La Indita Michoacana is one of my favorite ice cream because it’s made with one of my favorite tropical fruit - mamey.

These are not the usual mamey (or sapota) I’m used to eating. The mamey used in this ice cream is from the large variety grown in the Caribbean and Mexico.

The packaging looks great, the fruits looks delicious and the little Mexican girl trademark is nice too.

My only shocker was the color of the ice cream was much more brighter then the one pictured in the carton. It’s more like freaky fluorescent in color. And almost the same color as the fabric on my table.

I’m not saying the artificial color is all bad and can eat stuff like this once in a while. But for something I eat often, I prefer a more natural color.

Just because of the surprising bright orange color, I won’t be buying any more mamey flavor ice cream from them.  Instead I’ll buy frozen mamey and make my own ice cream shake.

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Ice cream may be popular in the U.S., but around the world shaved ice is what they prefer to stay cool.

Asian shaved ice is not the same as American snow cones. Besides sweet syrup it also has other toppings including fresh fruits and some are even flavored with tea.

This is a jar of halo-halo which is made of tropical fruits and syrup. I found it to be too sweet. But I guess it’s meant as topping to shaved ice and other ingredients too.

You can find this jar at most Asian grocery stores for $1.50. Product of the Philippines.

Here’s a partial list of shaved ice around the globe:

Hawaiian shave ice
Japan Kakigori
Filipino halo halo
Mexican raspados
Korean bingsu
Taiwanese bao bing
Indian golas and chuskis

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I am always on the look out for new fruits, and if there’s a health benefit to eating it then that is even better news.  Lucuma or commonly called “eggfruit” is one such fruit.  It is native to the cool Andean highland coast, especially in Peru. It is also a popular fruit in Chile.

When the lucuma is ripe, it has a nice orange color.  Such a pretty looking fruit, if not tasty as well!  Photo from Living in Peru.

“tastes like maple syrup. very mealy - no juice at all.” - The Black Azar.  This would make a good and filling snack.  Photo from .

It’s consider to be South American’s most precious fruit.  Lucuma powder is usually exported to European and South American markets. The powders are used to flavor ice cream and other desserts. The powder is also available online at about $15 for 1 lb.

The fruit is low in sugar but has a sweet flavor. It’s been described to be sweet, fragrant and subtly maple-like in flavor. And some say taste similar to caramel too.

The fruit has been shown to grown successfully in Hawaii and Mexico.  This species is not tropical, but grows at temperate elevations in Peru. It can also adapt to dry locations.

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I really like Sapota.  And was happy to find these frozen Sapota (or Sopadilla) at the Asian food market.  They are from Thailand and sold in packages of 5 for $2.50.  They are the next best thing to the fresh ones.

Since they are frozen, you may want to leave them out for a bit to let them soften up.  Then scoop out with spoon and eat the sweet flesh part.  I was surprised at how sweet they were, almost like maple syrup.  The skin is edible too, but I haven’t tried it yet.

In India and Thailand, they are usually made into drinks mixed with sweet condensed milk and ice.  Or just blend with milk and sugar to make a shake.  The fruit itself is so sweet, it’s like a good desert in  fruit. In Thai they are called “lamut” pronounced “lamoot”.  In Singapore, they are referred to as “chiku” fruit.

They grow in hot tropical climate.  Sapota can be found growing wild in the forests of southern Mexico and northern Central America.  Also refer to as both Sapodilla and mamey.  I have had Mexican ice cream (paleta) made with mamey and it is the best ice cream ever.  They usually sell out really fast too.

Here is a better picture of sapota or mamey tree.  Photo from Daleys Fruit Tree Nursery in Australia.  Daleys has many different varieties of mamey or Sapota to chose from as well.  It a looking neat tree, remind me of Papaya tree too.

I used to always buy the canned version of Sapota. But the last few Aroy-D cans I bought tasted horrible. It was bland and did not taste like real fruit, more liked sugared cardboard. So I never bought them again.

This photo I took of the White Sapote from the International Rare Fruit Orchard in San Jose, Ca.  Not related to the Sapota, but name sound similar.  This fruit is also popular in Central America.  They are best eaten when ripen and are said to be very sweet, like sugar.  the inside is also added to ice cream and milk shake as well.  In Mexico, they are believed to have a soporific effect, meaning it makes you sleepy.

Other interesting Sapota fact:  chicle, the basis for chewing gum is made from the milky latex of this tree.  It has a caramel-like, sweet flavor somewhat to maple syrup or brown sugar.  Source from Oregon State University  here.

Ian Maguire’s Sapota picture here.

Just found out about this free offer.  A nice treat for the kid in all of us.  And better for the little ones too.  Enjoy!

Stone Cold Creamery:

To join our birthday club, simply click on this link and create a My Cold Stone account, which allows you to tell us when and how you’d like to hear from us. In addition to receiving a coupon for free ice cream on your birthday, you’ll also be able to receive other great promotions, special offers, and coupons.

Baskin-Robbins:

Sign up here and you’ll get your FREE ice cream email five days before your birthday. You’ll also receive a discount on a birthday cake.  Catch a deal on your favorite cakes and treats from Baskin-Robbins by opting to get special offers and coupons all year long.

I haven’t been to Stone Cold Creamery or Baskin-Robbins in a long time.  I don’t mind packaged ice cream (from the grocery store) as long as the ingredients are good.  None of that hydrogenated oil stuff!

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This summer I have found myself enjoying ice cream again. It’s not that I don’t enjoy ice cream, it’s just that all the Breyer’s and Dryer’s out there start to taste the same to me. It’s just a little bit of milk and sugar, some being creamer then others. And I don’t like shorbets at all. I don’t like gelatos either. I would prefer to eat fresh watermelon or canteloupes during the summer heat.

But this summer, I have discovered paletas at the grocery stores. They are Mexican ice cream bars made of fruits. Not just any fruits, but chunks of good tropical fruits too. And now this is what I call real delicious tasting ice cream!

Paletas are more like a fruit shake frozen into a bar. Some are milk based and others are water based. My favorites are the milk based one. When I was younger, my mom use to buy coconut paletas from the Mexican ice cream vendor who sold them at the farmer’s market. I really haven’t had them since.

Until recently I spotted a box at our local grocery store. La Indita Michoacana makes them with the finest ingredients. No high fructose corn syrup either! The back of the box said they are a small family owned business that uses only natural and traditional ingredients. The ice creams are made in Modesto, California. Their paletas come in 9 flavors! I have tried about 5 of those flavors already (and also gained an extra 5 pounds) and have to say my favorite is mamey and mango.

La Michoancana fruit pops at our local grocery store (in California) has 6 bars for $4. Mamey is my favorite flavor, they are so good. This week they are on sale for $3.29. That explains why I’m on my 2nd box already.

Photo: LA Times by Carlos Chavez. “Cream-based nuez (nut) paleta - with pecans - is one of the most popular flavors at Paletería La Michoacana.” Love this photo of the popsicle just coming out of it’s molding. I can just imagine how yum this particuluar ice cream bar would taste.

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