marionberry yogurt. I wish it were less sweet and tangier. Their yogurt has no sourness. I miss the sourness!

One serving of Marionberry yogurt is 8 oz, 315 calories, 8g fat, 36g sugars, and 17g protein. The yogurt is very heavy though, so I imagine most people wouldn’t eat 8 oz.

Ingredients (Marionberry yogurt): Yogurt (Grand A Pasteurized Cultured Milk (Live and Active Cultures (S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, and L. Casei)), Cane Sugar, Honey), Marionberry Puree (Marionberries and Cane Sugar).

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.

Pinkberry Introduces New Pinkbee’s Cookie Butter

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry is welcoming the new year with a new Pinkbee’s milk ice cream flavor, Cookie Butter. Think speculoos and crispy Lotus Biscoff cookies. Yum.

Pinkbee’s Cookie Butter is a reduced fat, milk ice cream. It must be made with Biscoff cookies because it definitely has that caramelized flavor, but it’s light and creamy. Pinkberry also had cookie crumbs to add texture.

Last year their first new flavor was Pinkbee’s Chocolate. In January 2016, it was Pinkbee’s Strawberry.

Here’s the official press release:

Pinkberry Welcomes 2019 with New Pinkbee's Cookie Butter Flavor

This Reduced-Fat, Indulgent, Treat is Available for a Limited Time Only

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinkberry® (www.Pinkberry.com) is ringing in the New Year by introducing Pinkbee's® Cookie Butter Reduced-Fat, Milk Ice Cream. This limited time flavor will be available January 4 through February 28.

This tasty new flavor pairs perfectly with a decadent cookie butter center and topped with cookie crumbs. Breathe deeply and find your center this New Year at Pinkberry.

"There is no better way to celebrate the New Year than enjoying our new Pinkbee's Cookie Butter flavor," said Melissa Hubbell, director of marketing for Pinkberry. "Paired with the decadent and gooey center, it is the perfect dessert to start the year with!"

At Pinkberry, guests can customize their favorite treat 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!

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 was acquired by Scottsdale, Arizona-based Kahala Brands™, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of nearly 30 fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands with approximately 3300 locations in 30 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.

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.

Chobani Less Sugar Greek Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. A few months ago, Chobani rolled out its new line of low sugar, high protein Greek yogurt, called A Hint of…, across the US. Recently, they added lower sugar mix-in style Greek yogurt (similar to their Flips) which I spotted at Target. The sign said New at Target, so the product line extension must be pretty new. Also, it says “New” on the packaging.

Chobani Less Sugar Greek Yogurt is $1.19 each. It’s made with 2% lowfat milk and has “30% less sugar than other mix-in yogurts.” One cup is 4.5 oz. It’s Kosher and all natural.

Available flavors: Raspberry Chocolate Crunch, Lemon Cookie Crunch, Vanilla Mocha Crunch, Mango Coconut Crunch, Honey Pistachio Crunch

* Vanilla Mocha Crunch: This item features Madagascar vanilla & cinnamon lowfat Greek yogurt with biscotti pieces, mocha brownies & hazelnuts. The yogurt is smooth and has a mild, light vanilla flavor. It's thick but not as thick as skyr. The cinnamon flavor is even more subtle. It has a little sourness but it’s still sweet (but not too sweet). The toppings add sweetness and crunch. The brownies were tiny and firm. The biscotti was more like a crumble. One cup is 140 calories, 4.5g fat, 12g sugars, and 10g protein.

* Lemon Cookie Crunch: This item features Fino lemon lowfat Greek yogurt with lemon cookie crumble and white chocolate chunks. The yogurt was smooth, sweet and tangy. The lemon flavor tasted different, maybe because it’s Fino lemon. I liked that there was a tartness but I’m used to the Fino lemon flavor.

Ingredients (Vanilla Mocha Crunch): Cultured pasteurized nonfat milk, cream, live and active cultures, cane sugar, water, hazelnuts, wheat flour, wheat starch, sunflower oil, milk, natural flavors, coffee powder, milk protein, fruit pectin, chocolate, cocoa butter, locust bean gum, guar gum, cinnamon, lemon juice concentrate, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, salt 

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

4 out of 5 stars.

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 Pasadena Adds Drinkable Creations

Fro-yo girl here. I’ve had Yogurtland drinks at other locations, but Yogurtland Pasadena (Lake Ave.) just added the drinks. I first tried the drinks when they were being tested at the Yogurtland location in Huntington Beach, CA back in 2017. 

Other Yogurtland locations have recently added Drinkable Creations as well, including Burbank, San Gabriel, Fullerton, West Covina, Alhambra, USC, Pico Rivera, etc. It looks like many locations now offer Drinkable Creations.

There are two drinks: Classic Vanilla Milkshake and Cold Brrrrew Coffee Frappe. They’re customizable and self-serve. You can add as much of each as you’d like and top with unlimited toppings and sauces for $2.99.

* Coffee Frappe: It’s pretty strong and not too sweet with tiny bits of ice. I love a good strong coffee flavor, so I was a fan. This flavor has milk, cream and sugar.

* Vanilla Milkshake: This was sweet, creamy, and soft. The flavor seemed very mild to me.

I personally like to get mostly Coffee Frappe and a bit of Vanilla Milkshake for creaminess (90% coffee frappe, 10% vanilla milkshake) topped with lots of whipped cream and chocolate chips.

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

* YOGURTLAND PASADENA: 415 S Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101

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.

Chobani Greek Yogurt with A Hint of…Review

Fro-yo girl here. This past August, Chobani rolled out its new line of low sugar, high protein Greek yogurt, called A Hint of…, across the US. Hint achieves a milder flavor by using different yogurt cultures than Chobani’s core Greek yogurt line. It does not contan high intensity sweeteners. I found it at Target for $1.59 each, with a 30 cents off coupon, compared to $1.00 for the core Chobani Greek yogurt line. It’s more expensive than the regular Chobani but it appeals to people like me who find that regular yogurt is often too sweet. Chobani uses “hand-selected varietal fruits and nourishing spices for a curated approach to wellness and taste.”

Hint comes in seven flavors: Madagascar Vanilla & Cinnamon, Wild Blueberry, Monterey Strawberry, Gili Cherry, Alphonso Mango, Clingstone Peach, and Willamette Raspberry. All of the flavors sound appealing.

Each 5.3 oz cup contains 2% milkfat, 12g protein, and 9g of sugar. Demand has increased for less sweet options (yay!).

The packaging is nice – with a subtle hint of color towards the bottom hinting at the flavor within. The shape is curved.

* Hint of Willamette Raspberry: The yogurt smelled nice and yogurt-like. The texture was smooth, creamy, and thicker, though not as thick as skyr. The raspberries were blended in. I could not see any seeds or skin. The color was a pretty pale pink. One cup (150g) was 120 calories. The flavor was pleasant – sour, tangy, with less raspberry flavor. It’s a milder yogurt, as Chobani promised. It was definitely sweet enough. I don’t need a milder yogurt though, so I’m more of a skyr person. I appreciate Chobani's low sugar line though, and I like how it does not use high intensity sweeteners.

Ingredients: Lowfat yogurt (cultured pasteurized nonfat milk, cream), water, evaporated cane sugar, raspberry puree, natural flavors, vegetable juice concentrate (for color), fruit pectin, locust bean gum, guar gum.

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.

My Froyo Wish List for 2019

Fro-yo girl here. It’s time for my annual froyo wish list for 2019. Before revealing my wishes for the new year, I like to see if any of my previous wishes from this time last year came true.

Last January I wished for the following:

First, let's see if any of my 2018 wishes came true. Last year I wished for:

* More soy froyo (or tofu soft serve)

Update: The anti-soy sentiment seems to explain the lack of new soymilk based flavors, though I did have some great soymilk soft serve at Big Softee, the new soft serve ice cream shop in Monterey Park, CA.

* Bring back the tart

Update: It was a bad year for tart flavors – didn’t see many new ones. However, Pinkberry did come through with a tarter tart flavor, the new green tea lemonade. It was like they read my mind since the flavor I missed the most was green tea tart froyo. Thanks Pinkberry!

* More Halloween froyo spoons

Update: It was another very slow year for collectible froyo spoons, but Menchie’s did come out with color changing Halloween spoons. I have so many froyo spoons that it’s probably good that the era of collectible froyo spoons is nearing an end. At this point, I don’t want too many new froyo spoons and I’d like to get rid of some of the extra ones that I have.

* Good bubble waffles

Update: Several new places offer these but they’re not froyo shops. Most of them are boba and ice cream shops. Cauldron Ice Cream’s bubble waffles are accessible but they aren’t that good.

So, some of my 2018 froyo wishes did come true. Interestingly, my 2017 wish of trying llaollao is a little closer to coming true, since they opened their first location in the US (in Houston). The next US location will be in Miami. Way back in 2013 I wished to be served by a froyo robot and that seems likely to happen soon.

My froyo wishes for 2019 are:

• Have Pita GR open in Pasadena. Pita GR opened this year in Downey, CA. I love their housemade frozen Greek yogurt. It’s amazing, even better than Souvla’s. I know they plan to open a Greek donut place next but I’m hoping to see them in Pasadena in a year or two. 
• Yellow sesame/tahini froyo. Mr. Froyo has been asking about this flavor for years, so I guess it’s more his wish than mine, but I do love tahini. 
• Frozen skyr. I still love skyr and would love to try a frozen version. Or I’d be happy with a lower sugar froyo, even if it means higher fat (and it probably would). 

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.