Award winning ice cream

KOTA KINABALU: Indulging in ice cream may not seem as sinful as we used to believe with the introduction of the first-of-its-kind Sabah Fros Ice Creamery’s Goji Berry flavoured “healthy” ice cream.

Sabah Fros Sdn Bhd deputy chairman Datuk Anne Eu said that although the idea of pairing ice cream with herbs may be almost unheard of, but the combination scored the top ice-cream award in the International Dairies Federation Competition recently.

“The herbs-infused ice-cream has health benefits as Goji Berry is an anti-aging source and provides nourishment to the eyes and this was the main reason we clenched the award.

“After two years of extensive research and development, the ice-cream is now ready to be commercialised, starting with the Sabah market here,” she said.

Eu said that the recognition shows that there is more to it than the conventional ways of using Chinese herbs and the goodness of the herbs can now be enjoyed even as desserts.

She added that the product, which is currently produced in 100ml cup or pints, was made possible through the cooperation of Sabah International Dairies and Eu Yan Sang Malaysia.

“We also came up with seven other locally inspired flavours including Libaran Mango, Ranau Teh Tarik, Tenom Coffee, Tawau Chocolate, Api Api Bandung, Beaufort Vanilla and Sugut Mocha Tongkat.

“The ice-creams were named according to the locality of its ingredients and since the mangoes are coming straight of the state’s chief minister’s farm, it would be a flavour offered on a seasonal basis,” she said.

Eu said the ice-cream are made with fresh milk, which is produced from free range Friesian cows reared in farms located at 2,000m above sea level on the eastern ridge of Mount Kinabalu and the lowlands of Kota Marudu and Keningau.

“The ice-cream, will eventually be sold at all 89 Eu Yan Sang outlets nationwide and is expected to be made available in the Peninsula by year-end,” she said adding that Eu Yan Sang is the sole distributor for the cold desert.