Californiaberry frozen yogurt

A very welcome addition to Davao’s world of specialty food shops is Californiaberry™, a dessert place in Gaisano Mall that specializes in healthy (but über yummy) frozen-yogurt desserts. It’s not the first in the city, but it’s so far the best frozen yogurt that I’ve had here!

Frozen yogurt is much better than ice cream because, without a doubt, it’s healthier. It has virtually no fat content and is low in calories — so it’s a guilt-free dessert. And yet, Californiaberry’s frozen yogurt offerings are an enjoyable, delectable delight! The first time I visited their outlet, I finished off two medium-sized servings!

My personal favorite is their original frozen yogurt base with toppings of granola and almonds. It’s my new healthy snack that I try to have as often as I can (Californiaberry, being in a part of the city I don’t frequent, has effectively changed my daily routes!). Their best sellers are the CB Special, which has fresh kiwi, mango and frozen strawberries. It’s the perfect blend of yogurt’s slightly tangy taste, complemented by the sour-sweetness of mango, the exotic texture of kiwi, and the fruity sweetness of strawberry. Get a large one if you want this because the other sizes just won’t satisfy.

For the sweet-toothed, you might want to try one of Californiaberry’s premium offerings: original cheesecake topping from The Cheesecake Factory. That’s right, sinfully sweet cheesecake chunks from the Cheesecake Factory. The natural sour quality of frozen yogurt provides an excellent frame for the deeply rich flavor of the cheesecake topping.

There are 40 different toppings that Californiaberry offers: a selection of fruits (most of them fresh), nuts, cookies (from Mrs. Fields®, no less!), and cereals. Discover them to find out which ones your favorites turn out to be! If you can’t decide on which toppings to mix & match, don’t worry, the friendly staff can help you with Californiaberry’s signature creations — their suggested toppings combos.

Prices range from ₱60 (small, original flavor, no toppings) to ₱150 (large, seasonal flavor, 3 toppings). Regular toppings are priced at ₱20 each.

The CB outlet is at the 2nd floor of Gaisano Mall of Davao (beside Nike). They’re open 10:00am to 8:00pm on weekdays, and up to 9:00pm on weekends.

Californiaberry is a franchise from Manila — the first outlet outside of the capital — that opened last 14 May 2010 and is being operated by Manileños. It was very heartening to hear when I interviewed one of them, who said that they felt Davao was a good city in which to invest. They also revealed that they’re already thinking of establishing more branches in other parts of the city. Let’s hope that happens soon!