Vegan fro-yo and ice cream doesn’t make any sense. I immediately think of the scene in Community when Britta walks into an ice cream parlour and asks if they have vegan fro-yo and the reply is a curt “you know what fro-yo is, right?”
One of my main concerns going vegan was giving up ice cream. I love banana ice cream, it saved me from falling off the vegan wagon. I’ll post some combinations of banana ice cream soon, but after a while you still miss the magic of Ben and Jerry’s Blondie Brownie and the ease of getting a Mr Whippy when at a park.
Yorica has found the answer. It is a haven nestled in Soho and has ice cream which is free from gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs and wheat. So it’s vegan fro-yo and ice cream made from rice milk and coconut cream. Trendy and friendly, but is it any good?
I dragged along my brother for a much needed taste test, especially considering the weather in London today. Ice cream was a definite necessity.
Indulging in both frozen yogurt and ice cream, it’s safe to say it is worth visiting, vegan or not. It tastes just as normal frozen yogurt and ice cream does. The lady behind the counter was kind enough to let me taste almost every flavour because let’s face it, if you don’t pick the right flavour, it’s the end of the world.
Frozen yogurt wise, chocolate is best. Stick to the classic: it’s luxurious and delicious, everything you’d expect from whippy chocolate ice cream in terms of both taste and texture. The vanilla has serious flavour which was impressive. Usually vanilla is bland and unfortunately manqué. Here, though, it’s light and clean. Unfortunately, the other two flavours don’t quite hit the spot in comparison. The caramel is good but has a strange hint of coffee about it and you can tell the difference between it and normal caramel (if you’ve had normal caramel before). The matcha is nice, but I’m not too crazy about matcha generally, so that’s why it didn’t float my boat.
The ice cream is similar. Beautiful in texture, it’s impossible to tell it’s vegan. The chocolate orange is magical. The orange flavour was too strong for my brother, but I loved it – it’s like Terry’s Chocolate Orange but in ice cream form. The cookies and cream is good but not quite as strong on the flavour you’d expect, and there’s a tinge of mint in the aftertaste. Not bad, but just unexpected. The violet ice cream is soft and floral and so pretty with edible flowers. The chocolate beetroot is amazingly moreish and the combination is balanced masterfully. Finally, the wow butter isn’t bad, but just not nutty enough for me and, not being allergic to nuts, I’ll stick to eating peanut butter out the jar.
The toppings steal the show, though. Oreos, brownie tiffin pieces, gummy bears, marshmallows, sauces and fresh fruit. The brownie tiffin pieces are an absolute must, and go for the chocolate sauce, not the caramel. The milkshakes also look amazing, and are topped with coconut whipped cream. Hopefully I’ll get to try one soon!
It’s also not extortionate which is much appreciated considering how anything labelled “vegan” seems to warrant a hefty price tag for no obvious reason a lot of the time. A “classic” fro-yo tub is the perfect size for a snack or dessert and you can have to flavours for £3.50 with toppings ad sauces a little extra.
All in all, it’s a must visit for the summer months. Considering that there aren’t exactly an abundance of places vegans can go for ice cream this is a saves, and more so because it’s actually good. More than good – great. Go with the right flavours (and the brownie tiffin topping) and it’s everything you could wish for. A free lovin’ treat, as Yorica would say.
Ice cream love for now,
Karishma
Smoothies over jacuzzis 
[ Smiles ] Excellent! I love vegan ice cream!
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