Hong Kong’s dessert scene is experiencing a renaissance as new ice cream and gelato brands continue to captivate the city’s taste buds. With a heritage dating back over a century, the city’s icy indulgence remains as strong as ever.
As temperatures dip, Hong Kong’s passion for ice cream is soaring, driven by a flurry of new gelato and ice cream ventures. The trend gained significant momentum in 2022 with the arrival of the Australian cult favorite Gelato Messina. This summer saw the launch of Milan-inspired gelateria Snack Baby, a move that set the stage for a series of exciting openings in recent months.
Within the last two months alone, Hong Kong has welcomed Italian-Japanese gelato café Tozzo; Singaporean transplant The Ice Cream & Cookie Co; Liz & Tori, a heartfelt project by Vicky Cheng of Michelin-starred VEA, named after his two daughters; and Yonna Yonna Gelato, a beloved Okinawan import.
While the current wave of interest might seem new, Hong Kong’s love affair with ice cream spans more than a century. It began in 1921 with the establishment of On Lok Yuen, a Western-style café chain that also housed the city’s first ice-cream factory. Dairy Farm followed in 1928, cementing ice cream’s role in Hong Kong’s culinary identity. Over the decades, iconic local brands like Appolo, Yan Chim Kee, Mister Softee, and XTC Gelato became household names.
Today, global influences and adventurous palates are shaping a new era. Social media and a growing appreciation for regional specialties have led to a broader variety of flavors, many of which highlight distinctive local ingredients.
For instance, Tozzo reinvents the Roman maritozzo – traditionally a cream-filled pastry – as an ice-cream bao with gelato at its core. At Yonna Yonna, the sister brand of Okinawa’s Yanbaru Gelato, customers savor unique flavors like Katsuyama shikuwasa lime and sweet red potato from Iejima.
Yonna Yonna’s director, Henrietta Tseng, recalls her introduction to Yanbaru Gelato before the pandemic. “I just couldn’t forget the taste of it for all these years,” she shares. “My first bite was mini-tomato and yomogi – it twisted my perception of gelato.” After travel resumed, she revisited Okinawa to confirm her vision of bringing the brand to Hong Kong.
For Tseng, gelato is more than a treat; it’s an escape. “My brand name means ‘take your time’ in the Okinawan dialect. These days, we call it ‘me time.’ Rewarding ourselves with simple pleasures like gelato can generate positive energy and brighten our days,” she explains.
Hong Kong’s enduring love for frozen desserts, enriched by new international influences and creative innovations, continues to thrive, making every scoop a sweet testament to the city’s evolving culinary landscape.
You Might Be Interested In:
- Where Can You Find Handel’s Ice Cream Locations? A Comprehensive Guide
- What Makes Handel’s Ice Cream Prices Worth Considering?
- How to Maximize Savings with Handel’s Ice Cream Coupons
