This conflict represents an all-too-common human conundrum. How can one satisfy his sweet-tooth desires without paying such high costs? In the bigger picture, this also left a rather significant gap in the sweets and desserts market. So enter the frozen yogurt, offering an alternative to the all-or-nothing world of ice cream.
From my personal experience abroad, this trend has caught on very strongly and has satisfied a rather significant market base. The two brands that I’ve noticed and that have really started a trend are Pinkberry and Red Mango. Beyond the idea of their healthy desserts, they also seem to offer an environment that is perky, bright, and youthful, almost as though they were the Apple store of the dessert world.
Fresh Berry has managed to do the same. While they haven’t added very much new to the concept, they do what they do well. Fresh Berry does, however, seem to be appealing to children as well as young adults, something that is not quite as prevalent in the other two establishments. The décor simply seems more fun, attracting the eyes of the under-12 crowd. Considering the health benefits in comparison to ice cream, this is a positive move in my opinion.
The Fresh Berry at Stars Avenue Mall is less of a store and more of a large booth, taking place front and center within the mall rather than off to the side like the rest of the establishments. Bright pastels of green, purple, and yellow, all against a white background, give it that cheerful and lively vibe.
The frozen yogurt comes in four flavors: Original Tart, Decadent Dark Chocolate, Vanilla, and Flavor of the Month (at the time it was Lemon Chiffon). I had a sample of each. The Vanilla was nice with a tinge of sweetness. I expected the Lemon Chiffon to be similar to lemon sorbet, but the lemon was more subtle while still quite refreshing. The Decadent Dark Chocolate was a bit too strong and decadent for my liking, but would satisfy the chocolate crazies. The Original Tart was my favorite, tasting of tangy yogurt, light and refreshing. If it is your first time trying the original style, you may find yourself oddly confused tasting yogurt in such a form, but give it a few more bites and you will find it growing on you. In addition, the Original Tart really lends itself to all the toppings.
Fresh Berry claims to have over 24 varieties of toppings. The toppings are unofficially divided into two sections: healthy and unhealthy. On the left, the healthy section, are a variety of diced fruits that include: Mango, kiwi, raspberry, pineapple, strawberry, blackberry, coconut, banana, orange, and others. To the right, the unhealthy section, includes a variety of candies: M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, gummy worms, chocolate chips, white chocolate, crushed graham crackers, and others of the same school.
I decided to stay healthy, and went with the Original Tart with a topping of kiwis, strawberries, and mangoes. It was sweet, cool, refreshing and guilt free. Of course, the option to go unhealthy is still there, but sometimes one needs to exercise a little self-control. In addition, the sweets and chocolates selection probably appeals more to the younger crowds.
Fresh Berry also offers yogurt smoothies with your choice of fruits and yogurt fruit popsicles. These are essentially the same ingredients in different form, so it’s difficult to imagine them being radically different; it just depends on how you feel like eating your dessert or snack.
Fresh Berry offers a healthier alternative of desserts that is both satisfying and refreshing. In the spectrum of cold and frozen desserts, frozen yogurt lies somewhere between ice cream and sorbet. It’s not quite as indulgent as ice cream, but more satisfying than sorbet. For those who seek the happy middle ground, Fresh Berry is a more-than-viable option.
