An “ice cream and sweets loving” family, you can imagine the excitement that ensued upon the arrival of two large SoDelicious boxes– just in time for the July holiday.
I was blown away by the generous amount of products that came out of those insulated boxes! We had enough to host a SoDelicious Coconut party, and would have, if only we were already moved into our new house!
Now, with those boxes added to the ones we have all over our current habitat, and many of the frozen treats “cleaned up”, it seems only fair to give a little review.
The Ice Cream Review– From the Peanut Gallery
Cherry Amaretto- Sweet coconut flavor complimented with tart, dried cherries reminiscent of a after dinner beverage.
about as delightful, sinful, and well-rounded as the title suggests.
Coconut- Subtly sweet coconut. The perfect sorbet for a pool party.
refreshing and fun like a summer drink, but not overpowering like an artificially flavored pina colada
Mango- Tangy, sweet, and tropical
just as any mango should be.
Vanilla Bean- Traditional and smooth.
dress it up. dress it down. it’s all good.
Chocolate- Traditional, smooth, and chocolatey.
dress it up. dress it down. it’s all good.
Turtle Trails- Smooth and creamy ice cream complimented by mysterious chocolate covered pecans that add a subtle nuttiness and crunchy texture.
tasty. surprising.
Pomegranate Chip- Refreshingly sweet but tart pomegranate is uncharacteristically paired with rich and creamy chocolate chips.
The Fourth of July Favorite. Unexpectedly fruity with sharp chocolate flavor gloriously cutting through any tartness.
Mint Chocolate Chip- cool mint ice cream is refreshing and positively shocking against rich chocolate chips.
always a pleasure. Though not included in our package, the family loves this one so much I had to include it.
Vanilla Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches- sweet and cold vanilla creaminess complimented by soft and cake like layers that stick to your fingers if not eaten quickly (which is not a problem in our household).
Tasty– what you would expect from a little ice cream sandwich.
Fudge Bars- mildly chocolatey, and perfectly sweetened, these frozen treats melt more slowly and pleasantly linger longer.
the perfect summer treat.
Coconut Almond Ice Cream-Sicles- cool creamy insides compliment rich and crisp chocolate outsides. Almond slivers add a subtle crunchy and nutty flavor, but not enough to deter those mildly opposed to almonds.
NOW…
From a Nutritional Standpoint–
Going on the ice cream alone– I love coconut. The meat of a young Thai coconut is reminiscent of a full-bodied ice cream when blended with ice and choice of sweetener. For this reason the “home-blended” raw fleshy insides of a young Thai coconut are a delicious and healthful alternative for ice cream lovers– and anyone really. However, when anything goes beyond the produce section and ends up in pristine packaging, I raise my eyebrows.
While I won’t go as far as to claim that SoDelicious products have health benefits, I do think they are a tasty alternative for those looking to enjoy a creamy dessert without the dairy, lactose, casein, eggs, gluten, and soy found in most sweets.
What are the mainstay ingredients in their coconut ice product line?
The ingredients in their Vanilla Bean ice cream (one of the more basic flavors I would recommend to a client) are as follows:
Organic Coconut Milk (water, organic coconut cream), organic agave syrup, chicory root extract, carob bean gum, guar gum, vanilla extract, natural flavor, vanilla bean specks.
Take Note:
- The Gums (Locust bean gum, Guar gum, Xantham Gum, Chicory Root)– found in all sorts of processed foods under the sun, these non-starch polysaccharides are traditionally used to sweeten, thicken, and stabilize the ingredients in a product. The gums– derived of complex carbohydrates, a.k.a. sugar, these special agents are often used to replace fats, and sweeteners. In other words, where you may have added more fat to a creamy ice cream, Xantham gum may be used to give the product that creaminess, without increasing the fat content of the product.
My argument?
What’s the source?
How does the body break it down?
Sure these gum agents do exist in Nature, and do occur naturally in plants, but how natural is something after processing?
Though considered safe by most in authority, it should be something to think about.
A packaged product is never going to be a health food.
Other Ingredients to Note:
- Agave. Additionally, as one would expect from any ice cream, these sweet treats are just that… sweet– and contain a good amount of sugar (12 grams per 1/2 cup) though considerably lower than many mainstream desserts. The main source of sugar in each product is organic agave, which is by no means a health food, but can be considered more attractive than your typical highly processed, GMO-corn syrup product, inorganic sugar, or the majority of synthetic sugar substitutes. You may be interested in this article about Agave.
- Natural Flavor. This really could mean anything… It should be a reason for you be wary when purchasing packaged goods.
In so many words, the more basic the treat, the better. Although the Turtle Trails was a popular flavor, I would not suggest the peanut oil, and additional coconut oils and ingredients making it more complicated for the body to breakdown. Overall, however, even the “sandwich wafer” on the ice cream sandwiches seem to be a more thoughtful combination of less offensive ingredients in a sea of polluted and wacky gluten-free, artificial options. While not a guilt-free dessert, I am impressed by the overall honesty of the company (aside from the Natural Flavor label). It is beyond easy to research the mainstay ingredients on their website, unlike many Big Food companies.
Aside from the “Natural Flavor” ingredient labeling (which is on just about everything these days), there is not a specific ingredient that gives me a real antsy red flag feeling, so if ya can’t bring yourself to whip up your own delicious coconut ice cream– and your transitioning away from the indigestible and bloating dairy/soy ice creams, these SoDelicious Ice Cream coconut ice creams can be a wonderful and “higher quality” alternative for the family in moderation. *But if you are looking for the healthiest options… go for the chocolate, coconut, or vanilla bean. Or really… just nix the packaged goods aisle and make something yourself with a young thai coconut or avocado.
Enjoy!
What is your favorite cool dessert?
Have you ever tried SoDelicious?
What is your favorite flavor?
What are your favorite coconut products?
