The refreshing AC blasts us as we enter the fluorescently lit 7-Eleven, a welcome respite from the blistering Beijing heat that we’ve been experiencing. A trip to the freezer section not only cools the face but also provides a few interesting and bizarre options for a sweet snack. Whether you’re searching for something to give your kids at the pool or are on the hunt for a conversation-starter on a date, here are four weird but refreshing 7-Eleven treats to try next time you want some heat relief this summer.

1. Sonlato Frozen Lemonade Balls (RMB 9.90)

At first, I thought these ice balls packaged in a plastic cup were meant to be popped directly into your mouth (which you certainly can do). But after opening the lid and getting a look at the instructions, however, I realized this was a genius make-your-own-lemonade kit. Simply pour your choice of drink (mine was sparkling water) over the pink lemonade-flavored ice balls, and swish the two together. As the ice melts, you are left with a sweet, refreshing drink that will last you a long time, as you can keep refilling the cup with water as the ice continues to melt, perpetuating this tasty refreshment.

2. Pino Chocolate Ice Cream Cubes (RMB 11)

Having never seen this type of ice cream before, I picked up the cute spotted packaging of this treat in an attempt to figure out what exactly it was. After peeling off the cardboard lid to reveal a small tray of six dome-shaped chocolates accompanied by a toothpick tool to help with mess-free eating, I was pleasantly surprised: The extremely thin layer of dark chocolate on the outside isn’t too heavy or overpowering, whilst the vanilla ice cream filling melts effortlessly. As you bite through the shell, the slightly bitter chocolate and the creamy, sweet vanilla blend to create a delicious combination.

3. Grape Ice (RMB 8.50)

Wanting to grab a wide range of things, a package titled “Grape Ice” also caught my attention when browsing through the freezer section. Expecting some type of frozen grape, my need for a refreshing treat was met by these spheres of grapey goodness. The flavor was still strong, and a comparison to a slushy in a bite would seem appropriate for this snack. Although grape is a well-known flavor, this interpretation of it as an ice cream is something I’ve never seen outside of China.

4. Power Cap (RMB 10.50)

My final choice of exploratory frozen goods was made in something called “Power Cap” in the watermelon flavor. Shaped like a small water bottle, the idea appeared to be to twist off the top and push out the sorbet-style filling. However, the seemingly simple task proved to be harder than expected, as the flexible plastic wouldn’t twist off cleanly. In the end, I was only able to break a small hole in it to squeeze out a little of the contents, which had a sweet, artificial watermelon flavor. If the taste seems like something you’re up for, it would be advised to buy this only if you have access to scissors for opening purposes. Perhaps a good choice for kids, eating this treat felt more like a challenge than a snack, but turning ice cream into an activity is a great summer pastime.

So, there you have it: four unique options for your next trip to your local 7-Eleven that might just surprise you in the best way. Who says you can’t cool off from the summer heat and explore a creative dessert at the same time?

Violet Proctor is a Grade 10 student from Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) currently interning at True Run Media (the parent company of Jingkids) through WAB’s World of Work program. 

 Images: Violet Proctor

It’s summer, and 798 is hopping – but traipsing around in the heat can leave you needing a place to chill out.

The Nice Beach Club by Nice Cream is just what you’re looking for – an iconic ice cream café complete with a sandy beach, parasols, beach chairs – and an awesome selection of cool treats.

Nice Cream was born in Beijing in 2019 with the mission of making delicious ice cream but with less fat and sugar. They create their recipes using erythritol, a sugar substitute, and imported skim milk, and the combo is dynamite.

You can get your ice cream in a cup or a cone, and there are nine flavors: Mint Chocolate, Choc Choc Chip, Sea Salt Caramel, Rum Raisin, Very Berry, French Vanilla, Red Velvet Cheesecake … and two limited edition local flavors, Beijing Tanghulu and Fermented Rice Wine. Two scoops set you back RMB 39, while three is RMB 52.

I tried the Beijing Tanghulu and Fermented Rice Wine, both inspired by traditional Beijing flavors. The Tanghulu had the nice tart flavor of hawthorn, the fruit used to make tanghulu, that classic candied fruit-on-a-stick you find all over the place during the winter.

The Fermented Rice Wine had a very special flavor; it tasted like sweet rice, with crunchy bits of crispy purple rice in it. The crunch of the crispy rice compliments the creamy texture of the ice cream base giving this flavor a whole different level of enjoyment. Fermented rice wine typically contains alcohol and Nice Cream’s ice cream does have a slight hint of booze, so avoid this concoction if that turns you off.

No matter what flavor you choose, The Nice Beach Club makes a hot spot for cool treats and sizzling selfies this summer at 798.

Learn more about Nice Cream and where you can find their tasty treats by following them on WeChat.

Find it:
798 Art Center Plaza, Chaoyang District
朝阳区798艺术中心广场

Hanyu Cho is an 10th grade student from Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) currently interning at True Run Media (the parent company of Jingkids) through WAB’s World of Work program. 

Images: Hanyu Cho, Pexels

We spotted a cool promotional activity on Beijing BuyBuy’s WeChat account and just had to share it with our readers who love freebies! And probably the best summer food freebie you can get is … an ice cream! And not just any ice cream, but Godiva chocolate ice cream. Woo hoo!

To enjoy this promotion, look up 北京BuyBuy on WeChat and click “Follow Official Account.” Once that’s done, simply message the word “Go” to receive the instructions on how to redeem the freebie. Final step: Show up at the Godiva store in Hopson One or Park View Green on Aug 14-16 (Mon to Wed) between 12.30 and 1.30pm and show the message to the staff. They’ll get you to scan a QR code in the store and you’ll get your voucher for one free ice cream cone (usual price RMB 50).

Do note that this offer only applies to the first 100 customers to the store at the designated time on each day!

With sunny days and temperatures expected to get up to 35 degrees Celsius between Monday and Wednesday, a free ice cream cone would be well appreciated. So why not bring the kiddos down to Hopson One mall, or Park View Green mall, during those days and try your luck?

KEEP READING: Top 5 Ice Creams in Your Local 7-Eleven Stores!

Images: Pexels, Vivienne-Tseng-Rush via WeChat

Don Nino, a gelato chain that originated in Rome, has opened a new location on the vibrant south side of Sanlitun. Providing outdoor seating, the gelato shop not only offers delicious frozen treats but also serves delectable cones and waffles, along with exquisite coffee choices.

The shop provides an extensive range of flavors to choose from, which caters to all taste preferences. From timeless classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, to many other options such as mint, pistachio, and raspberry.

Compared to nearby gelato shop Venchi, Don Nino’s gelato is a less expensive alternative. They offer you two scoops of ice cream, a chocolate-covered waffle, and a chocolate-covered cone, all for the price of RMB 59.

Furthermore, by checking in and saving this shop on Dianping (大众点评), customers will automatically receive a coupon where they can receive a bottle of water for free! You can choose from three different brands of water, including the famous Italian sparkling water brand S.Pellegrino.

When my friend and I went to the shop, we shared two scoops of gelato along with the two waffle cones that were included. One of the scoops was milk-flavored, while the other was Oreo-flavored. The gelato was incredibly creamy, and the addition of crispy waffle cones added a unique and delightful texture to it. The shop itself has a relaxed and quiet environment, which makes it the perfect place for people to enjoy their gelato and chat with friends at the same time. The added bonus of outdoor seating provides the perfect setting to relax, enjoy your gelato, and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of Sanlitun.

Find here:
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区F1层, S2-19a 商铺
Shop S2-19a, 1/F, Taikoo Li South Area, Sanlitun, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District

Don Nino is open every day from 10am to 10pm.

Come try it out!

Image Credit: Abby L

Hot times are ahead of Beijing this time of year, and with the heat comes a wave of fun frozen refreshments to look forward to.

When looking for these frozen treats, you will likely go to a simple convenience store. Luckily, there is plenty of those stores around, one of the more well-known being 7-Eleven! Thus, this article will be reviewing the top 5 ice creams from your local 7-Eleven which you should get and enjoy with your family and friends!

#5 – 葡萄冰 (Grape Ice)

Counting down from #5, we have “Grape Ice”. With an amusing slight mistranslation, ice grapes are not exactly what you think they are. Barely making number five, just beating an anonymous ice cream, ice grapes are grape juice but frozen in spheres. A bag has about eight of these frozen grape juice spheres, making it good for sharing with your friends. The only downside is that consumption is hard as eating it all at once will be uncomfortable due to the cold, and holding the frozen grape juice will make your fingers cold and sticky! It’s not recommended to be added as ice cubes in actual grape juice, as it turns out that all the juice of the Grape Ice will just concentrate at the bottom. It costs ￥12.90 per bag!

#4 – 梦龙 (Magnum)

Magnum, the classic nut flavor ice cream has perfected the art of soft creamy texture and a crunchy chocolate which accents the ice cream. With the additional nuts, it provides extra crunch and taste. It is usually a decent pick, if not anything else. It costs ￥10.00 per magnum!

#3 – Dove 冰淇淋 (Dove Ice cream)

Dove, better known for their chocolate bars, has certainly used its chocolate production to its advantage in the creation of this ice cream. The main part being creamy chocolate that’s coated in another layer of additional chocolate. It gets soft fast, but it makes the texture of the ice cream more enjoyable. It costs ￥14.90 per Dove ice cream!

#2 – 宝可梦精灵球款雪糕 – 草莓牛乳巧克力口味
(Pokemon ball ice cream – Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate flavored)

The Pokemon ball ice cream made by the company named 和路雪 (Helulei) is surprisingly good, with no disturbance in the design and a good mix of flavors. Although the strawberry flavor dominates over the vanilla and chocolate flavor, it is very enjoyable and tasty, and will certainly be a favorite among children considering their standards. It costs ￥17.80 per Pokemon Ball ice cream!

#1 – 鲷鱼烧冰淇淋 (Taiyaki ice cream)

Taiyaki ice cream is based on the actual taiyaki which is a Japanese-style waffle made with a fish-shaped mold, typically filled with a sweet bean paste. Taiyaki ice cream made by Appolo (阿波罗) has taken inspiration and made it better when converting it into ice cream. It is delicious, tasty, filled with smooth blended Oreo ice cream layered with chocolate and Oreo (cooked) dough and the waffle on top. If you enjoy ice cream sandwiches, and hate getting messy from melted ice cream, this is the number one pick for you, as it tastes great and it is difficult to get messy when the melted ice cream is contained within the waffle mold of the fish. It costs ￥10.00 per Taiyaki ice cream!

Images: Lumi A

I Scream, You Scream, It’s Time for Ice Cream!

Summertime is best spent with an ice cream in hand. However, aside from simply being a delicious treat, you can also turn a little ice cream indulgence into a teachable moment for the kids, as we take a stroll down memory lane with Beijing’s traditional ice creams that are as rich with flavor as they are history. Then, we’ll take a look at some of the capital’s most popular flavors, taste ’em all, and rank the whole lot!

Old Central Street Popsicle

Despite the fact that today, some regard this as a bland flavored ice-pop, its history and authenticity cannot be overstated. It is said to have originated during the summer of 1965 when an ice cream maker accidentally added 30 percent less milk to the original recipe. Nevertheless, the happy accident was met with rave reviews, and it quickly became the company’s new signature, selling out on the first day. Brittle and icy in texture, it’s a slightly sour but refreshing yogurt pop, making it the perfect summer treat and a vehicle for many a locals’ trips down memory lane. 10/10

Mongolian Yogurt Ice Cream

Many know Yili to be the infamous, multinational dairy-producing giant that sponsors Olympic games. However, setting aside the company for a moment, this otherwise unassuming yogurt treat is replete with flavor, to say the least, and the subtle tang that accompanies the taste is incredibly refreshing as a summer treat. 7/10

Handmade Green Bean

Another classic, its company, Dehua Limited, has been a staple of China’s frozen food industry since 1987. The authenticity is unparalleled and merely looking at the packaging is enough to trigger a wave of memories and emotion. The addition of green beans into actual ice cream and a hint of milk that doesn’t overpower the taste of bean proves timeless. 8/10

Little Tinker

This was an interesting one, bound to entice those who are younger. As my friend mentions, this five-in-one, individually-flavored, popsicle pack – although likely not the healthiest or most organic – is definitely unique in its approach, and I recall that it was extremely popular around five years ago among my primary school classmates (I wasn’t cool enough to get one then, or now, really). 4/10

Corn-Flavored Ice Cream   

Although many people from the 80s and 90s generatons see this as a representation of their youth, this corn-flavored ice cream is definitely not for the faint of heart. The insipid wafer gives away to the astringent taste of corn. Although the question remains – should corn be an ice cream flavor in the first place? – the internet’s enduring love for this ice cream and disputes over the correct way to eat it certainly don’t waiver (ha! wafer) with time. 1/10

Dongbei Popsicle

An iconic ice cream for many of the 90s generation, this nostalgia-inducing series of ice creams – concocted by the Red Diamond company in 1992 – was and still is worthy of its overnight success.

Original

The original milk flavor was unexpectedly citrusy in taste and consists of strands of ice. Basically, if you bite into this one, your teeth will be digging into ice threads. On top of that, it carries a distinctly sharp flavor. 6/10

Chocolate

The chocolate flavor is more akin to coffee, with a bitter and grittier taste. Although not the best option to accompany your hot summer day, it could potentially be salvaged with a sweeter side dessert. 5/10

Strawberry

The strawberry is precisely the type of treat I was looking for. The impression was that of a sorbet, but make no mistake, the aftertaste suggested nothing of additives or artificial flavoring. Rather, it possessed a slightly tangy but altogether decadent strawberry taste. 8/10

Durian

For the durian, I had to enlist the help of a pro-durian friend (Full disclosure: I was immediately struck dead by the pungent aroma). Simply put, our perspectives were diametrically opposed. Whilst she happily munched away at the ice cream bar, savoring every last morsel, I was trying desperately to wash the aftertaste out of my mouth. If you like durian, this diversely textured, scrumptious, durian-to-the-max ice cream is the way to go. As for those who don’t, run! 0/10, 10/10

Matcha

Although relatively new product-wise, it has received its share of positive feedback. The matcha is, in my opinion, entirely underrated and should be as revered as Magnum and similar A-list ice-creams. The texture is an absolute delight – complex and multi-faceted due to its crunchy outer crust surrounding the soft but fortified cream inside. Likewise, the matcha is strong but doesn’t assault your taste buds. It’s also not overly sweet, so those who love a good afternoon tea will be pleasantly surprised by this otherwise unsuspecting treat. 10/10

Green Bean

Last but not least, green bean. Its bean fragments result in a chunkier texture that’s pleasant to nibble on, but it does taste rather artificial, and after looking at the ingredients list, it’s definitely not the most natural approach we’ve seen to creating a bean flavored ice cream. 6/10

This article appeared in the jingkids 2021 July-August issue

If there is one thing my mother can tell you about me when I was a child is, I was a fussy eater. I liked my food prepared just so and sometimes would refuse to eat two things on a plate that happened to touch. The only time when this little rule flew out of the window was when it came to ice cream. A strawberry and chocolate swirl would always hit the spot, and I would have never stopped you had you wanted to load my bowl with four different scoops from four different tubs.

But even that little adventurous streak is challenged here in China with flavor combinations I never thought possible. Recently, our beijinger colleague Joey Knotts taste-tested some of the newest and weirdest ice-cream flavors he could find, resulting in a hilarious series of reviews that we’ve republished below.

Strap in for a wild flavor ride as we explore the sweet, the sour, and salty of the Ice-cream world in Beijing. For a laugh, purchase some of these yourselves, and set up a taste test with your kids and see how they react. You might all be in for a world of fun and raucous laughter.

German Black Beer

A poor attempt at the shape of a beer bottle

To be honest, given the quality of some of the “German” black “beer” that one comes across in Beijing, we anticipated that this would be among the worst flavors we tried, but it ended up being one of the best. Coming in a poor attempt at the shape of a beer bottle, this ice cream hits you with a typical chocolate flavor, followed by a savory, quite beer-like aftertaste from the brown-colored filling.

Our rating: 88 out of 99 alcohol-free beers on the wall.

Meat floss and seaweed ice cream

At first, it looks like an innocent bar of ice cream,

Here’s an ice cream that will give you flashbacks to images of undercooked “hot dogs” plopped into soft bread and topped with bits of pork and fish thinner than a human hair. At first, it looks like an innocent bar of ice cream, perhaps with some sort of flavored sprinkles inside but it tastes… like meat floss and seaweed. As advertised. Blech.

Our Rating: 4 out of 5 dentists would not recommend flossing with this creamsicle.

Ice cream for breakfast: eggs and more eggs

“The “salted duck egg rice cake dumpling” ice cream.”

Salted duck egg seems to be quite the trend in the ice cream world, these days.

First up, the “salted duck egg rice cake dumpling” ice cream. Rather than in bar form, these came in two cute little bun shapes, and we are pretty sure that the inside is a real duck egg yolk! Points for authentic ingredients, demerits for tasting exactly like cat food.

Our rating: 1 out of 2 dandan.

Then we tried the “double egg yolks” ice cream bar. This was essentially a toned-down version of the cake dumpling – more artificial, but also far more tolerable on the tongue.

Our rating: 6 out of 10 unborn ducklings.

Bursting Durian

“You can smell this ice cream as soon as it’s out of the packaging”

Yes, it’s the flavor you’ve been waiting for. You can smell this ice cream as soon as it’s out of the packaging, and the flavor is even stronger. Then, once you reach the gooey, green inside, it’s even stronger. Ultimately, your opinion of this ice cream will be determined by your opinion of durian, because the taste is spot on.

Also, your burps will taste like durian, even if you tried six other ice creams in the same sitting.

Our rating: 1 out of 50 durian fruit spikes.

Release the Kraken (from my mouth): Squid-flavored ice cream

“It tastes like a squid threw up”

If you like squid – it doesn’t matter. This ice cream does not taste like squid. It tastes like a squid threw up into a vat of cream and froze the resulting concoction onto a stick. Please do not make the mistake of eating it.

Our rating: 2 out of 10 tentacles.

Cheese ice cream

“This ice cream is downright delicious.”

Dairy plus dairy. What could go wrong? As it turns out, nothing. With hints of strawberry and a subtle enough cheese flavor, this ice cream is downright delicious. Do give it a try if you get the chance.

Our rating: 9 out of 10 swiss cheese holes.

Dongbei iron pot ice cream

“It’s a result of corporate groupthink gone wrong.”

One of the more interesting new ice creams on the market, this little pie actually boasts one of the highest quality creams of the bunch. Unfortunately, it is mixed with more meat floss and some sort of cooked vegetables, a blending that anyone with a functional palate should have known wouldn’t jive. We’re guessing it’s a result of corporate groupthink gone wrong.

Our rating: Too many chefs out of 1 kitchen.

Doughnut ice cream – in the shape of doughnuts!

“Admittedly, they taste nothing like doughnuts”

Thinking of putting a ring on it? Forget the expensive diamonds, these ring-shaped sweets are just RMB 34. Admittedly, they taste nothing like doughnuts, but the colorful insides have a light, fruity sweetness and they are fun to try and squeeze onto your fingers.

Our rating: 7 out of 8 Homer Simpson fingers.

KEEP READING: Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner! Tips on Family Dining in Beijing

Photos: Joey Knotts, Zhihu, QQ

Get ready for a breakfast that the kids will love! Ice Cream for Breakfast is coming to an end tomorrow and it’s the last day to take part in the tasty fundraising.

It’s super easy to join.


Step 1: Eat ice cream for breakfast tomorrow morning
Step 2: Donate to one of this year’s partner organizations by scanning either QR code on the poster below:

Step 3: Share your ice cream for breakfast photos by emailing them to icecreamforhubei@gmail.com to enter in the raffle and win awesome prizes!

“Ice Cream for Breakfast was invented by my grandma and is celebrated around the world each February,” says Shanghai-based Rebecca Kanthor. “This year we’re using the holiday to raise money for two worthy causes.”

One is a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) library in rural Hubei, via The Library Project. The other is supplies for Hubei medical workers via the Grandall Fund.

But just because they’re called Ice Cream for Breakfast doesn’t mean you need to limit yourself to just tomorrow. Heck, if you want to challenge yourself and do ice cream all day today, who’s to stop you!?

This one really puts the “fun” in fundraiser!

Photos: unsplash

When you open up the weather app on your phone and the temperature isn’t set to drop below 30 degrees for the next week then there’s only one thing for it: ice cream. Stay cool as a cucumber even though the mercury is soaring with these four new icy treats, from vegan froyo to soft serve with a side of ’90s nostalgia.

Avocado Gelato at Avocado Tree

Avocado Tree’s new gelato has been created with the help of Lingxia Gelato and comes in several flavors, including a vegan avo-coconut. Our favorite is the avocado frozen yogurt, which is intensely creamy with none of the chalkiness that sometimes plagues frozen yogurt. Get one scoop in a cup for RMB 22, two for RMB 33, and three for RMB 45, with the option to add a cone for RMB 3. If you’re very lucky, however, the absolute best pick is the avocado surprise (RMB 45), which – surprise! – is shaped like an avocado half. The avocado flesh is made of their avo-coconut gelato with a stone made of hazelnut gelato, while the incredibly realistic shell is made of 85 percent cocoa dark chocolate. At present, they only have very limited quantities of the avocado surprise, so if you want to sample it for yourself, it’s best to get in touch with them in advance.

Ice cream macarons, Comptoirs de France

Most of Comptoirs de France’s desserts sit firmly within the canon of traditional French patisserie, but their new ice cream macarons (RMB 19) most decidedly do not. And for us, that’s what makes them so fun. A disc of Baxi brand ice cream is sandwiched between the two airy, candy-colored shells of a French macaroon, making a deliciously silly, refreshing summer treat that we suspect will fly out of the store’s refrigerated shelves during the warmer months. The macarons are available in both lemon and strawberry flavors.

White Rabbit Ice Cream

In China, few treats trigger more childhood memories than White Rabbit candy and now you can get in on the nostalgia with their pop-up in Sanlitun Soho (courtesy of a partnership with previously nondescript tea shop Yokikano Tea). The store serves White Rabbit flavored milk tea, which has been whipping up plenty of hype on social media, but the White Rabbit ice cream is a true winner. It’s creamy and thick and each lick unleashes the distinctly sugary, milky, vanilla-y flavor of the renowned Chinese taffy. The sturdy, layered waffle cone puts the dessert over the top, both for nostalgia-driven Chinese patrons and the otherwise uninitiated.

Coconut Froyo ice cream sandwich, Tribe

Those of us who follow special diets – low sugar, vegan, dairy-free, you name it – can feel a bit left out when it comes to delicious ice cream treats. Luckily, Tribe has stepped up with the “For Froyo’s Sake Cookie Sandwich” from their new summer menu. The froyo comes from local brand Yeyo, made with their dairy-free coconut yogurt, and the cookie is made with gluten-free almond flour (note that there is egg in the cookie so this is vegetarian, not vegan). The coconut froyo has kind of an icy texture, almost more like sorbet than ice cream, but also avoids the chalkiness that can plague standard froyo.

READ: Getting goosed on Starbucks’ summer cocktails and other new refreshing drinks

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos courtesy of Comptoirs de France, Robynne Tindall, Avocado Tree, Kyle Mullin, Tribe