Last Saturday, May 8, the country recorded the highest heat index for the year: 51 degrees Celsius in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. It hit 50 degrees Celsius again yesterday, May 11.
In Metro Manila, particularly in Pasay, the recorded heat index yesterday was 43 degrees Celsius. Still really high.
On days when we feel the heat is becoming a little too unbearable, one of the quick solutions is to get a few scoops of ice cream. If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, these options are for you—but really, vegan or not, these ice cream brands all have something delicious to offer.
Ambassador’s Ice Cream
0919-0676600
Shopee, Lazada, or via Gosalads.ph
The makers of Go! Salads first launched Ambassador’s Ice Cream back in 2019. The all-vegan ice cream shop has a unique array of flavors like horchata, peanut butter oreo, and peanut butter dark chocolate. They also have cheesecake-inspired flavors like strawberry and blueberry.
[READ: Would you try whiskey-flavored vegan ice cream?]Coco Mama
Order forms are posted on their Facebook and Instagram
Always a must-have on every visit to the sunny Boracay island, Coco Mama has been made available to Manila residents through their sister brand, Mochiko. The iconic vegan-friendly and lactose-free coconut ice cream is available in tubs, and their Mochiko collaboration—coconut with mango flavor—is available in boxes for delivery.
[READ: Vegan mochi now exists, thanks to Mochiko and Coco Mama]Alt Scoops
Launched just this March, Alt Scoops uses oat milk to make their vegan, dairy-free ice cream. The silky, creamy ice cream comes in four flavors, from classics like strawberry and dark chocolate, to more indulgent options like choco hazelnut and burnt caramel with roasted pecans.
Auro
Order through aurochocolate.com or Instagram
One of the early players in quarantine treats, Auro Chocolate came out with their vegan gelato as part of their “quarantreats” April last year. After starting with strawberry and dark chocolate flavors, their gelato menu has expanded to flavors like cappuccino, salted caramel with nibs, and hazelnut stracciatella.
Super Scoops
Available on thesuperfoodgrocer.com
Another classic source for those looking for vegan-friendly treats and ingredients is the Superfood Grocer. Their dairy-free ice cream called Super Scoops is plant-based, is sweetened with unrefined coconut sugar, and comes in a variety of flavors like strawberries and cream, milky matcha, dark chocolate, vanilla caramel and pecan, almond cookie dough, hazelnut dream, and coffee cashew crumble.
Cocolatto
cocolatto.com or Instagram
Cocolatto prides itself as a low-glycemic, dairy-free, and gluten-free ice cream brand. They use coconut cream and coconut sugar, making their treats suitable not just for vegans and lactose-intolerants, but also for diabetics. Cocolatto carries popular favorite flavors like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, and green tea.