What flavor will it be this year? Three new "Halo-Halo" flavors from Ministop, a huge hit every year, coming in summer 2023

I'm Masayo Sakamoto, a writer who loves convenience store sweets.

Cold sweets are essential during the hot and humid summer. There are many types, such as ice cream and shaved ice, but the perfect dessert for when you want to splurge a little is Ministop's "Halo-Halo."

It means "mixed" in Tagalog, and is the name for a Filipino-style shaved ice that is eaten by mixing shaved ice with various sweet things such as tapioca, nata de coco, and fruit.

It has been hugely popular at Ministop since its launch in 1995. Here we will introduce three new products that have just been released this year!

1: Enjoy plenty of Kyoho grapes! "Halo-Halo Fruit Ice Kyoho"

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

First up is "Halo Halo Fruit Ice Kyoho" (410 yen), which was released on Friday, July 7th.

This luxurious fruit ice is made with peeled and sliced Kyoho grapes, also known as the king of grapes, and syrup made with Kyoho grape juice. On top of that is Ministop's long-selling "Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream."

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

This "Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream" is made with raw milk and cream from Hokkaido, with condensed milk as a secret ingredient, allowing you to enjoy a rich milky flavor.

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

The Kyoho grape ice has a crunchy texture and is like a rich sorbet. As the name "fruit ice" suggests, you can enjoy the taste of Kyoho grapes to your heart's content.

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

When you mix this fruit ice with the soft serve ice cream, the rich sweetness and refreshing acidity of the Kyoho grapes are a perfect match with the richness of the soft serve ice cream! The soft serve ice cream really brings out the juiciness of the Kyoho grapes.

You can enjoy a variety of flavors, including soft serve ice cream, Kyoho sliced fruit ice, and the sweet and sour Kyoho sauce that has accumulated at the bottom. You can eat each one by scooping them up, or mix them together, which is another great thing about Halo Halo.

2: The popping texture is fun too! "Halo Halo Crackling Summer Soda"

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

This is also the "Halo Halo Pachi Pachi Summer Soda" (410 yen), which was released on Friday, July 7th.

The classic Ramune flavor with popping candy is back again this year, following on from last year and the year before last. The popping sound is like fireworks, making this a summery treat.

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

Shaved ice drizzled in Ramune syrup is topped with mixed fruit jelly, popping candy, and vanilla soft serve ice cream. The cool blue and colorful mixed fruit jelly are adorable, making this a treat for the eyes, tongue, and ears alike.

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

The fruit jellies include pineapple, nata de coco, heart-shaped jellies, and more.

When you mix them together, the refreshing Ramune flavored shaved ice and the rich vanilla flavor of the soft serve ice cream go perfectly together. It's also fun to have a variety of textures! It's a little luxurious and somewhat nostalgic, and you can enjoy it like a soda float.

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

This refreshing "Halo-halo" is perfect for midsummer.

3. A luxurious treat! "Halo-Halo Hojicha Warabi"

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

This is "Halo Halo Hojicha Warabi" (410 yen), which was released on Friday, June 23rd.

This Japanese "Halo-halo" has a fragrant aroma of roasted green tea and is filled with chewy warabimochi (starch-starch mochi) inside.

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

Starting from the bottom, it is topped with shaved ice drizzled in roasted green tea sauce, warabi mochi, and vanilla soft serve ice cream.

The chewy and satisfying warabimochi adds an extra touch to this dish, which will have you eating more and more with your spoon.

The Hojicha sauce, made with Hojicha powder, has almost no bitterness or astringency that is typical of tea, and the fragrant aroma of Hojicha spreads softly in your mouth. It goes well with the "Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream", and when mixed together, it tastes like a Hojicha latte.

Image: Masayo Sakamoto

The soft serve ice cream is not too sweet, so you can enjoy it as a refined Japanese dessert.

Even people who don't like sweet things can enjoy Halo Halo.

Ministop's "Halo Halo" is based on the concept of "a dessert where you eat ice in a parfait-like way." It is a dessert containing shaved ice and soft serve ice cream, so it is filling yet low in calories, which is a nice plus. In addition to the "Halo Halo" we introduced, there are a total of seven types on sale, including regional limited editions, so be sure to find your favorite flavor. (Text by Sakamoto Masayo)
*Prices include tax (8% for takeaway). *Stock availability varies by store and time of year. Prices may also change or sales may end. *Some stores may not carry this product.

【reference image】
※Text and images:Masayo Sakamoto
※Ministop

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