Say ‘Yo’ to Froyo

On a hot day, nothing quite beats the heat like a cool treat. And, if you want something that also helps beat the bulge (or at least prevent it from expanding), you are spoilt for choice. In recent times, frozen yoghurt stores have sprouted across the island faster than you can say “froyo”. The chilled dessert first came on the scene in the 1980s.  But it was only in the mid-2000s that this refreshing soft serve with a lower fat content enjoyed a new surge of interest. Now, there are frozen yoghurts from so many different countries you can have a different one every day of the week.

Yum Yum Llao Llao from Spain

Origins:

Pronounced “yao yao”, this frozen yoghurt from Spain started in 2009. Within two years, one shop became over 100 outlets worldwide. Today, it can be found in 13 countries across four continents.

Taste:

Think ice-cream sundae minus the guilt. Llao Llao’smost popular selection is the Sanum which lets you choose two crunchy toppings, three fruit toppings, and a sauce to go with your frozen yoghurt. Crunchy toppings include cookies, candy, muesli, and sunflower seeds while fruit toppings run the gamut – strawberries, blueberries, kiwi fruit, mango, pineapple, melons, banana and more. To top it all off, you can choose from caramel, wild strawberry, wild berries, apple cinnamon and a selection of chocolate sauces.

The layering is perfect. A frozen yoghurt base is followed by a crunchy topping and fruits, more crunch, then a generous swirl of yoghurt before the sauce is poured on. The result is a towering dessert that is tart, sweet, and crunchy all at once.

Texture:

Firmer than a regular soft serve, this frozen yoghurt actually tastes like yoghurt (so it is more tart than sweet) albeit creamier and with a texture closer to that of ice-cream.

Variety:

There is only one flavour of frozen yoghurt because the variety comes from the choice of toppings and sauces. Mix and match and you will have a different Sanum every time.

Health:

Made from skimmed milk, the frozen yoghurt is gluten-free, trans fat-free and just 103 calories per 100 gram serving. As a bonus, the toppings offered include fresh seasonal fruits and cereal.

Price:

S$6.95

Berry Good Berrylite from America

Origins:

This froyo comes from American and touts itself as a “Hollywood Hottie”. Considering that the United States is the birthplace of the frozen yoghurt, Berryliteis as authentic as they come. Plus, it is the first American frozen yoghurt to establish itself on our shores.

Taste:

Pick a flavour and as many toppings as your cup can hold or you can afford. Berrylite’sfrozen yoghurt tastes so much like ice-cream it is a wonder they are as healthy as they are.

Texture:

Smooth, rich, creamy, this frozen yoghurt holds its form well although it is so yummy, you may not have the chance to find out how quickly it melts.

Variety:

It has more than 50 flavours that are rotated every two weeks with an exotic selection that includes Peach White Tea, Chocolate Mint, Carrot Cake, Country Vanilla, Hawaiian Pineapple, Root Beer Float, Pink Grapefruit, Pomegranate Raspberry, Dutch Chocolate.

The toppings are equally varied - row upon rows of fruits, mochi (Japanese rice cake), sago pearls, cookies, candy, nuts, cereal, granola, marshmallows and more.

Health:

Made fresh daily, the yogurt promises to be 100% fat- and trans fat-free, gluten-free, and just 90 calories per serving of a little over 100 grams. Containing no gelatin, lactose, artificial flavouring and colour or preservatives, it does have more than 10 billion live active cultures to keep your digestive system happy.

Price:

S$5.10 for a medium cup (6 oz), 90 cents extra per topping.

Say Yes to YogurBerry from South Korea

Origins:

In 2004, in a small town in South Korea, a frozen yoghurt store was opened. Within three years, 50 outlets sprung up. Now, the brand is available worldwide with more than 270 outlets in 27 countries.

Taste:

This is a self-service froyo shop exactly like the ones in the United States. You pick the cup size you want and fill it with as many flavours as you like and as many toppings (the usual fruits, nuts, cereals, biscuits, and candies) the cup can take. Just remember that you pay by the weight.

The flavours are mostly fruity with the exception of chocolate and green tea so though it is creamy, it is not quite as rich as ice-cream, which makes it more refreshing.

Texture:

At once creamy yet light, this frozen yoghurt is takes the best of yoghurt and ice-cream to create one wonderful dessert.

Variety:

The selection of flavours – Plain, Green Tea, Blueberry, Pineapple, Green Tea, Mango, Banana and Chocolate – is more modest but what it does offer is the possibility of having every flavour in a single cup at no extra cost. That and the prospect of adding every topping in the house makes for a mind-boggling option.

Health:

This frozen yoghurt uses only sugar derived from fruits. Add to this the fact that it is the first and only yoghurt brand whose product has a GI (glycemic index) of lower than 19 makes this a healthy choice. At 98 calories per 100 grams, you can certainly afford more than one cup a time.

Price:

30 cents per 10 grams.

So Good Sogurt from Singapore

Origins:

Sogurtis a Singapore brand started by twenty-something Lee Li Ping in 2010. There are some eight outlets islandwide now. Cheers to the local entrepreneurial spirit!

Taste:

Another self-service store, fruity flavours sit alongside creative ones like Red Velvet Cake, Salted Caramel Popcorn, and Nutella; and over 50 toppings including cereal, granola bits, chocolate chunks and other sweet treats.

The flavours have enough tang to remind you that it is a froyo which make them a perfect foil for the toppings though the Red Velvet Cake version is a close approximation of ice-cream.

Texture:

Texture-wise, this frozen yoghurt is more like sorbet than ice-cream.

Variety:

Over the years, more flavours have been added so there is always something new when you visit the shop. As with any self-service froyo place, the self-mixing and matching of flavours and toppings adds to the thrill.

Health:

Like the other froyos in the market now, Sogurt is low in fat, high in calcium and big on flavor, making it a yummier option than a glass of milk and just as healthy.

Price:

S$3.00 per 100 grams.

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