My Best Swirl of 2024

 

Fro-yo girl here. What was my best-looking swirl of self-serve froyo in 2024? I looked at all the pictures of every cup of froyo that I consumed in 2024. 

There was a clear winner this year: the cup of strawberry lemonade froyo that I swirled at the Pinkberry in Burbank, California. I didn’t add the toppings myself because that wasn’t allowed, but I’m considering the froyo swirl alone. It’s symmetric and tapers nicely, with an upright point at the top.

My most viewed cup of froyo was one that I didn’t swirl, from Souvla on Valencia St. in San Francisco. It had 310 views on Pinterest. My first froyo was a cone of Peanut Butter Prana vegan froyo from Yoga-urt in Glendale, CA.

Of the 153 cups and cones of froyo that I consumed in 2024, 52% were self-serve, 26% were counter-serve, and 21% were pre-packs; 88% were dairy and 12% were non-dairy; 89% had one flavor and 11% had more than one flavor. In 2023, 50% of my froyo cups and cones were self-serve, 13% partial serve, 32% counter-serve, 1% machine-served, and 4% pre-packed. In 2023, 84% of my froyo cups and cones featured one flavor and 85% of my froyo cups and cones were dairy-based froyo.

Yogurtland finally got rid of partial-serve and remodeled multiple locations. More Yogurtland locations have pre-packs now.

You can see every cup and cone of froyo that I consumed on my Pinterest board, 2024 Froyo Consumed by 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.

Favorite Froyo Flavors of 2024

Fro-yo girl here. It’s time for me to pick my favorite new froyo flavors of 2024. There were fewer new froyo flavors this year compared to 2023. In particular, there were very few new tart froyo flavors.

Best Tart Froyo (Dairy-Based): Mango Lemonade froyo from Pinkberry

Mango froyo can be too sweet. Adding lemonade gives it the brightness and tanginess that I crave.

Best Sweet Froyo (Dairy-Based): Strawberry Matcha froyo from Yogurtland

Yogurtland created a flavor that balanced the strawberries and matcha.

Best Vegan Froyo: Nana’s Lemon Meringue Pie from Yoga-urt

This was a tough choice because all of Yoga-urt’s new flavors this year were amazing. But, I have to go with Nana’s Lemon Meringue Pie because of the tanginess. Nana’s Lemon Meringue Pie is made with real lemons, marshmallow crème, and the Yoga-urt house almond/cashew base.

For a list of the new froyo flavors introduced in 2024, see New Froyo Flavors & Froyo Trends of 2024.

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.

Painful California Froyo Shop Closures in 2024

Yogurt Farms Snoopy

Fro-yo girl here. Before the year ends, I’d like to recognize a few froyo shops that closed this year that deserve a few words.

Yogurt Farms, 1224 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

This one really hurts. Yogurt Farms opened in 1982 across the street from Santa Rosa High School. It remained family-owned and operated. There was a huge Snoopy statue in front because Charles Schulz lived in Santa Rosa. Charles Schulz probably was a Yogurt Farms fan? Unless he didn't like froyo. Yogurt Farms was counter-serve and very much old school. I visited back in 2009.

Apizza & Loving Cup, 2043 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

This was the first apizza location to open back in 2019. Apizza was the new concept from the founder of La Boulangerie and owner of Loving Cup. This location also had Loving Cup froyo, mixed with the add-ins of your choice, and hand-churned to order. Apizza closed on Fillmore (Pacific Heights), but added the pizza concept to Loving Cup on Divisadero in San Francisco and in Greenbrae.

iYogurt, 6560 Lone Tree Way Brentwood, CA 94513

iYogurt wasn’t the first self-serve froyo shop in Brentwood, but I think it lasted the longest. It opened in 2010. Iyogurt also had gelato.

Pinkberry, 540 W Stuart Ave Ste 110/B Redlands, CA 92374

Pinkberry opened in Redlands in 2021. There are so few Pinkberry branches left that every closure hurts.

The Yogurt Farms closure hurts the most. Does anyone know what happened to the Snoopy holding a froyo cone statue?

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.

2024 California Froyo Shop Openings and Closings

Go Greek, Studio City

Fro-yo girl here. I’ve been tracking froyo shop openings and closings all year. I found 28 new froyo shops and shops that aren’t primarily froyo shops but serve froyo in 2024. This is considerably less than last year, when I found 41 new places for froyo. In 2022, I found 46 new places that serve froyo. However, I always find more new froyo shops after publishing this post, so the number will most likely increase.

Of the 28 new places for froyo in 2024, 19 are froyo shops, two are mobile froyo units, and seven are non-froyo shops that offer soft serve froyo. Most of the new shops are not part of a large franchise. Last year’s growth was driven by Nick the Greek, which opened 11 new branches in California. This year, Nick the Greek opened seven new branches in California.

I found eight froyo shop closings and six ownership changes. Two closings resulted in a name change and a replacement with another froyo shop.

My goal is to track any new venue that serves froyo in soft serve form, including restaurants, convenience stores, pop-ups, froyo trucks, froyo trailers, vending machines, amusement parks, stadiums, etc. It's easier to track openings, since they're usually announced, but many places close quietly.

Businesses are listed in alphabetical order with the location noted.

Openings

• Aggie Yogurt, Davis
• Cuppa Yo, Dublin
• Easy Breezy, Walnut Creek
• Go Greek Yogurt, Studio City
• Golden Spoon, Tustin
• Golden Spoon, Irvine
• Golden Spoon, Oceanside
• Got Scoopz, Livermore
• Kulfi Cone, Yuba City (mobile trailer)
• Lol Yogurt, Santa Maria
• Rainbow Froyo, Benicia
• Rainbow Frozen Yogurt, Moreno Valley
• Spoon and Cone, West Hollywood
• Top A Lot, Gilroy
• Yoberries, Fresno
• Yoga-urt, Granada Hills, Los Angeles
• Yogurt Lounge, Murrieta
• Yogurt Mill, second truck
• Yogurtland, Santa Monica
• Yokli Yogurt, Manteca
• Yum Yum Yogurt is back in Kingsburg, California. It was Yum Yum Yogurt, then it was The Froyo Co, and now it’s Yum Yum Yogurt again

Not a Froyo Shop but Serves Froyo

• Nick the Greek, Berkeley
• Nick the Greek, Santa Barbara
• Nick the Greek, Pinole
• Nick the Greek, Greenbrae
• Nick the Greek, Yorba Linda
• Nick the Greek, Santa Maria
• Nick the Greek, San Mateo

Closings

• Apizza & Loving Cup, San Francisco (Fillmore)
• Culture Shock, Grass Valley
• The Froyo Co, Kingsburg
• Got Scoopz, Livermore
• iYogurt, Brentwood
• Pinkberry, Redlands
• Sweetie’s Ice Cream Shop, Santa Barbara
• Yogurt Farms, Santa Rosa

New ownership

• CoCo Swirl, Pleasant Hill
• Heavenly Yogurt, San Diego
• Menchie’s, San Fernando
• Menchie’s Rancho San Diego, El Cajon
• Spoons Frozen Yogurt, Porterville
• Tiger’s Yogurt, Stockton

Future Shops

• Golden Spoon, Laguna Beach
• Menchie’s, Manteca
• Menchie’s, Cameron Park
• Menchie’s, Clovis
• Menchie’s, Madera
• Nick the Greek, Palo Alto
• Nick the Greek, Ceres
• Pinkberry, Roseville

Since I find out about openings and closings after publishing my post, I’ll keep updating this post. Did I miss any openings or closings? Let me know.

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.

2024 Christmas Spirit Froyo Shop Winner

 

Fro-yo girl here. I love seeing Christmas froyo spirit during the holiday season. I noticed that 12 days of Christmas promotions were particularly popular this year, and I approve. Santa also made an appearance at multiple froyo shops.

So, which froyo shop had the most Christmas spirit this year? IMHO, Yogurtland wins. This Christmas, Yogurtland introduced a new flavor, Peppermint Fudge Brownie, and brought back a seasonal flavor, Cranberry Orange Tart. They also had a new holiday cup design, new holiday spoons (gingerbread man, giant hunter green), a new holiday topping (mini gingerbread men cookies), new holiday sticker sheets, an online exclusive festive Gingerbread Wonderland froyo creation, and to top it all off, a 12 Days of Froyo promotion for Real Rewards members. During the 12 Days of Froyo, Yogurtland guests will receive a mystery reward each day when they visit the store or order online.

Last year, Llaollao had the most Christmas spirit. Llaollao celebrated Christmas 2023 with a new turron sauce, turron (Spanish nougat), new holiday cup design, new llaollao tote bag, llaollao Christmas socks, and a holiday giveaway.

Previous winners of the Christmas Spirit Froyo Shop Award

• 2023: Llaollao
• 2022: Yogurtland
• 2021: 16 Handles

My Christmas-y froyo images Pinterest board has nearly 1,800 images. 

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.

Yum Crumbs Dessert Toppings Review

Fro-yo girl here. I spotted Yum Crumbs online while searching for interesting froyo toppings. I was impressed and intrigued by the wide range of Yum Crumbs flavors and decided to order the sampler pack to try the product.

Yum Crumbs dessert toppings can be sprinkled on froyo, ice cream, pancakes baked goods, dipped fruit, donuts, and more. The sampler pack of 1 oz packets included the following flavors:

• Strawberry Lemonade
• Banana Cream Pie
• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Red Velvet
• Lemon Pound Cake
• Cinnamon Roll
• Bubble Gum
• Mint Chocolate
• Key Lime Pie
• Cherry
• Salted Caramel
• Blueberry Cobbler
• Berry Blue
• Mint Chocolate
• Orange Creamsicle
• Rainbow
• Apple Pie
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Pumpkin Pie
• Chocolate Éclair
• Birthday Cake

I tried two flavors and didn’t feel like trying other flavors afterwards. The Strawberry Shortcake crumbs were small, hard, and crunchy. They tasted like cherry cough syrup, not strawberries. They had a pasty quality that I also did not like. The Lemon Pound Cake crumbs were a bit better and did taste like lemon (more like lemon oil than lemon juice) but the texture was unappealing.

Yum Crumbs are hard and more like sprinkles than crumbs. When I think of crumbs, I think of soft baked crumbs like donut or cake crumbs. Crumbs aren’t supposed to be hard.

The main ingredients of Yum Crumbs are sugar, wheat flour, and malted barley. Half a tablespoon is about 25 calories.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with my remaining Yum Crumbs packets. Maybe I’ll put some in Christmas stockings.

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.

White Bear Crush Ice Cream Bars Strawberry Milk Flavor Review

Fro-yo girl here. I found White Bear Crush Ice Cream Bars, Strawberry Milk flavor at 99 Ranch Market in Alhambra, CA, for $6.99/box. One box contains three individually wrapped ice cream bars. The wrapper is cute – it has a print of bears.

The bar has an interesting shape. I’m not sure what it is. A mountain, maybe? The interior is red. The strawberry pop is surrounded by a soft white coating that was soft, sweet, and creamy. It contained milk powder, condensed milk, whipping cream, and cheese powder as well. It didn’t taste cheesy. It was milky. The strawberry part had some strawberry seeds. It was sweet with no tang. I didn’t love the coating or the combination of the sweet milky coating with the sweet, icy, firm strawberry ice pop. I wouldn't buy these again.

One bar is 80g, 110 calories, 8g total fat, 19g total carbs, 15g total sugars, and under 1g of protein. The bars were manufactured in Shanghai, China by Shanghai Yimin No ! Food Co, Ltd.

3 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.

Yogurtland’s Giant Hunter Green Holiday Spoon

 

Fro-yo girl here. On December 9, Yogurtland thrilled froyo spoon collectors with the free gift with purchase, giant hunter green Yogurtland holiday spoons. To get a spoon, you had to make a $12 in-store purchase, with a maximum of 4 spoons per transaction.

The hunter green giant spoons are mostly likely the last new collectible spoons to be released in 2024. It’s also the third giant spoon Yogurtland released this year. The spoon is 12 inches long and says Yogurtland on the handle. It doesn’t say anything on the back.

I took my spoon to Descanso Gardens for a photo shoot.

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.

2024’s New Collectible Froyo Spoons

 

Fro-yo girl here. My dear froyo spoon collectors, I’ve created a list of all the new collectible froyo spoons that were released this year. The list is alphabetical and organized by shop. I’ve also noted the spoon color and design. It’s also organized by the order they were released by each shop, with the oldest designs appearing first.

2024’s Collectible Froyo Spoons

• Menchie’s, yellow, Spring Vibes, PB
• Menchie’s, red, The Berry Best, Barry
• Menchie’s, blue, I Heart Froyo, Menchie
• Menchie’s, brown, Falling for Froyo, Chip
• Yogurtland, dark green, Y
• Yogurtland, lilac, giant
• Yogurtland, yellow, PAC-MAN
• Yogurtland, blue, Inky ghost
• Yogurtland, red, Blinky ghost
• Yogurtland, apricot, giant
• Yogurtland, light brown, gingerbread man
• Yogurtland, hunter green, giant

In 2023, nine new froyo spoons were released (five from Yogurtland, three from Menchie’s, and one from SweetFrog). This year, there were twelve new collectible spoons, four from Menchie’s and eight from Yogurtland (three of the Yogurtland spoons were giant spoons). Thanks, Yogurtland, for all the new spoons!

Check out all the fancy froyo spoons on the Pinterest board, Fancy Froyo 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.

Comparing Froyo Loyalty Programs

 

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry just announced a new, revamped PinkCard rewards program, so I thought I would compare the loyalty programs at Pinkberry, Yogurtland, Menchie’s, TCBY, and SweetFrog.

PINKBERRY

Under the old Pinkberry rewards program, you earned a point for every purchase and a free small froyo with toppings once you reached 10 points. The new program awards 1 point for every $1 spent, with 25 bonus points for registering your account. Once you reach 50 points, you’ll earn a $5 reward.

This isn’t a bad deal, since an average cup of Pinkberry is over $5, meaning you have to spend over $50 to get the free cup of froyo. Granted, the free cup of froyo has a value that’s higher than $5. It works out to about a 10% discount, which is the same under the new program. Basing it on dollars spent is also fairer, as it doesn’t penalize those who order a larger froyo.

PinkCard Rewards 

• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent
• Get a $5 reward with every 50 points
• Receive 25 bonus points when you register your account
• Members only offers
• Special offer for your birthday

If you already joined Pinkberry, you’ll still need to register for a new account. Your current points will be converted and transferred to your new account. Be sure to use the same email address or phone number when you register for the new program.

YOGURTLAND

Yogurtland’s program, Real Rewards, once rewarded points based on the number of ounces purchased, but the current program rewards two points for every $1 spent. The reward tier names and perks also changed. There are three reward tiers.

Yogurtland Real Rewards 

• Earn 2 points for every $1 spent
• Reach 100 points and get a $5 reward
• Receive 50 bonus points when you register
• Surprise gifts & special offers

Signature Tier, under 200 points

• Birthday reward: up to $5 off

Premium Tier, 200 points

• Birthday reward: up to $6 off
• Half-birthday reward
• Quarterly bonus points

Ultimate Tier, 600 points

• Birthday reward: up to $7 off
• Half-birthday reward
• Quarterly bonus points
• 2x points every 2nd of the month

The basic signature tier is very similar to Pinkberry’s PinkCard. The perks are better for the higher tiers.

MENCHIE’S

Menchie’s My Smileage rewards 1 smile (point) for every dollar spent at Menchie’s. For every 50 smiles early, you’ll earn a $5 reward. This is the same as Pinkberry and Yogurtland’s reward programs.

My Smileage

• Earn 1 smile for every $1 spent
• Reach 50 smiles, get a $5 reward
• 25 free bonus smiles for registering
• 10 extra smiles when you visit within 7 days of registering
• $5 birthday reward
• Surprise gifts & special offers

More rewards are available on the Menchie’s app. Menchie’s has had quite a few app-specific perks, like the Smile Challenge, double smile days that are only available if you scan the app at the register, and more.

TCBY

TCBY’s Froyo Club offers a wider range of rewards.

Froyo Club

• Earn 10 points for every $1 spent\
• Rewards are based on points
• 200 points, $1 off 
• 400 points, $3 off
• 650 points, $5 off
• 850 points, free froyo up to $8.50 in value
• 1,250 points, 25% off total order in single transaction, up to $12.50 value
• 2,500 points, 50% off total order in single transaction, up to $25 value
• Birthday reward
• Surprise gifts & special offers

While you can earn a discount faster under TCBY’s program, the program isn’t as generous as the others.

SWEETFROG

SweetFrog’s program is called sweetRewards. It was recently revamped, and there wasn’t much information about the program. It sounds similar to Pinkberry’s loyalty program.

sweetRewards

• Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend (pre-tax)
• Receive 25 bonus points loaded to your account when you register
• Exclusive information about new products, member only offers 
• Special offer for your birthday

All these reward programs are free to join. Remember that points and rewards can expire, so read those terms and conditions. Because of the reward tiers, I think Yogurtland has the best loyalty/rewards program.

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.

December at Menchie’s

Fro-yo girl here. It’s a new month, which means new promotions at Menchie’s. This month, two fan-favorite holiday froyo flavors are back, the gift card promotion has returned, and two Double Smiles days have been announced. Also, Menchie’s holiday froyo cakes are back and are perfect for your holiday festivities.

Dark Chocolate Candy froyo made with Dove Chocolate: This flavor was first introduced in May 2023. It is gluten-free and lowfat. It’s made with no artificial flavors or artificial colors and contains no high fructose corn syrup. I didn’t think it tasted distinctive enough (i.e., a lot of chocolate froyo flavors taste the same). Recommended toppings: Special Dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and chocolate shell.

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie froyo was first introduced in November 2016. It tastes more like gingerbread spices (cinnamon, ginger) than gingerbread cookies. Made with real molasses, graham cracker crumbs, and ginger, SGC is lowfat and contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial colors. Recommended toppings: almonds, chocolate shell, brownies.

The holiday gift card promotion is back. Get a free $5 bonus card when you buy $25 in Menchie’s gift cards. Gift cards make perfect gifts and stocking stuffers.

Save the date for the Double Smiles Days on Tuesday, 12/10 and Wednesday, 12/11. Menchie’s guests earn double points on Double Smiles Days when they scan the Menchie’s app at the register.

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.

Save the Date for Yogurtland’s Giant Hunter Green Holiday Spoon Giveaway

 

Fro-yo girl here. Another giant Yogurtland spoon is on the way. On December 9, Yogurtland is giving away free (with purchase) NEW holiday giant spoons. The spoons are hunter green and 12" inches long.

To claim your free giant spoon, visit Yogurtland and make a minimum $12 in-store purchase. There’s a maximum of 4 spoons per transaction, i.e., if you spend $48 and get 4 giant spoons.

The giant holiday spoons are available while supplies last. Some locations do “sell” out, so if you have your heart set on a spoon, get there early.

It’s also the perfect time to try the new seasonal frozen yogurt flavor, Peppermint Fudge Brownie and new seasonal topping, mini gingerbread men cookies. Don’t forget to get the cute new gingerbread men spoons.

For those of you keeping count, this is the third Yogurtland giant spoon giveaway this year.

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.

Froyo Scene in Buena Park, California

Berrysweet, Buena Park

Fro-yo girl here. The home of Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, is a smaller city in northern Orange County with a population of 82,450 (2022). Over 42% of residents are Hispanic, 28% Asian, and 22% Anglo. The Entertainment Corridor also includes Pirate's Dinner Adventure, Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, and several hotels.

The earliest froyo shop in Buena Park was Golden Spoon. Golden Spoon was founded in Orange County in the 1980s and I'm not sure when it opened in Buena Park, but it was before the second wave of froyo. The second froyo wave in Buena Park occurred in 2008 with the opening of Berry Cool, Berrysweet, and Tutti Frutti. 

I found eight closed froyo shops and one that’s still open, Yogurtland. The majority of these shops were self-serve. None were truly innovative.

Knott’s Berry Farm has an ice cream shop called Mix-It-Up. You can get soft serve ice cream there but not froyo.

Current Froyo Shop

Yogurtland opened at 5972 Orangethorpe Avenue, opened in November 2013.

Closed Shops

• Berry Cool, 5238 Beach Blvd, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in May 2008 and closed in 2013.
• Berrysweet, 8308 La Palma Ave, was a self-serve froyo shop in downtown Buena Park that opened in 2008 and closed in 2018.
• Cool Berry, 8532 Commonwealth Ave, was a shaved ice and counter-serve froyo shop that opened in 2007 and closed in 2008. Interestingly, Berry Cool opened in 2008 with a self-serve froyo format, in a different location.
• Golden Spoon, 8261 La Palma Ave, was an old-school counter-serve froyo shop and a part of the chain that started in Orange County. It probably opened before 2007. It closed in 2017.
• Poki Yo, 6924 Beach Blvd Ste K-333, was a build-your-own poke bowl eatery at The Source which opened in 2017 and closed in 2018. They gave diners free froyo with a purchase of a meal. The frozen yogurt machine broke in 2018. They had other locations and some of them also had froyo machine problems.
• Spoonful Yogurt Café, 5151 Beach Blvd, Unit F, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2014. I’m not sure when it closed but it was replaced by Yuchun, a Korean restaurant, in 2016.
• Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, 7941 Beach Blvd, Ste D, opened in May 2008 and closed in 2022. Like other Tutti Frutti shops, it was self-serve.
• Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, 8890 Valley View, St Ste A, opened in 2009 and closed in 2010 or 2011.

Did I miss any Buena Park froyo shops? If so, let me know.

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.

Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt Returns to Arcadia, What Happened to Purple Rice Yogurt

 

Fro-yo girl here. Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt has reopened in Arcadia, inside Duke Bakery. The menu is pretty much the same as it used to be, only with items crossed out.

I’ve watched most purple rice yogurt shops in the area open in 2021 and close or change names by 2022. Here’s a rundown of the ones that have opened in the San Gabriel Valley and where they are today:

• From Yogurt, 29 Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA, opened July 2021 and closed in August 2022
• Yomie Yogurt, 18716 Colima Rd Rowland Heights, CA, is a blatant knockoff of the real Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt but it did open first, in April 2021. The menu is very similar to Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt, which hails from Sydney, Australia.
• Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt, 18178 Colima Rd Rowland Heights, CA, opened in late 2021 and is still open.
• Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt, 400 S Baldwin Ave, Space 2203, Arcadia, CA, opened in May 2021 and became Der-Tea in May 2022. Der-Tea had a similar menu and continued to offer purple rice yogurt drinks. It is now called One Cup, as of 2023, and it still offers purple rice yogurt.
• Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt, 5805 Rosemead Blvd, Temple City, CA, opened in November 2021 in the same shopping center as Daiso and TJ Maxx. It changed names in July 2022 but became another boba shop called Zhen Tea. Zhen Tea offered purple rice yogurt drinks. Zhen Tea seems to have closed in May 2023. It is now another boba shop called Bearology. Purple rice yogurt drinks are no longer available.
• Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt, 227 W Valley Blvd #168A, San Gabriel, CA, opened in July 2021 and closed in December 2022. The space is now occupied by Chickii Fried Chicken.

I did notice that the purple rice wasn’t being cooked as well (or wasn’t fresh) at multiple Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt locations. Purple rice became available as a add-in at other boba shops, though very few offered purple rice yogurt. It's often not fresh or cooked well, so I've become reluctant to order it.

I looked at Google Trends and the popularity of the search term “purple rice yogurt” over the past five years. Purple rice yogurt searches were the most popular by far in Singapore, followed by Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. It didn’t catch on in the US to the same extent (the US is #9 in terms of search queries for purple rice yogurt). Google adjusts for differences in the population size of countries by using the proportion of all search queries rather than looking at the absolute query count.

The first Yomie’s Rice x Yogurt to open in the US is still open in Bellevue, Washington, and they’ve opened in other states. I noticed most of the purple rice yogurt shops in Indonesia also have closed after a year or two. Yomie’s Australia hasn’t posted on IG since 2020, but still seems to be open. I guess that makes purple rice yogurt a passing fad.

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

* YOMIE’S RICE x YOGURT, 713 W Duarte Rd Ste E Arcadia, CA 97201

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.

A Closer Look at Menchie’s Falling For Froyo Chip Spoons

 

Fro-yo girl here. I realized that I didn’t share a clear picture of Menchie’s new Falling for Froyo Chip spoons.

Here’s a better picture showing the spoon's front and back. Chip has a cute tail, doesn’t he? I think he's wagging his tail and smiling on the spoon.

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’s New Flavor, Nana’s Lemon Meringue Pie

 

Fro-yo girl here. Last year, Melissa, the founder of Yoga-urt, created a new flavor, Papa’s Boysenberry Pie, to honor her father. This year, she created a flavor in honor of her mom’s favorite dessert (other than Yoga-urt): Nana’s Lemon Meringue Pie. Nana’s Lemon Meringue Pie is made with real lemons, marshmallow crème, and the Yoga-urt house almond/cashew base. I think I tasted graham crackers too or maybe shortbread cookies?

The new flavor launched on November 20, her mom’s birthday. So sweet.

I love lemons and I am now obsessed with the new lemon flavor. It’s the tartest and tangiest Yoga-urt flavor. Cookies and marshmallow crème make it taste like more than lemons, but the froyo isn’t that sweet because it’s so tangy. Like other Yoga-urt flavors, it is organic, soy-free, gluten-free, vegan, etc.

Yoga-urt has locations in Glendale, Echo Park, Santa Monica, and Granada Hills.

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.

La Fermiere’s Hard to Find Flavors

 

Fro-yo girl here. I always check out the yogurt aisle when I go grocery shopping and for some reason, it seems impossible to find all of La Fermiere’s flavors. Matcha Lime and Hibiscus Raspberry have proven particularly elusive, but I did find both at the La Fermiere pop-up in Los Angeles.

La Fermiere is a French style yogurt made with whole milk, cream, and live and active cultures. It’s pot set and so it is firm and creamy, like custard. The yogurt is gluten-free, rbGH free, and contains no artificial flavors or colors.

Matcha Lime, blended: The yogurt is sweet and tangy with a creamy, smooth texture. The matcha flavor was clearly present but not very strong. The lime flavor was also not strong. I’m on the fence on how well the two flavors pair together and complement the taste of yogurt. They’d probably be better separate – i.e., matcha yogurt and lime yogurt. A serving is 180 calories, 11g total fat, 16g total carbs, 15g total sugars, 4g protein.

Hibiscus Raspberry, fruit on the bottom: I liked this one better because the raspberry puree had so much tangy flavor and the hibiscus made it slightly different (more floral). It was tangier. One serving was 210 calories, 11g total fat, 24g total carbs, 21g total sugars, and 4g protein.

I have a hard time throwing away the La Fermiere pots. So cute. Use the La Fermiere product locator to find the stockists near you.

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 Sou Ohto & Hakuto Yogurt Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. On a recent visit to Marukai Market in Little Tokyo, I found Lotte Sou Onto & Hakuto Yogurt, a frozen yogurt product imported from Japan. One 6.25 fl oz package was $2.59. On the back, it was labeled as sherbet. The ingredients didn’t mention yogurt or live and active cultures.

It looks like a container of yogurt but it says keep frozen, so I assume it’s meant to be eaten frozen. The yogurt ice cream/sherbet contains 5% yellow peach juice and fruit and 5% white peach juice.

Lotte Sou Ohto & Hakuto Yogurt: It was white in color. The texture was gritty like bits of ice and there were tiny pieces of yellow peaches. There was a cream aftertaste. It didn’t taste like yogurt and the peach flavor was faint. It was sweet but not tangy. I didn’t like the texture and the blandness.

One serving is 150 calories, 5g total fat, 24g total carbs, 24g total sugars, and 1g protein.

3 out of 5 stars.

* MARUKAI MARKET: 123 S Onizuka St, Ste 105, Los Angeles, CA 90012

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.

TruJoy Yogurt Frozen Greek Yogurt Review of All Flavors

 

Peanut butter chocolate chip

Blueberry parfait

Classic tart

TruJoy Yogurt

Fro-yo girl here. I recently tried TruJoy Yogurt, an award-winning line of frozen Greek yogurt from Austin, Texas. While TruJoy Yogurt is not yet available in California, expect to find it in California next year (fingers crossed). You can also order TruJoy Yogurt online.

The founder, Charlie Gentry, wanted to create a healthier frozen treat with simple, clean ingredients that actually tasted good. TruJoy Yogurt is made with Greek yogurt, cane sugar, and live & active cultures. It’s high in protein and gluten-free. What sets TruJoy apart is the clean ingredients and the creamy, scoopable texture (without a crazy amount of sugar). Other frozen yogurt brands sold in supermarkets tend to be too airy or too hard. I also don’t like the use of monkfruit and Stevia (TruJoy Yogurt doesn’t use either).

The packaging is cheerful and each pint is described as “one pint of joy.”

I tried all seven flavors of TruJoy Yogurt, and I’ve ranked them in order of preference.

#1) Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip: As a huge fan of peanut butter froyo, I approve of this flavor. It’s packed with peanut butter flavor and has tasty dark chocolate shavings. The texture was thick, creamy, smooth, and dense. It’s not overly sweet.

#2) Coffee: The texture was slightly less creamy, but I loved the coffee flavor's strength.

#3) Madagascar vanilla: The yogurt had lots of vanilla flecks and a lovely vanilla flavor. It was creamy and rich.

#4) Blueberry parfait: With swirls of blueberry ribbons and granola, this flavor had a mild blueberry flavor. The swirls of blueberry and granola made it texturally interesting. I would like a stronger blueberry flavor.

#5) Lemon velvet: This is a sweet lemon ice cream with a bit of tang. I wanted more vanilla flavor.

#6) Strawberry: Such a pretty light pink froyo. The flavor comes from ripe strawberries blended into yogurt. It’s sweet and mild.

#7) Classic tart: I was impressed by the creamy, smooth texture, but it wasn’t that tart or tangy. It tasted a little like cream cheese.

The fruit flavors and the classic tart weren’t as tart as I expected. They’re still good, but I think adding cream mutes the yogurt flavor.

To find TruJoy Yogurt near you, check the product locator. You can also learn more about TruJoy Yogurt on their website, or on Instagram/Facebook @trujoyyogurt.

Thank you, TruJoy Yogurt, for the 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.

365 Whole Foods Market Organic Gingerbread Greek Yogurt Bars

Fro-yo girl here. I just found 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Gingerbread Greek Yogurt Bars at the Whole Foods in Pasadena. A box is 10 fl oz and contains four individually wrapped bars.

A box of Gingerbread Geek Yogurt Bars is $4.99 regular price.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had 365 Whole Foods Greek yogurt bars. I don’t think they’ve introduced a new flavor for a long time or they did and I didn’t notice it.

Gingerbread Greek Yogurt Bars: The bar is a pale light brown color with darker brown swirls in the center. I liked how it was light, creamy, and quite spiced. I could taste the molasses too. It wasn’t crazy sweet. I wasn’t expecting it to be that strongly spiced. It didn’t taste like yogurt.

One bar is 90 calories with 1g of total fat, 15g total carbs, 12g of sugar, and 4g of protein.

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 x Frauth NEW Mindful Matcha Latte Flavor

Fro-yo girl here. I wasn’t planning on getting froyo today, but then I saw the new flavor announcement from Yoga-urt. Yoga-urt locations are swirling the new Mindful Matcha Latte flavor this weekend only. It’s made with Frauth matcha, a ceremonial grade matcha from Japan. The flavor is available at all the Yoga-urt locations through November 10, unless they run out before then.

As a matcha lover, I was impressed by how strong the matcha flavor was and the soft serve (aka vegan froyo) was so smooth and rich. It also wasn’t too sweet! If you’ve had Yoga-urt’s Green Tea Tranquility, Mindful Matcha Latte has a stronger matcha flavor and is a darker green. Try it with Strawberry Serenity and fresh strawberries.

Go get some while you can. Yoga-urt is in Kenneth Village (Glendale), Echo Park, Santa Monica, and Granada Hills.

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.

IFYA Announces the Results of the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey

Fro-yo girl here. The National (US) Frozen Yogurt Survey is an annual survey sponsored by the National Frozen Yogurt Association. Each year, frozen yogurt consumers in the United States over 13 years old take part in an online survey that measures frozen yogurt preferences, current and future consumption, loyalty, and more. The results are compared to previous year’s findings to understand trends over time.

This year there were 258 survey responses.Respondents were:

• 59% female, 41% male, 2% other
• 56% between 25 – 34 years of age, about 77% have children under 18 in the household (the same as in 2023)

Froyo shop visit frequency and loyalty were stable for the past few years, but there was a large increase in the percentage of respondents who have reduced froyo consumption due to price (56% in 2024 vs. 37% in 2023). That’s the majority of respondents, for the first time. On a more positive note, 79% of respondents said they were willing to pay more for high quality froyo.

Respondents liked most of the major frozen chains in the US. When asked about their favorite shop, Yogurtland ranked #1, Pinkberry #2, and Menchie’s #3 The most important froyo shop attribute was a tie between quality froyo and great taste, followed by cleanliness and value.

The National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey is the only one to measure consumer sentiment, behavior, and attitudes towards frozen yogurt. This year, the survey found evidence that consumers have become more interested in quality frozen yogurt. The survey also revealed what other products respondents would be willing to try at froyo shops and what might increase froyo shop visit frequency.

The full results are also available for $150. To order the report or for more information, please contact info@internationalfrozenyogurt.com

A limited set of results is available for IFYA members in the members only Resources section of the IFYA website.

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.

November at Menchie’s

 

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s is looking festive these days with new holiday cups. The red cups feature Menchie, Chip, Sprinkle, and Mookie by a sign that says Happy Holidays and a holiday to-do list.

There are two new froyo flavors this month, HI-CHEW Key Lime Pie and Caramel Apple Pie.

HI-CHEW Key Lime Pie froyo joins a long list of HI-CHEW flavors at Menchie’s. I love key lime pie and HI-CHEW. The texture of this frozen yogurt is like a sorbet. It doesn’t taste or eat like a froyo. That aside, the key lime flavor lacks tang and is more candy like. It’s decent. This flavor is nonfat, gluten-free, and made with no artificial flavors, no artificial flavors, and no high fructose corn syrup.

Caramel Apple Pie froyo was inspired by Thanksgiving. It’s made with real graham crackers and apples. I could taste the caramel, cinnamon, and the apples. I found it unpleasant and strange for some reason. But it was creamy.

The new Chip Falling for Froyo spoons were delayed but finally arrived. The brown spoons feature Chip and it says Falling for Froyo on the handle. These look like fall spoons.

Menchie’s will be honoring vets and active duty military on Veterans Day with 6 oz free. Also, app members can enjoy double smiles on November 12 & 13. And the holiday bonus card offer is back. Spend $25 in gift cards and get a $5 bonus card for free.

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 Gets Festive

 

Fro-yo girl here. The holidays have arrived at Yogurtland in a big way. First, there’s a new flavor, Peppermint Fudge Brownie, frozen yogurt. It’s described as “a rich, fudgy brownie flavor that meets refreshing peppermint for a winter wonderland in every bite.” I think that’s accurate. It is rich and more fudgy than minty. I could taste the mint though.

To pair with the new froyo, there’s a new topping, mini gingerbread men cookies. The cookies are thick and crunchy. They’re dusted in sanding sugar.

There’s a new holiday cup design that features three different gingerbread men, the Yogurtland logo, and a green background of snowflakes, candy canes, hearts, peppermint candies, and gingerbread cookies.

The new gingerbread man spoon is gingerbread colored. On the back of the spoon, it says Happy Holidays.

The new holiday sticker sheets feature gingerbread men, a Christmas tree, candy cane, peppermint candies, a Yogurtland spoon, gingerbread cookie, and Yogurtland logo. The images look similar to the ones on the holiday cup.

Everything is available for a limited time only, 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.

New Pinkberry Flavor, Snickerdoodle Cookie

 

Fro-yo girl here. It’s always nice to start the new month with a new froyo flavor. Pinkberry just released its new festive flavor, Snickerdoodle Cookie frozen yogurt. The non-tart froyo flavor tastes like cinnamon and sugar.

Snickerdoodle Cookie frozen yogurt: It’s no secret that I prefer tart froyo, but I liked this flavor. The texture was very smooth, creamy, and light, but it still felt satisfying without being heavy or too rich. The cinnamon flavor wasn’t too strong, and it wasn’t crazy sweet. The shortbread crumbs were a perfect crunchy topping though I do wish the crumbs were larger. Recommended toppings: nuts, shortbread cookie crumbs, dark chocolate crisps

Pinkberry recommends topping Snickerdoodle Cookie frozen yogurt with cinnamon dusted shortbread crumbs and chocolate chips.

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.