‘The heat is on, On the street’ Thanks for the heads-up Glenn Frey, but Kolkata will take it from here. The rising temperatures have kept the city hot like a furnace. And yes, while there were a few spells of rain, we still need something more to beat the heat. So, here it is! My Kolkata lists some fresh serves of ice creams and ice-based desserts in the city to make the summer bearable.
Artisanal Ice Creams by Kookie Jar
We love their desserts, and we love their ice creams just as much. Kookie Jar, the 1985-established iconic confectionery, is serving up an array of artisanal ice creams that are just right for the summer. Crafted in small batches using fresh dairy cream and natural ingredients, the ice creams are eggless, free from preservatives, artificial flavours and colouring. The flavours include Cappuccino, Belgian Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Strawberry, Orange & Orange Rind and French Vanilla. The Belgium Chocolate and Cappuccino are still crowd favourites but we have our eyes peeled on the Orange and Orange Rind flavour with the fresh and zesty kick notes of citrusy orange.
Ice Cream Sushi by The Fat Little Penguin
Ain’t no party like a sushi party — ice creams become double the fun when they come in the form of mini ice cream cakes. The Fat Little Penguin, led by the experimental dessert genius Jayatri Biswas, sure knows how to roll ‘beyond scoops’ because it has made the ultimate sushi from chilled chocolate, vanilla and nuts. The three different flavours and textures come together beautifully in this frozen treat served with chocolate and caramel dipping sauces. While this is available on pre-order only, there’s plenty more where that came from at the TFLP Scoop Store in Ballygunge. #Itadakimasu.
Popsicles by Mama Mia!
When in the mood for gelato, Mama Mia! is at the top of our minds. The dessert parlour that opened in 2005, and is now helmed by Adhiraj Thirani and Akshat Singhania, was initially dedicated to all things gelato. Over the years, they’ve introduced new desserts and munchies to keep things chill. This summer, Mama Mia! is beating the heat with a range of vegan popsicles. The different flavours include Raspberry Pop, Green Mango Tango Pop, Jamun Pop, Alphonso Mango Pop, Virgin Mojito Lemon Pop and Hawaiian Pineapple Pop. While their gelatos hit the right spot, these popsicles will surely be our best friend this summer.
Cat-shaped Alphon So from eMoi
The purr-fect mango popsicle this summer is the cat-shaped Alphon So Ice Cream! After gracing Kolkata’s Lake View Road last year, all the way from Delhi, eMoi has been serving up its sugar-free and vegan emoji-inspired sticks, and delicious jars of sorbet and ice cream. Of all their “100 per cent vegetarian and natural” ice creams, we recommend this cute cat-shaped ice cream that oozes mango goodness. Called the Alphon So Ice Cream, the frozen treat is shaped like a cat’s head and is made with mango pulp, while the whiskers and the cat ears are crafted from tempered chocolate.
Fruitini by Baskin Robbins
Sip and slide by this summer! Baskin Robbins has come out with four different ‘real fruit’ mocktails to help you find your summer taste! Choose from Pink Dragon, Purple Fusion, Tropical, Strawberry and Mango and slurp down some dessert freshness! Each frozen mocktail is bursting with real fruit and milk and topped with some boba. Lounging by the pool, hitting the beach, or just taking an evening walk — cool off with a Fruitini!
New flavours at Pabrai’s Fresh & Naturelle
No matter what, if you’re thinking of a homegrown name for ice creams, Pabrai’s is the way to go. The iconic ice cream parlour has been helmed by partners Kunal Pabrai and Nishant Pabrai since 2008. Their USP? Using all-natural ingredients. For their summer special, Pabrai’s is serving up its Mango, Pink Guava with Chili Masala, Coconut and South Indian Filter Coffee flavours. “We are also about to introduce the flavours of Lichi and Falsa berries in the coming few days as part of our summer specials,” said Nishant Pabrai.