Cool off with a cone of something ice cold! As three teens living in Beijing, we suggest checking out Haagen Dazs and Cold Stone Creamery, both of which have locations around town.
Häagen Dazs
Rich, fragrant flavors make their ice cream one of the most well known franchises in the world. The number of flavors they have in the chains around China is limited, but should still appeal to a wide spectrum of people. Flavors include: Belgian chocolate, cookies and cream, macadamia nut, mango sorbet, caramel biscuit and cream.
Or try something new, like Summer Berries – a combination of strawberry, mulberry, blackberry, and blueberry. The diversity of berries gives it a slightly sour and tangy taste mixed with a touch of sweetness. Or dig in to this year’s summer special: Summer Berries Cool Fondue.
This all comes with a rather hefty price though; a single scoop of ice cream is RMB 30, and the cold fondue costs RMB 238. The price might be high, but you get what you pay for: good quality scoops.
For more, visit their website here.
Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone’s ice cream is arguably one of the bestbecause of the great flavors, but because of its originality and ability to be customized. Options for ice cream include mint, cookies and cream, mango sorbet, and raspberry. If you’re undecided, ask for a small sample.
After you choose your ice cream flavor, the scoop of ice cream is placed on a frozen slab of granite (hence the name “Coldstone”), which is used to help mix the ice cream with “mix-ins” (toppings and other edibles). Mix and match your ice cream with toppings like chocolate chips, sprinkles, Snickers, M&M’s, Oreos, and more. You can also choose between different types of waffles to add to your ice cream.
There is also an ice tea float available for RMB 20, where you get to choose between raspberry or mango sorbet for the ice cream. While the tea may not be sweet to some, syrup can be added to sweeten it. The coolness of this drink makes it the perfect compliment to the blazing sun on a summer day.
Service here was generally helpful and friendly, and employees are known to break into song for a customer’s birthday, giving the place a jovial atmosphere. Prices are costly (28 RMB for single scoop, no waffles), but the single scoop portion is quite large.
To find the nearest Cold Stone Creamery, click here.
Marcel Tan, Rebecca Cao, and Arisa Tomitaka are students at the Western Academy of Beijing. For WAB’s World of Work program, they joined the beijingkids team for a week, to get a peek into the working world.
Photo by Flickr user sean dreilinger.
