Pinkberry Is Here

The Pinkberry buzz has been reverberating around the blog world for quite some time, and finally the west coast chain is opening up shop in Orlando.  Born in 2005, Pinkberry is a frozen-yogurt chain that has since “grown up” to approximately 100 locations across the U.S., Mexico and the Middle East and has acquired an almost cult-like following.  As people are slowly becoming more health-conscious and making healthier food choices, the frozen-yogurt market is growing.  Frozen yogurt tends to be lower in fat and sugar compared to ice-cream, but the major health benefit of fro-yo is the probiotics it contains. Probiotics, also known as live cultures, are healthy bacteria that promote digestion, regularity, etc.  Pinkberry‘s fro-yo is packed with live and active cultures and carries the seal of approval from the National Yogurt Association.  Competition in the Orlando area will include Menchies, a self serve fro-yo place, TCBY (yes, they’re still around), and Mochi, among others.

My first experience with Pinkberry was while I was on vacation in California earlier this summer. I have been reading healthy-living blogs for about a year now and I’ve seen many a blogger enjoying some Pinkberry fro-yo and proclaiming it delicious.  When I realized I was in the vicinity of not one, but several Pinkberry locations, I jumped at the opportunity.  Ironically, as soon as we walked in the door we overheard the guy behind the counter telling a woman in front of us that he was here from Orlando for training to manage their new Orlando location.  Clearly it was fate.

Pinkberry has flavors such as Original, Chocolate, Mango, Pomegranate, Green Tea, and Coconut, as well as some seasonal flavors like Watermelon.  The yogurt is tart, and their Original flavor does not taste anything like vanilla ice-cream, as I originally thought it would. Instead it tastes just like vanilla yogurt in frozen form.  My current favorite is the Watermelon flavor, which I prefer to top with every single fruit they have.  They recommend that the Watermelon flavor be topped with watermelon and cucumber, but I roll to a different beat.  Speaking of the toppings, they have your basic cookie/candy/cereal/crunchy toppings of course, but the best part is the fruit which is all cut fresh, no syrupy “you can tell it was previously frozen” fruit allowed.

The Pinkberry Orlando opens Friday August 20, and will be located at 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd in the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips plaza.  If you’re in the area on thursday, there will also be a “Pinkberry Preview Party” Thursday August 19th from 6-10pm including free yogurt, prizes, etc.  Up until now, the closest Pinkberry was in Atlanta (yes, that’s Georgia) and while I’m not above driving 400 miles for frozen yogurt, it will be nice to save on gas when I go this weekend.