A Strong Force Drives Frozen Yogurt Back in Vogue

Yo Mama Sign

Hong Kong has never been short of new introductions and food trends. The novelty factor seems to draw our attention much like fish to cats, not to mention the known fact that HK-ers love line-ups. Maybe it’s the queues, or down to the very essence of pleasure on food and drink. We Hong Kong-ers have never been short of elements of indulgences every now and then. These food items come and go, like fashion trends. Sushi is the prime example that got its legendary status starting with the most basic combination of nori and rice, and now everywhere you can see people lining up night after night after nght hungry for a piece of that.

 

Frozen yogurt has been popular in Hong Kong with TCBY, short for “The Country’s Best Yogurt”, an American Import. Back then there were extensive marketing campaign and now seemed to have diminished to nothingness for a few years. Then I came across one at Berrygood in Central, then Urban Eatery around the same block, and now Yo Mama in near Star Street — Is Frozen Yogurt really back in vogue? Well, Yo Mama is one of them which waves goodbye to the rainbow coloured flavours and go with simplicity on its own.

Plain Frozen Yogurt with Strawberries ($35, Large)

Located conveniently between 1/5 nuevo and Epoch, Yo Mama as littled need for decor, yet when you entered the cool environment you’ll see a gigantic painting on the right hand side, under there a bench and through the end you can settle down at the tables. The kitchen counter is simple. The machine on one side while through the glass you can order up toppings as you order. Those who have difficulties making choices can be assured. You have two flavours to choose from (Plain, and Green Tea), and two sizes to choose from  ($28,small; $35, large) . You can have it for here, or to-go. It’s that simple, the only problem comes at the toppings, which conveniently divides into (yes, you guessed right…) TWO categories — dry and wet

 

Each order of the frozen yogurt include one free topping. On the dry side the mochi and Granola are popular choices. The granola may be good and crunchy, but I have always treated frozen yogurt to be an indulgence item, I’d save my granola with plain yogurt with honey for breakfast should I feel for something nice and fibery on that particular day! The mochi was squidgy and didn’t look all that attractive either. Instead we opted for the wet fruity toppings — Strawberries on the plain yogurt while mango cubes on the green tea.

 

Green Tea Frozen Yogurt with Mangoes

Both combination made good pictures. The strawberries were ruby bits against a picket-fence whiteness of the frozen yogurt. The plain one was sweeter than the version we got in Urban Eatery, but certainly more creamy indeed. It did not feel the least bit chunky. All you get is this smoothness that will melt right on your tongue and that’s about it. The strawberries were sweet enough to enhance the tartness of the yogurt. Green Tea, however, did not live up to its hype. It was the colour of a pale jade green, swirling to the top with a saffron drape of mango chunks. The taste of tea was lighter and seemed more tangy, which was surprising to the taste. The expected depth and slight bitterness from the tea was also nowhere to be found. While the tea flavour was not prominent, the smoothness was unbeatable, and the sweet chunks of mangoes helped out defining the dessert as a good combo served here at Yo Mama.

 

Don’t worry if you like your dessert with heaped toppings. There is a clear price list for each additional topping, and also a separate list of small selections on current favorites (this one is under the painting). Yo Mama is a good one, and with its prime location that may increase accessibility to just about everywhere. Am I channelling Frozen Yogurt is back in vogue soon enough?

Name: Yo Mama

Address: 16 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (near Pacific Place III)

Tel: 2865 5600

Recommendations: Plain Frozen Yogurt with Fruit Toppings.

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