Back in 2002 Red Mango first opened in Seoul, South Korea and the frozen yogurt boom began. Three years later the first Pinkberry opened in West Hollywood, California and froyo shops popped up all over the US. Countries like the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan were early to adopt the froyo craze. Froyo hasn’t stayed the same in Asia; it’s evolving.
Current trends in Asian froyo include:
Fresh Honeycomb
The fresh honeycomb soft serve trend started South Korea when Softree opened in 2013 (though some say that the honeycomb soft serve trend originated in Taiwan). Softree serves a rich organic milk soft serve with honey chips (honeycomb). It’s available in a cup or chocolate dipped cone. Softree was quick to expand and others honeycomb soft serve shops also opened (e.g., Honeymee, MilkCow, Honey Creme). Some shops offer honeycomb and soft serve frozen yogurt (e.g., Honeycomb, The Cold Pantry, Beegurt, and Milk & Honey in Singapore).
Taiyaki Filled with Froyo
Taiyaki, Japanese fish shaped pancakes, are traditionally filled with red bean but the new taiyaki are being filled with soft serve ice cream or froyo, along with other toppings. At Tai Parfait in Singapore, taiyaki are filled with Hokkaido soft ice cream, red bean, matcha, custard, etc. Taiyaki filled with froyo or soft serve can be found in Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong (Cafe Aboong), Thailand, Taiwan, etc.
Fancy Froyo Parfaits
Shops like Crumbs and Smile Yogurt in Hong Kong popularized froyo parfaits in Hong Kong. Crumbs offers housemade toppings like mini meringues and house crumbs. Smile Yogurt’s creations are truly elaborate and feature housemade toppings and sauces like almond crisps, granola, chocolate curls, granita, and apple chips. Guests order from a menu of froyo parfaits called Chocolate Lover, Wild Summer and The Garden. Milk & Honey in Singapore has the elaborate froyo parfaits with meringues, jello, flavored marshmallows, and orange chips. Nookie Yogurt opened in Singapore in February 2015 and their exotic froyo parfaits are a hit. Parfaits include Chai Brulee Orange, Mango Sticky Rice, Matcha Black Sesame and Strawberry Watermelon Rose.
“C” Toppings
Big cotton candy puffs are suddenly everywhere. You’ll see it on top of milk tea and frozen yogurt. We’ve already spotted the trend in the San Gabriel Valley (Los Angeles area). Fresh made churros are also being paired with froyo at multiple shops. And Asian froyo fans like the crunch of housemade crumb toppings.
The All New Sour Sally
Founded in 2008, Sour Sally was the frozen yogurt pioneer in Indonesia, emphasizing healthy, high quality frozen yogurt. Rebranded this year, the next generation, aka #AllNewSourSally, has a new look and healthy new products including:
- Black Sakura, the world’s first black frozen yogurt is made with natural activated charcoal and sakura blossom infusion, giving it healthful properties. It’s high in antioxidants and the charcoal flushes out toxins when consumed.
- White Skim, frozen yogurt made with Greenfields enriched hi-calcium skim milk, it’s low-fat and low-cholesterol, creamier and softer texture and rich in probiotics good for your gut.
- 30 new toppings made for Sour Sally, including luscious sauces, healthy nutritious crunchies, wholesome fresh fruits, and luxe toppings
- Colorful Lykone cones in black, green, red, pink and yellow
- Riche froyo parfaits featuring 3 types of seasonal fruit, 1 nutritious crunch, and 1 luscious sauce
- New “Little Hand” froyo spoons
Sour Sally believes that frozen yogurt tastes as good as ice cream, but is healthier and totally #BetterThanIceCream. Sour Sally founder Mr. Donny Pramono believes that “One Yogurt a Day, keeps the doctor away. #yogurtneverhurt #itsfitnotfat.”
Asian froyo fans are enjoying new toppings and new flavors at counter serve shops that emphasize quality, novelty, and an Instagrammable cup of froyo.
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