Aji Wire Drawing Cookies in Strawberry Yogurt Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. DuoDuo Snacks recently opened in Temple City, and their selection of Asian snacks is impressive. I spotted Aji Wire Drawing Cookies in the cookie aisle. They are strawberry yogurt flavored. They look like chocolate chip cookies with a chewy mochi center. A 100g box comes with five individually wrapped mini cookies. It was priced at $3.59. The cookies are imported from China.

Strawberry Yogurt Cookie: The cookie is a pretty pink color and smells faintly fruity. The chocolate chips are placed on top. The cookie is soft and has a chewy clear mochi center. It was mild in flavor and not that sweet. Even the chocolate chips didn’t have much flavor. The cookie was faintly fruity but didn’t have any yogurt flavor. There was supposed to be a strawberry yogurt-flavored sauce, but I’m not sure where it was. It was a pleasant cookie, but the appeal is mostly in the appearance and texture, not the flavor. I would eat it again but not on a regular basis.

One serving (1 pack) is 430 calories with 17g total fat, 65g carbs, 12g sugar, and 4g protein.

The Aji Strawberry Yogurt Wire Drawing Cookies come in a 100g package and are known for their delicious mochi-filled texture. They are soft and crumbly, making them a delightful treat.

Aji Wire Drawing Cookies are available in Strawberry Yogurt or Chocolate.

* DuoDuo Snacks, 5585 Rosemead Blvd, Temple City, CA 91780

3.5 out of 5 stars.

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

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

Save the Date: Yogurtland Fan Appreciation Day is October 28

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland’s Fan Appreciation Day is returning on October 28. Enjoy a special offer, buy one cup, get one free (of equal or lesser value) for in-store purchases and double points for Real Reward members for in-store and online purchases. The free item is the one that is of equal or lesser value. 

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.

Aniimo’s Froyo Truck Pop-Up in Downtown Los Angeles

Fro-yo girl here. Aniimoi s a new creature-catching game that just launched. To celebrate the global launch of Aniimoi, the Aniimo froyo truck visited Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles on September 16 – 17. Guests enjoyed a free mini cup of White Vanilla Aniimazing frozen yogurt. The yogurt was pale blue in color but tasted like a very sweet vanilla. It was adorned with a custom wafer with the Aniimo image.

They were also handing out postcards with codes for a special gift (to be redeemed in-game).

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.

Van Leeuwen’s New Flavors: Pumpkin Spice and Vanilla

Fro-yo girl here. It looks like Van Leeuwen is planning a monthly flavor drop at their froyo-serving scoop shops. This month, there are two new flavors: Pumpkin Spice and Vanilla froyo. Neither are tart.

Vanilla froyo: I was surprised to find that it had a icier texture. It did not taste like frozen yogurt but it did taste like vanilla. Recommended toppings: any crumble, any sauce

Pumpkin spice froyo: Definitely creamier in texture than the vanilla froyo, the pumpkin spice froyo tasted like pumpkin ice cream. The texture was off though – there were some large ice crystals. It also melted fast. Recommended toppings: speculoos cookie crumble, honey slivered almonds, whipped cream.

What’s up with all the texture issues at Van Leeuwen?

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

* VAN LEEUWEN, 321 N San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

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.

Frozen Labneh from Milk Cult at Café Tropical

Fro-yo girl here. One of the (new) owners of Café Tropical also founded Milk Cult ice cream in Washington DC. It looks like they started serving soft serve earlier this year. They usually offer one sorbet and one dairy flavor.

I was excited to see that they launched a labneh soft serve, but then I had to question whether labneh soft serve is froyo. Labneh is strained yogurt. It’s called labneh in the Middle East. Labneh is usually strained for a longer period than Greek yogurt, so more of the whey is removed.

However, according to the picture that Café Tropical posted, they used Byblos Lebni, which is a kefir-based labneh (and different from labneh made with yogurt).

Anyway, the labneh soft serve was quite tart (they added malic acid to boost the tartness) and very creamy. It was looser (more air), softer, and not as smooth as an ideal froyo but the flavor was very tasty.

Café Tropical currently doesn’t offer toppings. A mini cup or cone is $5.

* CAFE TROPICAL, 2900 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

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.

Hokkaido Gelato Milk from 99 Ranch Review

Fro-yo girl here. 99 Ranch recently started carrying small cups of Hokkaido Gelato, made with Hokkaido milk. A cup is 2.99 oz. Manufactured by Naganuma Ice Cream in Hokkaido, Japan, the product is imported from Japan. One cup was $2.99. The cups are sold individually.

Available Flavors:

• Apple
• Caramel
• Akaniku Melon
• Cream Cheese
• Milk

The cup has cute black and white illustrations and says Icenoie on it. The gelato was firm, dense, creamy, and tasted like a good milk ice cream. It was chewier. One cup is 170 calories, 12g total fat, 14g total carbs, 14 total sugars, and 2g protein. It’s made with milk, palm oil, sugar, locust bean gum, guar gum, and artificial flavoring.

The cup does not come with a spoon. The size was perfect for a small treat or dessert.

4 out of 5 stars.

* 99 RANCH MARKET, 400 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA

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.

Lunara, a Thick Yogurt Shop, Opens Inside Kara Bento in Rosemead

Fro-yo girl here. Thick yogurt — the strained, spoonable kind that’s become a popular snack across Asia — is still surprisingly hard to find in the United States. Let Eat Yogurt in Buena Park, Orange County, was the first thick yogurt shop to open in Southern California back in 2020, and since then several thick yogurt spots have opened in the San Gabriel Valley. Lunara is the newest place to join the scene.

Lunara operates inside Kara Bento in Rosemead, CA, and specializes in Asian style dry/thick yogurt bowls, chia yogurt cups, and protein bowls. The menu isn’t very descriptive, so you’re mostly relying on the photos and the names of the bowls to figure out the contents of each bowl. It looks like they offer different yogurt flavors, though there’s no build your own option listed. They did accommodate my request to leave out the bananas, which I appreciated.

Ordering is done by scanning the QR code at your table or using the self-serve kiosk. The bowls are made to order.

Ocean Yogurt Bowl ($15.99): I wasn’t sure what would be in it, but I ended up liking the combination of fresh blueberries and blackberries with crunchy chocolatey cereal (similar to Cocoa Pebbles), coconut pieces, and chewy oat pearls. The big scoop of yogurt was thick, creamy, and plain, but a pretty shade of blue — likely from butterfly pea flower. Because it’s strained, the yogurt wasn’t sour; it had a mild natural sweetness. I’ve had thicker, drier versions elsewhere, but I liked that Lunara’s wasn’t quite as dry. The mix of textures and flavors worked well.

It did feel a bit pricey at $16 plus tax and tip, especially since it’s something you could easily recreate at home. Still, it’s nice to have another thick yogurt option in the SGV.

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

* LUNARA. 3365 Walnut Grove Ave, Suite B, Rosemead, CA 91770

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.

Matcha Ren Rebrands as United Matcha, New Menu Includes Greek Froyo

Fro-yo girl here. Frozen yogurt is back at the Shops at Santa Anita! It was last spotted inside Kirin Buffet which closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I noticed the Matcha Ren shop changed names. It’s the same business but they rebranded as United Matcha and changed the menu. The new menu has matcha mochi crepes, kakigori shaved ice, parfaits, and shiratama ice cream.

Plain Greek frozen yogurt replaced Hokkaido milk soft serve on the menu. The only toppings listed on the menu were three drizzles (strawberry, mango, Kuromitsu), and mochi (these are big Japanese rice balls, not the packaged Korean mochi).

Prices:

• Cup or cone, $6.90
• Drizzles, $0.50 each
• Mochi, 3 pieces for $1

The cup was small – what I would consider to be a mini. The yogurt was better than I expected – creamy, smooth, with a milky flavor, mild tang, and sweet finish. Personally, I would prefer a stronger yogurt flavor and more tang. It wasn’t crazy sweet. The rice balls were nice and chewy.

The parfaits come with other toppings like tea jelly, toasted rice cereal, red bean paste, and matcha castella. I wonder why these aren’t available as soft serve toppings. Or are they?

Westfield Santa Anita, rebranded as the Shops at Santa Anita, was once the home of Nubi Yogurt, Tutti Frutti, Cefiore, and Sweet XO.

Matcha Ren in San Jose and Costa Mesa are now known as United Matcha (and serve Greek froyo).

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

* UNITED MATCHA: 400 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007

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: National Spoon Day at Yogurtland

 

Fro-yo girl here. National Spoon Day is October 7 and Yogurtland will be offering a free Cappuccino giant spoon with every minimum $15 in store purchase. There’s a maximum of two spoons per transaction.

The Cappuccino spoon is the newest addition to the giant spoon lineup — the color feels cozy and fall appropriate. It’s exactly 12 inches long, with Yogurtland printed on the handle. The design commemorates Yogurtland’s 20th anniversary.

In case you’re wondering, the previous National Spoon Day giant Yogurtland spoons were: pink and green (2020), raspberry (2021), turquoise (2022), dark blue (2023), apricot (2024), and midnight plum (2025).

Will you be collecting the Cappuccino giant 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.

New Back to School Yummtastic Spoon at Menchie’s

 

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s just dropped a new fall, back to school spoon. The yellow spoon features Menchie holding a book that says Froyo 101. The back of the spoon shows the back of Menchie. The spoon says yummtastic! on the handle.

The spoon is available for a limited time, while supplies last. This is the fourth new Menchie’s spoon of 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.

Esso Caffé in Beverly Hills Adds Froyo

 

Fro-yo girl here. Esso Caffe in Beverly Hills just started offering froyo. During my visit, they had two flavors: peach mango and plain tart Greek yogurt. The menu mentioned several toppings, but I was told that they only had sprinkles.

The employees were struggling with the soft serve machine and having difficulty dispensing any yogurt. The texture of the frozen yogurt was terrible – icy and gritty. The peach mango yogurt color was so unnatural. The plain tart was mildly tangy and bland. The peach mango yogurt was very sweet.

I rarely throw my froyo away, but I did because I just didn’t want to finish it. I was shocked by how bad the froyo was.

Esso Caffe does have another location in Glendale. I hope they don’t decide to serve froyo there unless they figure out how to do it well.

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

* ESSO CAFFE, 9646 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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 Exclusive Too Faced Sweet Peach Tart Flavor

 

Fro-yo girl here. Today was the launch of Yogurtland’s exclusive Too Faced Sweet Peach tart froyo flavor, inspired by the Too Faced Peach collection, which includes the Sweet Peach eyeshadow palette, Peach Perfector loose setting powder, Peach Mist hydrating setting spray, and Primed & Peachy hydrating face primer. The collection is available at Sephora and toofaced.com

They had special cups with the name of the new flavor, Yogurtland x Too Faced I Love Peaches stickers, and sweet peach gummy rings to pair with the froyo.

I don’t think the froyo flavor is new, but they might have tweaked the existing Peach Tart flavor. I enjoyed the tang, but found the peach flavor to taste canned and/or not like fresh, real peaches. The flavor is made with peaches though.

I was hoping they’d do more with the collab, like have mini Too Faced Peach samples or a giveaway/contest. I think it's the first time Yogurtland has collaborated with a beauty brand.

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.

The People of Sonoma Are Asking for Froyo

Fro-yo girl here. It’s been a long time since I visited Sonoma, but I have fond memories of walking around downtown Sonoma around Sonoma Plaza. It’s the largest town square in California.

Sadly, I’ve never had any froyo in Sonoma. And the city has been without a froyo shop since Top That Yogurt closed in 2021. There are ice cream shops, but they do not serve froyo.

Granted, the city is small with an estimated population of 10,505, but it is a popular destination. In 2025, Sonoma had 10.5 million visitors who spent $2.4 billion; 45.4% were overnight visitors.

There is a 1,100 sq ft space in front of the high school, half a mile from downtown that would be perfect for a froyo shop. If interested, call Navjot at (415) 597-6644 for details.

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.

First Pumpkin Pie Froyo of the Year

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland’s Pumpkin Pie froyo returned on September 1! It is the featured seasonal flavor. It’s swirling next to Cheesecake froyo. Swirl them together to create a Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Swirl.

I spotted brown sugar boba as the new topping, perfect with their Thai Tea froyo.

And I heard that there will be a new giant spoon drop on National Spoon Day, October 7. Save the date! The spoon will be a new fall color.

I also found Pumpkin Pie Ellenos on sale at Target. Yum!

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 at Menchie’s in September

Fro-yo girl here. Happy September. Menchie’s has two featured flavors for September: Chocolate Frosted Donut froyo made with Dove chocolate and the returning favorite, Harvest Pumpkin froyo. I thought Menchie’s already had a donut flavor, but it hasn’t (Yogurtland had Maple Donut froyo though).

Chocolate Frosted Donut froyo: Menchie’s describes this flavor as, “Inspired by a chocolate frosted donut, this flavor features rich dark chocolate frosting swirled into smooth, creamy frozen yogurt. Every bite blends Dove’s dark chocolate with notes of freshly fried dough for an indulgent experience.” It didn’t taste like dark chocolate, but it did taste different from a regular chocolate froyo. The fried dough flavor was like cake batter or something. The texture was icier than I expected. I didn’t like the flavor at all. It would be better if it were just dark chocolate froyo. Recommended toppings: chocolate shell, chocolate chips

Menchie’s has a new promotion where you can earn double points on Tuesdays in September between 4 PM – 6 PM when you scan your app. Also, everyone who scans the app will be entered into a contest where you could win a $100 froyo party for your class.

Also, the Susan G. Komen fundraiser is back. Donate a minimum of $1 at the register, and you’ll get a sign to fill out and a sticker. They’ll put the sign on the wall to show your support for the fundraiser.

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.