Los Angeles Fruit Kingdom, a Fruit Boutique with Handcrafted Yogurt

Fro-yo girl here. Los Angeles (LA) Fruit Kingdom was founded in 2023 and currently has three branches in Southern California. The shops sell premium quality fruit, including imported and rare varieties.

I visited the shop in San Gabriel. The shop does smell like fresh fruit. I spotted mangos, cherries, grapes, oranges, etc. They can put together a fresh fruit gift basket or box for you. The handwritten signs were mostly in Chinese.

It looks like they added Chinese-style handcrafted yogurt in 2024. They start with milk and then cold brew (strain) the Greek yogurt for 72 hours, resulting in a very thick yogurt that is sold in pots or as filling in fruit sandwiches. You can also get fruit bowls, yogurt bowls, and yogurt smoothies. The fruit is freshly sliced.

Pomelo yogurt drink, $7.99: The yogurt was somewhat grainy/pasty. I find it hard to believe that it didn’t contain sugar or some type of sweetener, because it tasted lightly sweetened. The pomelo pulp was plentiful but dry and sweet without any tang. I’ve had juicier pomelo from shops in the same area. Also, putting the fruit pulp on the bottom vs. blending it in made it difficult to drink since most of the pomelo stayed on the bottom of the cup.

Original yogurt, $7.27, I was told it was no sugar added, but it tasted lightly sweetened again. It was very thick and creamy but still had a pasty quality.

Lingyun Milk Fun has better-tasting Chinese yogurt.

Fruit Kingdom Locations

• 26 1/2 E Duarte Rd Arcadia
• 18238 Gale Ave, City of Industry
• 529 E Valley Blvd #148A, San Gabriel

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.

Tezza Dairy-Free Greek Yogurt Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. I found a new kind of Greek yogurt at Sprouts; Tezza is a new plant-based Greek yogurt made with non-GMO soymilk and sweetened with cane sugar. Each cup contains at least 12g of protein, 4g fiber, and billions of probiotics. Soymilk has much more protein than other plant-based milk alternatives. 

One cup is 5.3 oz. Sprouts is selling Tezza for $2.99. I spotted three flavors there, all but Plain & Simple.

Vanilla Bean: I love soy products more than most people, but I did not enjoy Tezza’s vanilla bean yogurt. The taste was chalky and unpleasant. It was sour yet also pretty sweet at the same time. I could taste the soy. The texture was thick and creamy. One container is 160 calories, 6g total fat, 15g total carbs, 9g total sugars, and 12g protein.

Strawberry: The strawberry is blended into the yogurt. I found it helped mute the soy flavor, though I could still taste the soy. The yogurt was quite tangy but also very sweet. I liked the strawberry flavor a bit more than the vanilla bean.

The packaging is very cute.

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

3 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.

Trying the Viral Japanese Cheesecake Trend

 

Fro-yo girl here. I must have seen the viral cheesecake recipe a few dozen times one week on Instagram. It seems so easy, and yogurt is the main ingredient, so I decided to try it. The basic recipe is yogurt that you put crunchy cookies in and let soften for a few hours. It’s supposed to be like cheesecake.

I went with Siggi’s Icelandic Style Whole Milk Yogurt - Lemon, which is thick and rich. And I added Trader Joe’s Speculoos cookies. I love both.

After letting the cookies sit in the yogurt overnight, I tried the combination. It was good, like a cookie dip, but not as sweet.

It comes down to whether you like your Speculoos cookies crunchy or soft. I like them crunchy. I’d rather have the yogurt with crunchy Speculoos cookies on top.

I tried the method again, using crunchy granola this time. I liked the softened granola better than the softened cookies. But do I prefer the softened granola to the crunchy granola? I do not.

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.

Mother Culture Greek Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. One of the joys of traveling is finding local products like Mother Culture. I spotted Mother Culture Greek yogurt at Whole Foods in Austin, Texas. The 8 oz tubs were $6.49 each. Mother Culture is based in San Antonio and available at retailers across Texas and farmers' markets.

The process starts with certified Grade A raw milk sourced from a dairy farm in Moulton, Texas. The cows are grass-fed. The yogurt is made by hand using traditional methods. A slow, low-heat pasteurization technique is used to help the probiotics thrive. Greek yogurt is strained.

Luscious Lemon Greek yogurt: Indulgent, tastes like cream and yogurt. The texture was creamy, thick, and rich. It was lightly sweetened with honey. The texture is a bit thicker than whipped cream. The lemon extract is blended in. It's not that sweet and has some sourness, but it’s more like rich cream that tastes like yogurt. I wish it weren't quite so rich but it's good and pure.

Serving size: ½ a cup, 188 calories, total fat 11g, total carbs 14g, sugar 12g, protein 9g

Ingredients: milk, honey, lemon extract, cultures

Available flavors: Plain, Honey Vanilla, Luscious Lemon, Maple Pecan. I saw Pumpkin Pie on the Mother Culture website but not at Whole Foods

4.5 out of 5 stars.

* WHOLE FOODS: 901 E 5th St, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78702

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.

Ellenos NEW Pecan Pie Yogurt Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. Ellenos just introduced a new seasonal flavor, Pecan Pie, made with real pecan puree, Vermont maple syrup, Ellenos plain Greek yogurt, and Biscoff cookie crumble. I found it at Whole Foods in Pasadena for $2.69 on sale (regular price, $3.19).

Pecan Pie yogurt: The puree is on the bottom of the cup, topped by plain Greek yogurt. It’s rich, creamy, and tangy. The pecan flavor isn’t prominent, but it adds a pleasant nuttiness. And the best part might be the Biscoff cookie crumbs on top. All the components work well together and make it a more interesting cup of Greek yogurt. You’ve got the creamy, tangy yogurt, the crispy, buttery crumbs, and the nuttiness of the pecans. It’s so good!

One serving is 270 calories, 9g total fat, 25g total sugars, 12g protein, and 35g total carbs.

4.5 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.

OHME! Freeze-Dried Yogurt Crunch Snacks Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. OHME! is a line of freeze-dried healthy snacks based in Vancouver, Canada. Their snacks include freeze-dried fruit and yogurt crunch bites. The yogurt crunch bites are made with British Columbia Greek yogurt, fruit, and sweetened with organic apple juice. That’s all. There is no added sugar and the ingredients are non-GMO.

I found OHME! snacks at Killer Ice Cream in Vancouver, Canada, and also Helms Bakery in Los Angeles. A 44g pack of fruit yogurt crunch retails for $9 US and can be purchased online on the OHME! online store. The yogurt crunch can be enjoyed as a snack, used as a crunchy topping, or added to baked goods.

Strawberry Yogurt Crunch: There were ten small cubes in the mini pack. Each is about the size of a mini marshmallow. The fruit is blended into the yogurt and then freeze-dried. The cube melts in your mouth. It’s fairly tangy and crunchy. I could taste the strawberries. They taste natural and they’re yummy, but they are expensive for what you get. I’d prefer a cup of good yogurt, but the freeze-dried yogurt crunch is much more convenient if you’re on the go.

One bag is 45 calories, 1g fat, 1g protein, 8g carbs, and 10g sodium.

Flavors: Strawberry, Mango, Pumpkin & Carrot, Raspberry, Dragon Fruit

Freeze-dried yogurt snacks are popular in Asia. 

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

* HELMS BAKERY: 8800 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034

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.

Kourellas Traditional Greek Yogurt Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. I’m not sure what’s going on with Kourellas US. Their website isn’t fully functional. I found their yogurt at the Grocery Outlet for $0.50 per container. One container is 4.2 oz. There were three flavors available: blood orange, cherry, and coffee.

The Kourellas own a dairy farm in Greece, the first organic dairy in Greece. I believe the Greek yogurt I found was made with New York dairy and primarily carried on the East Coast. Other than the Grocery Outlet sighting, I haven’t seen Kourellas yogurt in other stores (in the Los Angeles area).

Kourellas Greek yogurt is made with whole milk, cream, sugar, etc. It contains no stabilizers, preservatives, starch, added flavors, pectin, colorings, GMOs, or gluten. The yogurt is strained in the traditional Greek way.

Cherry yogurt: This is a blended yogurt. The texture was creamy and smooth. It did have a strong cherry flavor with a sour aftertaste. I like sour yogurt, so I found it pleasant and natural tasting. One serving is 170 calories, 10g total fat, 9g total carbs, 8g total sugars, and 7g protein.

Blood orange yogurt: Creamy with a strong taste of blood orange, sour aftertaste

Kourellas Greek yogurt isn’t as sweet as other Greek yogurt brands and it does taste like real yogurt and real fruit. I liked it a lot! Most yogurt on the US market is too sweet.

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 Zero Sugar Greek Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. Chobani launched a zero sugar line of Greek yogurt back in June 2021. I did see it in stores, but the idea of yogurt sweetened with sugar alternatives didn’t appeal to me (e.g., I did not like Two Good Greek yogurt). But with all the new zero sugar products coming out, including Chobani’s new zero sugar line of yogurt drinks, I decided to give Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt a try. Chobani Zero Sugar has done well thanks to the interest in zero-sugar products.

Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt is made with filtered milk and only natural ingredients. It’s lactose-free and has live and active cultures. The main ingredients are ultra-filtered nonfat milk, water, and skim milk. It’s sweetened with allulose, stevia, and monk fruit.

I found Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt at Target for $1.25 on sale (regular price, $1.69). One cup is 5.3 oz.

Available flavors: Strawberry, Toasted Coconut Vanilla, Vanilla, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Cheesecake, Blueberry, Milk & Cookies, Key Lime Pie, Peach, Black Cherry, Pumpkin Spice, Raspberry, Lemon Meringue Pie

Milk & Cookies: It’s hard to imagine a cookie without sugar. The yogurt was thick and creamy. I was surprised by the whiteness of the yogurt and the lack of visible cookies. It did have a chocolate sandwich cookie flavor but it was more like a hint of cookie flavor. The yogurt seemed very sweet in an artificial way (yes, the sweeteners they use are natural but they have an aftertaste). The flavor was bland, very sweet, and chalky.

Vanilla: This one was smooth and creamy. It tasted sour, rotten, and sweet with a very heavy mouthfeel. It reminded me of glue. One serving is 60 calories, 0g total fat, 5g total carbs, 0g sugars, and 11g protein.

I don’t like Chobani Zero Sugar at all. I don’t think I can finish a cup of it.

1 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.

Enlightened Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. I’m not a huge fan of classic cheesecake (I do like Japanese cheesecake, the fluffy kind), so I wasn’t in a hurry to try Enlightened’s Greek Yogurt Cheesecake. They launched Greek yogurt cheesecake a year ago (April 2022) in two flavors: classic and chocolate. The product is described as “New York-style Greek yogurt cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and a dollop of whipped cream on top.” It has up to 50 percent less sugar compared to the same size serving of regular cheesecake. The main ingredient is Greek yogurt.

One box contains two individually packaged frozen mini cheesecakes with a suggested retail price of $5.99. Each cheesecake comes in a lidded cup. I found the cheesecakes at Grocery Outlet for $2.49. You’re supposed to either microwave the cheesecake, thaw it at room temperature or thaw in the refrigerator. I left the cheesecakes in the fridge for over the recommended 45 – 60 minutes (didn’t read the instructions carefully), so that may have affected the flavor and texture.

Classic cheesecake: It was smooth and creamy but didn’t taste like cream cheese or yogurt. I thought it tasted like plastic. Maybe the plastic of the cup it was in? The whipped cream was chewy and also tasted like plastic. The crust was soft but had a little more flavor. I could taste cinnamon and molasses.

One cheesecake is 190 calories with 11g of total fat, 19g total carbs, 8g total sugars, and 6g protein.

I had to throw the cheesecakes out. I do appreciate the lower sugar aspect but the cheesecakes taste like plastic.

1.5 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.

MeloMelo Adds Greek Yogurt Series

 

Fro-yo girl. MeloMelo, which has seven locations in So Cal, specializes in coconut jelly desserts. Coconut jelly is made with fresh coconut milk and coconut water. Recently, they launched a new line of Greek yogurt. Their Greek yogurt is dairy-based and features fresh strawberry and fresh avocado. The Greek yogurt flavors are layered. One jar is $14.99. Yes, they make their own yogurt and even flavor it with a hint of coconut.

The ingredients were chosen for their health benefits. Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other antioxidants. Avocado is an excellent source of fiber, healthy fats, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, and folate.

Available flavors: Stravocado Pistachio, Stravocado Almond, Stravocado Macadamia, and Strawberry Peach Gum.

Stravocado Pistachio Yogurt: Strawberries and pistachio are delicious together. The strawberry yogurt tasted like it was made with lots of fresh strawberries. It had a mild tang and wasn’t sour. The texture was thick but not as thick as skyr. There was a layer of chopped pistachios between the strawberry yogurt and the avocado yogurt. I think it was avocado yogurt. There were also small chunks of fresh avocado. Delicious…bigger than the usual yogurt and with yummy add-ins.

They didn’t have any nutritional information available.

The yogurt comes in glass jars. If you return 10 of them, you get a free single coconut jelly.

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.

Clio Greek Yogurt Bars Review

Fro-yo girl here. I’ve seen Clio Bars around (e.g., in the refrigerator at Whole Foods near the yogurt) and wondered about them since they’re made with Greek yogurt. They’re portable, individually wrapped, high protein snacks made with Greek yogurt. Clio Bars are kosher, gluten-free, and contain live and active cultures. Even the granola & yogurt parfait bars are gluten-free.

The Original and Less Sugar Clio bars feature a chocolatey coating, with one exception, the Less Sugar Yogurt Coated Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bars. The Granola & Greek Yogurt Parfait Bars feature an almond butter or yogurt coating. The Original Clio Bars are described as cheesecake like. Original Clio Bars retail for $1.49/bar, Les Sugar Clio Bars retail for $1.99/bar, and Granola & Yogurt Parfait Bars retail for $2.49/bar.

Vanilla Greek Yogurt Bar: It’s thick and looks like a small candy bar. The chocolate coating didn’t have much flavor but the vanilla yogurt part was firm, creamy, and tangy. It tasted more like yogurt than cheesecake but I like that it tasted like yogurt. One 1.76 oz bar was 140 calories, 6g total fat, 14g total carbs, 11g total sugars, and 9g protein.

Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bar: The strawberry yogurt was pretty tangy but the chocolate coating had little flavor. There was a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Vanilla Almond Granola and Yogurt Parfait Bar: This bar was very sweet with the sweet granola with dried cranberries. The granola was chewy. The yogurt in the center was still tangy. The almond butter coating had little flavor. One 1.94 oz bar was 200 calories, 8g total fat, 22g total carbs, 16g total sugars, and 10g protein.

Strawberry Granola & Yogurt Parfait Bar: This bar was too sweet with the sweet coating, sweet granola, and the dried cranberries. The strawberry yogurt part added a little tang.

These were nice, satisfying snacks but the granola made the parfait bars too sweet. I’d like to try the Less Sugar Clio Bars line next.

Available flavors:

• Original Clio Bars: Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Blueberry, Peanut Butter
• Less Sugar Clio Bars: Peach, Coconut, Mixed Berry, Acai
• Granola & Greek Yogurt Parfait bars: Strawberry, Vanilla

Tip: They're good frozen!

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.

Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt Opens Pop-Up Stand at Grand Central Market in Downtown LA

 

Fro-yo girl here. Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt, a Seattle-based family business, 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.

In recent years, their distribution has expanded considerably to the point where you can find Ellenos in many markets in Southern California, including Gelson’s, Whole Foods, Bristol Farms, Vons and more. But Pike Place was the only Ellenos scoop shop – until now.

Ellenos has opened a scoop shop at Grand Central Market in downtown LA. The stand is open from 9 AM – 5 PM Thursday – Sunday from now until March 2023. Look for the Kobe mural. It’s near the oyster stall and Sari Sari Store.

They have eight flavors of Greek yogurt to choose from and three sizes. Most of the flavors are the ones that I’ve seen in grocery stores, so there isn’t anything too unique about the stall. But you can mix flavors, try samples, and buy Ellenos gear there. I wish they had some good toppings, like an exclusive granola, seeds, fresh fruit, etc., that you could add to the yogurt.

The yogurt is rich, creamy, and heavy. It’s on the sweet side as well. I like the tanginess of the Key Lime Pie flavor and the crumble/pie crust on top. 

Sizes: Walkaround, $5.50, Medium, $8.95, Family, $16.95

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

* ELLENOS: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

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.

Meltémi Premium Greek Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. Meltémi is a new Greek yogurt brand that launched last year. They make their Greek yogurt in the US with yogurt cultures from Greece and simple, all natural, non-GMO ingredients. The yogurt is gluten-free, probiotic, and high protein.

The company describes their mission as follows: “We made Meltémi because we believe authentic Greek yogurt tastes better and is better for you. We made it to share that wonderful experience we had growing up with all of you. We want you to fall in love with Greek yogurt like we did. Meltémi is the yogurt we make for our families. We hope you will enjoy it with yours.” The company is women-owned.

I don’t think Meltémi has a distributor in Southern California yet, but I found their yogurt at Grocery Outlet in South Pasadena. There was no shelf tag but I think it was $0.69 cents for a 5.3 oz cup. At Giant, one cup is $1.49. They have a traditional line and a lower sugar line. Grocery Outlet had both lines.

Traditional Blueberry Fruit on the Bottom: The texture was thick and creamy, like Greek yogurt usually is. There were whole blueberries and a blueberry sauce. The yogurt wasn’t too sweet – it had some tang and some sweetness. There was a pasty quality that coated my tongue that I didn’t love. Other than being a little less sweet and pastier, the yogurt did not stand out. One serving is 5.3 oz, 120 calories, 0g total fat, 14g total carbs, 12g total sugars, and 12g protein. 3 out of 5 stars.

Lower sugar strawberry: The texture was thick and creamy but the Stevia made it taste far too sweet but in a fake way. Yes, Stevia is a natural plant, but I don’t like how sweet it is. The strawberries were blended in and there wasn’t much strawberry favor. I could not finish one serving. One serving (150g) is 100 calories, 0g total fat, 7g total carbs, 4g total sugars, and 13g protein. 2 out of 5 stars.

Traditional line flavors: Blueberry, Cranberry Blueberry Raspberry, Orange Mango, Peach, Strawberry, Vanilla

Lower sugar flavors: Plain, Strawberry, Blueberry

I’ve had better Greek yogurt and I’m disappointed that Meltémi chose to use locust bean gum and corn starch as thickening agents. I hope they don’t use Stevia to sweeten yogurt in Greece.

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 Noosa Greek Yogurt Review

 

Fro-yo girl here. Noosa has been known for its Australian (Aussie) style yogurt ever since I remember, so I was surprised when they introduced the Noosa Greek product line. It turns out that Noosa Greek is a rebranding of Noosa HiLo. I reviewed Noosa HiLo back in 2019 when it was introduced. The name and design have changed so that it’s clearly positioned as a Greek yogurt product. HiLo was high protein and low sugar but it was not called Greek yogurt. I liked HiLo but preferred the original Noosa line.

Noosa Greek comes in 5.3 oz cups with a more traditional cup shape. The flavors are blended and the high protein aspect is still emphasized. Noosa Greek is lower in sugar than the regular Noosa line.

I found Noosa Greek at Gelson’s in Sherman Oaks for $1.25 each (sale price) or $1.79 each, regular price.

Vanilla Bean: The yogurt looked different than it did when it was called HiLo. The HiLo version had vanilla bean specks and was thicker. Compared to the regular Noosa Vanilla Bean, Noosa Greek Vanilla Bean has a milder vanilla flavor and no wildflower honey and it’s smoother, less sweet, and not as thick. I still found it to be sweet enough but regular Noosa has more flavor and a better texture.

Strawberry: I didn’t see the strawberry bits that I found in Strawberry HiLo but the strawberry flavor was quite pronounced. The yogurt was thick and smoother than regular Noosa. It was definitely less sweet with a little sourness and tang. This or Mixed Berry was my favorite. It has a little honey.

Mixed Berry: Very nice, thick, tangy, and fruity. The fruit flavor wasn’t as pronounced/strong as regular Noosa. It was a bit sour and a bit tangy.

Blueberry: Seemed more watery and not as thick as Strawberry and Mixed Berry but it was tangier than both.

Available flavors: Plain, Mixed Berry, Peach, Strawberry, Blueberry, Vanilla Bean (the same flavors offered by Noosa HiLo)

One serving (vanilla bean) is 170 calories, 7g total fat, 14g total carbs, 12g protein and 12g sugars

Ingredients: Whole milk yoghurt (Grade A pasteurized milk, live active cultures), Vanilla blend (water, cane sugar, vanilla extract, natural flavor, pectin, locust bean gum, vanilla bean, lemon juice concentrate)

The size is just right for breakfast or a snack. Noosa Greek yogurt is almost as good as regular Noosa.

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.

Papa Cristo’s Greek Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. I recently went to Papa Cristo’s for the first time. It’s a local institution, open since 1948. They started out as a Greek market and added the restaurant in 1985. They make a lot of things from scratch, including, bread, Greek yogurt, pastries, meat pies, etc. It’s still owned by the same family that started it. It’s probably the biggest Greek market in Los Angeles. Actually, I think it’s the only Greek grocery store in Los Angeles.

There is no Greek frozen yogurt but they do make their own Greek yogurt. I spotted five kinds: Greek yogurt (plain), “Extra thick” Greek yogurt, Greek yogurt with honey, Greek yogurt with sour cherry, and Greek yogurt with figs. It’s offered on the dessert and breakfast menu of the restaurant. You can also buy tubs in the grocery area.

* Homemade Greek yogurt ($4.99 for 12 oz): Plain, unsweetened, it’s tangy and sour in a good, natural yogurt way. The texture was smooth and creamy.

* Homemade Greek yogurt with sour cherry ($5.99 for 14 oz): The sour cherry syrup with a few whole cherries is swirled into the plain Greek yogurt. The texture was grainier than the other tub of yogurt for some reason. But in terms of taste, it had what I was looking for – tang and cherry flavor. The cherries are more sweet than sour, despite the name. The texture was thick and rich.

Their yogurt is good, but the yogurt I get at the farmer’s markets in and around Los Angeles is better.

4 out of 5 stars.

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

* PAPA CRISTO’S: 2771 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90006

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.

Revele Gelato Whipped Greek Yogurt Bars Review

Fro-yo girl here. I first heard about Revele Gelato’s Whipped Greek Yogurt Bars when they were introduced last July. However, I couldn’t find the bars in my area which was surprising, since Revele Gelato is a local company based in Huntington Beach. While Revele’s website lists Bristol Farms as one of the stores that carries their products, the Bristol Farms in South Pasadena only carries the whipped gelato line and not the frozen yogurt bars. I kept checking and I’ve never seen the froyo bars there.

A few months of checking went by. Then I noticed that more retailers were carrying Revele Gelato, including Super A Foods. However, I went to Super A Foods in Temple City and they only had two flavors that didn’t appeal to me in the least, Birthday Party and Watermelon. Super A Foods in Highland Park had Revele’s gelato, but no frozen yogurt bars. Hmm. Finding the bars was much more difficult than I expected. They do have online ordering on their website but I didn’t want to buy something that’s expensive to ship without knowing if it was any good.

Bristol Farms on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood didn’t have the froyo bars. I finally found one flavor of the froyo bars at Bristol Farms in West Hollywood for $5.99/box. A box usually has 4 bars but this package said there was one bonus bar.

Blood Orange Yogurt bar: The bar is 37g, which is small, even smaller than the bar pictured on the box. But, that’s okay because that’s how they keep each bar so low in calories (60 calories) with 5g total sugar, 5g carbs and 5g protein. It’s gluten-free. The whipped nature of the yogurt helps it achieve an admirable creaminess and lightness that’s rare among frozen yogurt bars. I was surprised by how creamy it was. However, there was very little blood orange flavor and I kept tasting a bitter aftertaste. It was just too bitter. The sweetness level wasn’t too high. There was no tang. It had a mild yet bitter creamsicle flavor. Gums can be bitter and I suspect that’s what I kept tasting.

Available flavors: Unicorn, Tropical Sunset, Raspberry, Birthday Party, Blood Orange, Mint Chip Flipped, Watermelon, Passion Fruit

Ingredients: Greek Yogurt (nonfat milk, yogurt cultures), skim milk, cream, whole milk protein, sugar, color extracts (annatto, turmeric). Contains less than 2% of carob bean gum, distilled mono and diglycerides, natural flavor, lecithin, guar gum.

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

3 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.

Two Good Greek Lowfat Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. I first saw Two Good Greek yogurt a few months ago. Since it’s made with stevia, I was reluctant to try it, but curiosity and convenience finally got the better of me. Target had Two Good yogurt for $1.77. Two Good is part of the Light & Fit line by Danone North America. It’s lowfat and non-GMO verified. The yogurt was introduced because of growing demand for low sugar products. I’m all for low sugar products, since so many foods seem too sweet to me, but I don’t like the taste of stevia. While it I plant-based, it doesn’t taste natural to me.

Dannon describes Two Good as “a thick and creamy blended yogurt with 2 grams of total sugar per serving and a taste you'll love, with 12 grams of high-quality protein and 80 calories per 5.3 oz serving.” They also say that Two Good has “85% less sugar than average yogurts.” Two Good is different than other types of Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is typically strained and the process removes some of the dairy sugar. Two Good has a patented slow-straining process; it is made out of strained liquid yogurt and the straining of liquid yogurt removes even more sugar. No sugar is added, but they do add a touch of stevia.

Available flavors: Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry, Vanilla, Mixed Berry

* Vanilla yogurt: The yogurt smelled like sugar substitute. It was sweet, whipped, and smooth. It’s odd to say this, but it was too sweet for me. The sweet aftertaste lingered. There are two low sugar camps: people who want low sugar products that taste as sweet as regular sugar products and people who want low sugar products that actually taste less sweet. I’m definitely in the latter group, whereas this product is for the former group. That said, it’s not horrible. I’d have to add tangy fruit, but I could eat this yogurt because it is mild.

Ingredients (vanilla yogurt): Cultured grade A reduced fat milk, water, contains less than 1% of tapioca starch, natural flavors, lemon juice concentrate, gellan gum, stevia leaf reb 1, fruit and vegetable juice concentrate (for color), sea salt, active yogurt cultures L. Bulgaricus & S. Thermophilus

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.

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.

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.

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.