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It comes as no surprise that Kiwis love ice cream, in fact so much so that per capita New Zealanders eat the most ice cream in the world each year.
Deliciously versatile – enjoy it on a summers’ day at the beach, or accompanying a fresh-from-the-oven apple crumble in winter – and seemingly available in an infinite number of flavours, the frozen treat is an easy, tried and true go-to for many, and over the past few years it’s become more inclusive than ever.
Indeed, as the rise of free-from diets, veganism and calorie-conscious consumption has skyrocketed you’d have thought the creamy frozen treat would have become off the cards for many, luckily that’s not the case at all, with some of New Zealand’s favourite ice cream brands offering up a wealth of delicious alternatives which are being welcomed with open arms.
Dairy-free deliciousness
Big-name brands Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s and Cornetto have all branched out into the dairy-free realm, creating delicious alternatives for those who can’t eat dairy or who live vegan lifestyles.
As the world works at becoming more sustainable, veganism has seen a rise in adoption after links between the meat and dairy industry being detrimental to the environment have been made.
And while vegan alternatives to foods have been given a bad rap for years, just one taste of these dairy-free options is sure to change your mind, dare we say you may even be grabbing them over the originals.
Ben & Jerry’s Non Dairy range, Cornetto’s Vegan Vanilla and Magnum’s Dairy-Free range are all delicious dairy-free ice cream alternatives. (Images: Supplied)
Cornetto’s Vegan Vanilla ice creams are a simple but delicious ice cream cone, made with vanilla soy and vegan chocolate, sprinkled with hazelnut, perfect for those who are all about classics.
If you’re all about the fun flavours, Ben & Jerry’s have a finger-licking range of non-dairy, almond-milk based varieties which include: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Cinnamon Buns, Peanut Butter & Cookies and Coconut 7 Layer Bar.
Meanwhile Magnum’s dairy-free alternatives are so popular, they’ve almost sold out – with velvety smooth plant-based ice creams covered in dairy-free chocolate and available in either Dairy Free Classic or Dairy Free Almond.
Calorie Conscious?
While it’s no secret that Kiwis love ice cream, New Zealanders are also looking for options to treat themselves, but minus the high calorie intake.
That’s where Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria range and brand Blue Ribbon come in.
Calories be gone – the Blue Ribbon ice cream range and Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria series are all low cal ice creams for a healthy treat. (Image: Supplied)
New to New Zealand, Blue Ribbon’s range of ice creams are all under 400 calories per pint (460ml) – that’s a whopping 60 per cent less calories than standard ice cream. The calorie-friendly treats come in four yummy flavours: Vanilla Bean, Creamy Chocolate, Raspberry Fudge Swirl and Cookies and Cream.
If you’re not already a fan of Ben & Jerry’s, you will be once you’ve tried their take on calorie conscious ice cream. With 45 per cent less fat than standard ice cream and between 150-160 calories per serving, their lighter Moo-phoria range is made from organic dairy and is available in three flavours: Chocolate Cookie Affair, Caramel Cookie Fix and P.B Dough.
So there you have it, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to devour some ice cream, you’ve found it, with the new releases and growing alternatives available providing people of more lifestyles the chance to indulge, all while being more health and environmentally-friendly – a win-win!
