A low fat yoghurt wins NZ's best ice cream
One of the best ice creams in New Zealand is a frozen strawberry yoghurt from the supermarket, the other is a flash flavour from an Auckland beachside cafe.
A low-fat strawberry yoghurt ice cream that sells in 2L tubs for under $5 at the supermarket has been named the best ice cream in New Zealand.
While Much Moore’s strawberry low-fat yoghurt ice cream was named supreme champion at this year's NZ Ice Cream and Gelato awards, a fancy licorice gelato was named the boutique supreme winner.
Beating more than 260 entrants, the two were also named low fat ice cream/frozen yoghurt champion and gelato champion respectively at the awards in Auckland on Thursday night.
Takapuna Beach Cafe's licorice-flavoured gelato.
Supplied / Takapuna Beach Cafe
Judges said it was the “great freshness” and “creamy mouthfeel” of the strawberry low-fat yoghurt ice cream that earned it top prize. The family-owned Auckland business has won the highest number of medals at the awards for a second time. It took home 30 last year.
Asked by RNZ's Morning Report if the frozen yoghurt product was valid in the best ice cream awards, founder Marcus Moore said: "It is technically what you would call a low-fat frozen yoghurt ice cream".
"An ice cream in New Zealand must have 10 per cent milk fat and our frozen yoghurt is a low fat product containing 3 per cent," he explained.
More said New Zealand are amongst in the top eaters of ice cream in the world, consuming between 28 and 30 litres per head per person per year.
"I think that qualifies us as Kiwis to be experts in the field of ice cream and ice cream lovers."
The supreme boutique-winning licorice gelato - by Takapuna Beach Café on Auckland's North Shore - boasted “unfaultable texture” and flavour, judges said.
Last year’s supreme boutique champion Little 'Lato’s “absolute magic” mango lassi vegan gelato had judges questioning if it was vegan. It’s done the trick again this year, being named dairy-free champion. The company's chocolate orange sorbet and pink wafer gelato also picked up trophies.
New Zealand Natural, 2024’s supreme champion, picked up two trophies this year for its chateau peach and raspberry and Killinchy Gold pure vanilla bean ice creams.
Among the 18 champions were unique flavours like Island Gelato’s cucumber and yuzu, spiced Biscoff and green tea.
NZ Ice cream and Gelato Awards supreme winners
- Takapuna Beach Café, Licorice Gelato - Chelsea Sugar, Supreme Boutique Champion
- Much Moore Wonders Strawberry Low Fat Yoghurt Ice Cream - Hall’s Cold Chain Logistics, Supreme Champion
Category champions
- Much Moore Ice Cream Co Marvels Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream - INVITA, Classic Vanilla Ice Cream Champion
- New Zealand Natural, Chateau Peach & Raspberry - Bonson Packaging, Classic Flavoured Ice Cream Champion
- New Zealand Natural Ice Cream, Killinchy Gold Pure Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - IFF, Premium Vanilla Ice Cream Champion
- Lewis Road Creamery, Chocolate Truffle with Chocolate Ganache - Americold, Premium Flavoured Ice Cream Champion
- Kohu Road, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream - DKSH & Belcolade, Chocolate Ice Cream Award Champion
- Kohu Road, Dark Chocolate Sorbet - DKSH & Belcolade, Chocolate Gelato or Sorbet Champion
- Takapuna Beach Café Licorice - Sensient Technologies, Gelato Champion
- Little 'Lato, Chocolate Orange Sorbet - New Zealand Ice Cream Association Sorbet Champion
- Island Gelato Co, Island Gelato Spiced Biscuit - RD 2 International, Best of Biscuit Champion
- Island Gelato Co, Island Gelato Cucumber & Yuzu - Hawkins Watts, New Zealand New to Market Champion
- Little 'Lato Pink Wafer Gelato - Formula Foods, Open Creative Champion
- Little 'Lato, Mango Lassi Vegan Gelato - Tetra Pak, Dairy-Free Champion
- Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Wonders Strawberry Low Fat Yoghurt Ice Cream - New Zealand Ice Cream Association, Low Fat Ice Cream or Frozen Yoghurt Champion
- Open Country Dairy, Green Tea Ice Cream - Primary ITO, Export Champion
- Kohu Road, Dark Chocolate Sorbet - New Zealand Ice Cream Association, New Member Champion
- Little ‘Lato - Pact Packaging, Sustainability Champion
