Vegan ice cream Coco Joes makes waves with its new brand of creamy plant-based flavours
A new brand of ice cream is set to make waves this summer and in a win for vegans and those with dairy allergies it’s delicious, creamy and completely plant based.
Inner East
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Ice cream should be enjoyed by all, whether they be vegan, dairy intolerant or anything in-between, says Zadia Lenders.
With summer just arrived, the Hawthorn East woman said she was looking forward to showing off her new range of delicious vegan ice cream flavours at markets and public events.
And she said her idea for Coco Joes, Melbourne’s first 100 per cent plant-based ice cream van, was born in 2015 after she watched her partner’s nephew, who suffers from a severe dairy allergy, miss out on enjoying a delicious cold scoop of ice cream at family outings.
“I started experimenting with dairy-free ice cream and after many experiments hit on a recipe that worked using coconut cream,” she said.
“I would take ice cream to family gatherings and eventually tweaked the recipe to the point where everyone was saying you should sell this.”
Half the fun of ice cream is picking a flavour, and Ms Lenders said she had heaps to choose from, with strong favourites including chocolate oreo, mint choc chip, strawberry fields, and raspberry sorbet.
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“I am always making new flavours depending on what is in season and now make my own vegan hot fudge sauce (and) I have introduced hot fudge sundaes to the menu,” she said.
The Coco Joes van can regularly be found at the Heide Makers’ Market and the Vegan Market of Melbourne held at Abbotsford Convent.
It can also be purchased at Lido, Cameo and Classic cinemas, and Ms Lenders said she was exploring opportunities to take the van to school fairs and selling her ice cream through food delivery apps.
Coco Joes will be at the Ethical Christmas Night Market held on December 10 in Blackburn and the Melbourne Collective Vegan Market at Federation Square on December 15.
Visit: cocojoes.com.au