Skittles Lactic Acid (Yogurt) Gummy Review

Fro-yo girl here. I found more imported yogurt candy at Replicant Shell in Pasadena. These Skittles are gummy candies imported from China. The small pouch was $4.49.

Three flavors: Sour Original (yellow), Sour Lemon (green), Sour Mango (orange)

There are soft gummies and there are hard gummies. Skittles gummies are very soft and spongey, with a firmer interior. They smell like Yakult. The sizes and shapes are not uniform.

• Original: sour flavor but tangy like Yakult, with a sweet aftertaste, very soft texture almost like mochi
• Mango: fruity flavor and tangy, does have a mango taste, seemed sweeter
• Lemon: didn’t get any

The gummies are good, though I prefer the firmer texture of the Lactic Acid Yogurt Skittles.

* REPLICANT SHELL, 290 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

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.

Scoop and Cone Opens in West Hollywood

 

Fro-yo girl here. Scoop and Cone, the new self-serve frozen yogurt and chimney cakes shop that took over the old Yogurt Stop space, just opened in West Hollywood, CA. They remodeled and also are using new soft serve machines. Guests can choose from ten froyo flavors a day and toppings for $0.83/oz. The flavors were standard. For toppings they had the usual candy, mochi, fruit, popping boba, nuts, cookies, chocolate chips, cereal, granola, coconut, sprinkles, etc. Toppings were neatly labeled.

Yogurt Shop had better toppings, but Scoop and Cone does bring something new with the made-to-order chimney cones, aka kürtőskalács, or chimney cakes. Chimney cakes are a traditional Hungarian pastry, made by wrapping dough around a hot iron tube and baked (traditionally over hot coals(. The cones are served freshly baked with optional fillings, coatings, ice cream, and toppings.

I didn't notice anything that signified it was a grand opening except for a sign and some red balloons.

They're also adding candy and drinks soon. Parking in this neighborhood is very tough. Indoor and outdoor seating are available.

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

* SCOOP & CONE: 803 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.

Lactic Acid (Yogurt) Skittles Review

Fro-yo girl here. I recently heard that the Shell station on Arroyo in Pasadena, aka Replicant Shell, had a selection of imported Asian snacks. I found several kinds of Skittles, imported from China. I selected an interesting small peach-colored resealable pouch without knowing what kind of Skittles it contained (the package didn't have English except for the word Skittles). The 100g pouch was $3.99.

I tried to find out more about my purchase using online research, but there was little information. Google translated some of the text on the package as lactic acid flavor and lactobacillus. These are yogurt-flavored Skittles!

The pouch contained five different colors of Skittles: pastel green, pastel pink, pastel yellow, pastel blue, and pastel peach. Based on tasting each, I believe the flavors are:

• Yellow: Pineapple
• Green: Lime
• Pink: Strawberry
• Peach: Peach
• Blue: Yakult/yogurt

The Skittles were the size, shape, and texture of the regular Skittles. They were firm, chewy, and had a thin shell. Each flavor of Yogurt Skittles was a bit tangy and it seems possible that each one had a Yakult flavor blended in.

Yogurt Skittles are really good! They’re not better than original Skittles,, just different.

* REPLICANT SHELL, 290 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

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.

Pinkberry No Longer Available at Amazon Go

 

Fro-yo girl here. Remember how excited I was that you could get Pinkberry at Amazon Go stores. There are three Amazon Go stores in Southern California and the Whittier and Woodland Hills locations had self-serve Pinkberry with unlimited toppings. It was a really good deal because they charged a flat rate of $4.99 for froyo and toppings. Granted, they only offered two flavors, original and pomegranate, and three toppings, but still, it was a steal.

Unfortunately, I don’t live near Amazon Go, so my visits were infrequent. I recently returned and noticed the Pinkberry sign had been removed. The froyo machine and toppings were still there. They were out of froyo mix during my visit, but I was told that they now serve vanilla and chocolate froyo (not Pinkberry). The change happened late last year. It’s still $4.99/per cup with unlimited toppings.

Amazon Go doesn’t look like it’s doing too well. Some of the shelves looked empty. They seem to have reduced their inventory. The prepared food is simple, but it’s not bad.

Last year, Amazon closed eight Go storesclosed eight Go stores. Amazon Fresh isn’t doing well either.

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

* AMAZON GO: 14249 Whittier Blvd, Whittier, CA 90605

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 New Flavor, Papa’s Boysenberry Pie

 

Fro-yo girl here. I just enjoyed a swirl of Yoga-urt’s new flavor, Papa’s Boysenberry Pie. This special flavor is the first new flavor Yoga-urt has introduced since since 2021’s Café De Olla (unless you count the naturally sweetened/no sugar added versions of a few existing flavors).

Papa’s Boysenberry Pie isn’t just any new flavor. It was created in honor of Melissa’s father (Melissa is the founder of Yoga-urt) who passed away in March. His favorite dessert was boysenberry pie. Papa’s Boysenberry Pie combines his favorite dessert with his favorite froyo. Stu was more than Melissa’s dad. He also helped out at Yoga-urt, acting as the unofficial CFO and a tireless mentor.

Papa’s Boysenberry Pie (vegan, plant-based, organic, soy-free, gluten-free, froyo): Boysenberries are a hybrid of several berries, including loganberry, dewberry, raspberry, and blackberry. I’m not sure what dewberries or loganberries taste like, so boysenberries taste like mostly like blackberry to me. Papa’s Boysenberry Pie froyo tasted sweeter than some of the other Yoga-urt flavors. It definitely tastes like berry but not exactly like blackberry or raspberry. I thought I tasted some type of crust too, but I’m not sure. The yogurt was luscious, fresh, thick, rich, and smooth. Recommended toppings: cake pieces, nuts, fresh berries

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

For Yoga-urt locations and to order online, visit https://yoga-urt.com/

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.

The Comprehensive List of Father's Day Froyo Specials

Fro-yo girl here. This list is for all the fathers out there who love froyo. Happy Froyo Father’s Day!

Let's hear it for TCBY for continuing the tradition of offering free froyo for dads on Father's Day and for moms on Mother's Day. Dads get the first 6 oz of froyo for free on Father's Day.

Shops are listed in alphabetical order:

• Berry Yo Frozen Yogurt (Arlington Heights, IL): Dads get a free froyo on Father’s Day, see the cashier for the 8 oz cup
• Catch The Wave (Plainview, NY): Buy one, get one free when you say "Father's Day" at checkout on 6/16
• Chicberry (Ecuador): Buy one cone, get the 2nd cone at half price on Father’s Day
• Cuppa Yo (Bend, OR): Spend $10 on 6/16 and dad's froyo is free
• Cuppa Yo (Buckeye, AZ): Bring dad in for a buy one, get one free (lighter one free) on 6/16
• Frost (Kailua, HI): Free froyo for all fathers on June 16 when you show that you are following Frost on IG @frostkailua
• FroYo (St. Louis, MO): Buy one cup and dads get up to 10 oz free on Father's Day
• Froyos & Vinos (Peachtree City, GA): 20% off drinks or froyo on Father's Day
• Fuzzy Cow (Cherryville, NC): Fathers get 25% off all day on Father's Day
• Greenfrost Ciudadela Ibarra (Quito, Ecuador): Free froyo for dads on Father's Day
• Hoopla Frozen Yogurt (St. Joe, MI): Dads get 50% off their cups on June 16
• Kumy (Mexico): 2x1 promo on froyo cups on Father's Day
• Lemonberry Frozen Yogurt (Cleveland, OH): Bring dad in on 6/18 for a free sundae with the purchase of another sundae·     
• Let’s Yo (Montclair, NJ): Come with dad or any father figure on 6/16 for 25% off your purchase
• Llaollao (Philippines): Dads enjoy a free extra topping on small, medium, or large froyo tubs on June 15 - 16 only
• MooMoo House (Brunei): Bring your dad and spend a minimum $5 on food & beverage or merchandise and your dad gets his cup of froyo for free on 6/15 - 6/16
• Simply Froyo (Philippines): Enjoy 15% off when you order with your dad on Father's Day
• Smooy (Singapore): Get a free mini cup of froyo for your dad with minimum spend of $10 on Father's Day
• SummerSweet Frozen Yogurt Cafe (Colorado Springs, CO): Fathers get a free cup of froyo on Father's Day
• Suzy's Swirl (Lake Bluff, IL): Dads get free small froyo on Father's Day from 11 AM - 5 PM
• Sweetspot (Longview, WA): Dads get a free small cup on Father's Day with the purchase of another family member 
• TCBY (US): Dads get the first 6 oz of froyo for free on Sunday, June 16
• Tutti Frutti Kenner & River Ridge (New Orleans, LA): Free 4 oz of froyo w/ a purchase of a yogurt of equal or greater value
• Twisted Treats (Wimberley, TX): Free 3 oz of froyo or acai for dads on Father's Day
• Yo Mama Frozen Yogurt (Wauwatosa, WI): Free froyo for dads on Father's Day
• Yogurt Beach (Naperville, IL): Dads enjoy 25% off their cup on Father's Day
• Yogurtini (Kansas City, MO): Dad's cup is free with a purchase (up to $5 free), show the post IG @yogurtinikc on Father's Day at checkout to redeem
• Yole (Malaysia) free mango sauce with the purchase of any froyo from June 1 – 16
• Yonique Froyo (Brunei): Buy 2 large cups and get 1 free small cup on Father's Day
• Yoogi by Arcanopolis (Philippines): 1 free premium yogurt topping for dad on Father’s Day

Most shops announce their Father’s Day promotions the day before or on Father’s Day, so check back for updates. Also, some countries recognize Father's Day on other dates. I only include the Father's Day specials on or near June 16, 2024.

For more Father’s Day froyo images, check out the Father’s Day Froyo Pinterest board. https://www.pinterest.com/froyogirl/fathers-day-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.

An Update on Loop Neighborhood, Froyo Disappears

 

where the froyo station used to be

Fro-yo girl here. In 2015, I wrote about Loop Neighborhood, the new kind of convenience store founded in Northern California in 2013 and located at Shell gas stations. Loop carried healthier options and had a modern, sleek design. Some of their stores even offered self-serve froyo. They chose top-of-the-line Electro Freeze soft serve machines, Dannon Yo Cream froyo, and flat-rate pricing. I went once and the froyo was too soft – so there was some issue with how they were using and maintaining those soft serve machines, unfortunately. 

Over the years, I watched Loop grow and I was excited because it meant more places to get froyo. In 2017, Loop had 23 locations in Northern California. By 2020, Loop had 35 stores and 33 of them offered self-serve froyo. The Loop website indicated which locations offered froyo.

And then the pandemic struck. I’m assuming that this is why they stopped offering froyo. Self-serve froyo wasn’t allowed for about a year.

Do any Loop Markets still carry froyo? The Union City branch removed the froyo machines and toppings bar and that area is now used for storage. I have the before (2018) and after pictures (2024).

where the froyo toppings used to be

froyo machines

Loop's website lists the features (e.g., coffee, car wash, Amazon lockers) and which locations offer each, but froyo is no longer on the website.

Loop currently has 56 markets in California. Other gas station convenience stores still offer self-serve froyo and they survived the pandemic, but those stores are not in California.

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 FREE Lilac Giant Spoons & PAC-MAN Sticker Sheets

 

Fro-yo girl here. Are you a giant spoon collector? A froyo spoon collector? Today’s the day that Yogurtland is giving out lilac giant Yogurtland spoons with every every $12 minimum in-store purchase of food or beverage (maximum of four spoons per transaction), while supplies last.

The lilac giant spoon is 12 inches long and says Yogurtland on the handle.

Online and third party delivery orders are excluded from the promo.

I arrived at Yogurtland early, before noon, and there was already a long line of people waiting for froyo and admiring their giant spoons.

This is the first time that Yogurtland has had a giant lilac spoon. I also picked up free Yogurtland x PAC-MAN sticker sheets. The stickers show the Yogurtland PAC-MAN yellow spoon, the new PAC-MAN inspired flavors, cherries, and PAC-MAN and the ghosts about to chomp on cups of Yogurtland 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.

Pinkberry New Mega Minion Banana Pudding Froyo & Despicable Me 4 Promotion

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry has a new summer froyo flavor and it’s inspired by the upcoming release of Despicable Me 4. The flavor is Mega Minion Banana Pudding.

Pinkberry describes the flavor as a frozen yogurt that’s “made with banana pudding giving it a creamy and cool consistency. The Mega Minion Banana Pudding frozen yogurt swirl is so delicious and refreshing - you won't be able to get enough of this new flavor! Whether enjoyed on its own or with Pinkberry's recommended choice of toppings: bananas, blueberries, and Nilla wafers; this MEGA-sweet treat will blast your taste buds.”

Since I hate bananas and have never liked anything with banana flavor, I had to settle for a small sample of the new flavor. It’s hard to judge banana-flavored anything except by how strong the banana flavor is. I’ve never had banana pudding. I’m not sure what banana pudding is like. The flavor didn’t taste like straight-up banana. It seemed to have a strong vanilla flavor. It was smooth, light, and sweet. According to the Pinkberry employee, the flavor has been a bigger hit with adults than with kids.

Mega Minion Banana Pudding frozen yogurt is available at participating Pinkberry stores until August 1, 2024 or while supplies last.

They also have Despicable Me 4 cups (I only saw these for the small size cup) and a Despicable Me 4 sweepstakes. Ten winners will receive a $50 Pinkberry gift card, Despicable Me 4 movie swag, and 4 Fandango movie tickets.

Despicable Me 4 arrives in theaters on July 3, 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.

Pinkberry Vending Machine at the Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia, CA, Turned Off

Fro-yo girl here. Back in April 2022, iCream installed a Pinkberry vending machine at Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia, CA. It was in the food court area by Chick-fil-a. I passed by it many times and never saw anyone make a purchase.

The last few times I passed by, it hasn’t been on (the screen is black). At first, I thought it was being repaired, but it’s been off during multiple visits. The site has also been removed from the Pinkberry website, so it must have closed.

The price went up to $6 for a small cup. It started out as $5 for one cup and $0.25 per topping.

I’m not sure how many of the Pinkberry vending machines are still installed and turned on. The iCream website no longer works. The name of the mall changed to The Shops at Santa Anita in late 2022 when ownership changed. There is no frozen yogurt available at the mall at the moment, though you can get plant-based soft serve from Pressed and soft serve ice cream from Cha Redefine.

Now I have to investigate what happened to the other Pinkberry vending machines.

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.

Cuppa Yo Opens in Dublin, California

 

Fro-yo girl here. Cuppa Yo is now open in Dublin, California’s Tivoli Plaza. Tivoli Plaza is a new development that opened last year. It has an Indian supermarket called Turmeric, restaurants, shops, a Montessori pre-school, etc.

Cuppa Yo had a grand opening celebration on March 23, 2024 that I wasn't able to attend. Cuppa Yo was founded in 2009 in Bend, Oregon. They’ve been signing franchisees and opening many new stores recently. The concept is self-serve and can now be found in multiple states. The Dublin location is their first in California.

Cuppa Yo Dublin features ten self-serve froyo flavors a day, toppings, and sauces for $0.82/oz. I didn’t see the price per ounce listed anywhere. They also have the option of flat rate cups (but you can’t go over the rim), $6 for 12 oz cups, $8 for 16 oz cups, and $12 quarts. The flat rate pricing does not include any toppings. Other options include pre-packed quarts with toppings, freeze-dried candy, and froyo for dogs.

The shop was clean and cheerful with black tiles and orange and white walls. Veterans and seniors enjoy 10% off. There was a big sign about sample scamming, and when I asked for samples, I received one cup (stingy).

They serve YoCream yogurt and use Taylor soft serve machines. I was pleased with the texture and flavor of Country Vanilla froyo (thick, creamy, sweet like frozen custard), but the toppings bar feels limited and has little fresh fruit. Also, I think the price is high for the area. Yogurtland Dublin currently charges $0.78/oz and has more interesting flavors and toppings.

You do get a color-changing spoon with your cup of froyo.

Interestingly, I spotted an Indian/Mediterranean eatery called PiKaSo a few steps from Cuppa Yo that had froyo on the wall art. I walked in to investigate and the froyo machine wasn’t working. The employee told me that they had one flavor, vanilla. On the menu it says “classically flavored frozen sweet Greek yogurt.”

I drove by the old Blush Dublin location, and it’s a Teaspoon boba shop now.

* CUPPA YO: 3970 Summit Rd, Dublin, CA 94568

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 Summer Pac-Man Flavors at Yogurtland, Pac-Man Cups, and New Toppings

 

Fro-yo girl here. It’s summertime at Yogurtland and they just launched a new promotion with the iconic video game brand PAC-MAN from Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

Let’s start with the limited-edition flavors inspired by PAC-MAN.

CHERRY Chomp Sorbet is “inspired by PAC-MAN's unstoppable munching, this refreshing sorbet offers a burst of citrus that complements the sweetness of cherries.” The nonfat flavor is gluten-free and made with real cherries. It was smooth, sweet but not tangy, and refreshing. The cherry flavor was prominent. The citrus burst tasted like lime. It reminded me of Cherry ICEEs but hopefully with a lot less food color. Recommended toppings: fresh berries, mochi.

Pineapple POWER-UP Sorbet is described as “the perfect PAC-MAN POWER-UP for a hot summer day, with its vibrant fusion of sweet mango and tart pineapple.” This is a returning flavor. It was introduced last summer under the name of Pineapple Mango sorbet. I could taste the pineapple and the mango. The mango makes is sweeter. It wasn’t tangy. Recommended toppings: popping boba, PAC-MAN gummies

I already told you about the new PAC-MAN, blue ghost, and red ghost spoons. But I didn’t know that the ghosts had names. The red ghost is Blinky and the blue ghost is Inky.

I spotted one of the two limited edition PAC-MAN cup designs. The black cup features a maze, four ghosts, and PAC-MAN eating a cup of Yogurtland froyo. The other cup design shows PAC-MAN eating a cherry.

The new PAC-MAN gummies are pineapple-flavored. They’re pretty firm and chewy. I also spotted gummy cherries.

There’s a new exclusive online treat called the Waka Waka Cup which features Pineapple POWER-UP sorbet topped with gummy PAC-MAN, gummy cherries, and mango popping boba. You can only get it by ordering it online from yogurtland.com or the Yogurtland app.

Also, look for Yogurtland x PAC-MAN sticker sheets. And you can purchase limited edition Yogurtland x PAC-MAN t-shirts and caps from Yogurtland’s merchandise site.

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.

June Flavors at Menchie’s, Win 7-Day Alaska Cruise with Holland America

 

Fro-yo girl here. Happy June! New month, new featured flavors at Menchie’s. Also, there’s a new app member sweepstakes and the grand prize is a seven-day Alaska cruise for four people with Holland America.

Scan your Menchie’s app when you make an in-store purchase to be entered to win a 7-day Alaska cruise for four on Holland America to see the Alaska glaciers (and more). Download the free Menchie’s app, if you haven’t already done so, register, and start scanning for a chance to win.

The featured flavors for June are Alaska Glacier Vanilla Froyo, Vegan Honeydew Sorbet, and Vegan Cake Batter.

Alaska Glacier Vanilla froyo is labeled as two existing flavors, Vanilla Show and Country Vanilla, on the Menchie’s website. Does this mean that Alaska Glacier Vanilla could be either Vanilla Snow or Country Vanilla? Country Vanilla is creamier and has a stronger vanilla flavor than Vanilla Snow. The former is made with real Tahitian vanilla bean and has a custard base.

Vegan Honeydew Sorbet is a returning flavor that review. Honeydew sorbet is nonfat, gluten-free, dairy-free, and made with no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, and no high fructose corn syrup. It tasted sweet and candy-like. I would add something tart to it for balance.

Vegan Cake Batter made with almond milk, which was first introduced in June 2023, is back. The flavor is nonfat, gluten-free, dairy-free, and made with no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, and no high fructose corn syrup. It seemed crazy sweet to me and like butterscotch.

Featured flavors are available at participating stores 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.