The scoop on The SWEET TREAT
THE MARKET FOR ICE CREAM IS BOOMING IN THE UAE
With summer knocking at our doors, the cold, creamy and sweet burst of different flavours of ice cream can be incredibly refreshing when the steamy heat of the afternoon starts to weigh you down. Ice cream is summer’s most delightful treat, the perfect pick-me-up, and extremely handy when you want that extra boost or want to calm your nerves when you’re overwhelmed.
Even today, a lick of classic vanilla ice cream will transport you back to some of your sweetest memories and that familiar aroma will feel like the warm embrace of loved ones.
It is so hard to stop after a few scoops of ice cream, because according to some reports, emotions can make us perceive the taste of food differently and researchers found that when people are particularly happy or sad they are better able to detect bitter, sweet and sour flavours, and that could be the reason most people associate ice cream with comfort food.
SWEET SATISFACTION
With a hot climate and a young population, ice cream is a muchloved dessert in the UAE. The social media accounts of UAE-based food bloggers and enthusiasts are filled with some of the most decadent ice cream posts.
According to a report by Canadean, the ice cream market in the UAE grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8 per cent in U.S. dollars and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.1 per cent between 2014-2019. While the volume consumption of ice cream products is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.8 per cent during 2014-2019 from 10 millions of kg in 2014 to 12.6 millions of kg in 2019.
Dubai is home to some of the most innovative ice cream joints that serve up everything from rose-shaped gelato delights to liquid nitrogen demonstrations, all drenched in sweet satisfaction.
One of the most iconic sights in the city is that of the pink façade of Baskin Robbins, located in all popular malls as well as different neighbourhoods in town. They offer a delicious range of ice cream, flavours, sundaes, shakes and cakes. Every kid’s earliest memory would be of experiencing their first bite through Baskin Robbins taste-spoon, where they could try the different flavours before deciding on the final pick. The outlets are packed with youngsters treating themselves to their favourite ice cream scoop or families indulging in a decadent sundae or beating the heat with delicious shakes.
For those looking for a more fine dining ice cream experience, Scoopi located on Jumeirah road is a must-visit. They make ice creams using the liquid nitrogen process, which creates the perfect ice cream with little ice crystals and a buttery texture. In fact, they offer the most expensive ice cream in town known as the Black Diamond that costs about Dh3,000. The dish has been created using flavours such as Medjool dates as well as Madagascar vanilla ice cream flavoured with saffron and black truffles, garnished with 23-carat edible gold and served in an artistic bowl.
If it’s a more desi taste you crave, then head to Kulfilicious, located in Karama. A kulfi is a richer and denser treat served on a stick and at the outlet you can sample over 25 flavours ranging from chocolate, pistachio to toffee.
For a more unique experience, Ice Cream Lab is the place to go to as it combines luscious flavours with exciting liquid nitrogen demonstrations. Located in The Dubai Mall, City Centre Deira and City Centre Me’aisem, they offer desserts such as Lotus Experiment or the Yoghurt Ice Cream and you can watch your ice cream come to life before you. They use the molecular gastronomy-cooking concept, utilising liquid nitrogen as the style of preparation to freeze different natural ingredients into ice cream, so there is no need for artificial colouring.
WHAT’S TRENDING?
Just scroll through your Instagram feed to see some awesome ice cream creations being made everyday. Ice cream lovers flaunt different trends that captivate the imagination such as black ice cream, coconut ice cream and waffle cones. Sometimes when they become very popular, ice cream stores launch their own versions.
For instance, salted caramel has become mainstream in the ice cream sector. Tubs of it can be seen across supermarkets and it has become so famous, thanks to its ideal balance of sweet yet salty and rich yet light composition. The salty-sweet combination makes this an irresistible treat and now even salted chocolate is getting some traction.
An almost-too-pretty-to-eat trend is ice cream bouquets, which are cropping up everywhere on social media and these mouthwatering floral cones are one of the most intricate foodie creations made from ice cream and sorbet.
Chocolate, of course, is not going anywhere although an interesting trend that has popped up is that it is being used more as an included flavour rather than as the dominating base of the ice cream. It is being paired with other ingredients to create unique textures. For example, those looking for a healthy twist can opt for dark chocolate ice cream covered in nuts.
But one trend that has dominated the ice cream scene since the start of the year is purple ice cream. This delight is made from yams (yes, the veggie), and is being touted as the food trend of the year. The best part about this ice cream is that the bright lavender colour of the yams is all-natural, so is its sweetness, and it is packed with all good vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
Another popular trend doing the rounds is rolled ice cream, which is made on an icy-cold sheet of metal, and is chopped and spread into a thin layer. Also known as stir-fried ice cream, it originated as a street food in Thailand and is made with milk poured on an iced grill, mixed with fruit or different ingredients on the ice pan. The ice cream is scraped, rolled, and piled high with toppings of choice be it handful of strawberries or a chocolate sauce topping with nuts.
— deepa@khaleejtimes.com