Ice Queen has nothing to do with the “Let it go, let it go” Frozen’s queen, but is a liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour at East Coast.
Liquid nitrogen ice cream. While this ‘fad’ has become a been-there-done-that in other countries like Hong Kong, the response here is still kind of lukewarm, with the more noticeable stores being 320 Below and Just Like It.
This little shop at Katong East Coast Road with no seats yet (opp Chin Mee Chin, next to Spizza) is so called as a pun on the words “ice cream” and owner Ee Lin thought that her products could be fit for the royals.
She is no ‘ice queen’ herself. Instead, I saw a chirpy friendly person all smiles behind nitrogen fog.
Why liquid nitrogen?
Other than looking rather gimmicky that would cause kids to be fascinated with a theatrical smoke-filled room, the rapid freezing produces an ice cream with particularly small ice crystals which in turn produces a smoother texture.
If you have tried ice cream that has been stored in the freezer for a while and sometimes tastes “icy”, that’s because the ice crystals are very long which can result from a longer freezing process.
Apart from that, using liquid nitrogen eradicates the need for excessive chemical additives such as stabilizers and emulsifiers.
Ice Queen’s flavours include French Vanilla, Gula Melaka, Hazelnut, Mangoes and Cream, Sea Salt Caramel, along with Sorbet flavours of Coconut, Elderflower, Lemon, Passionfruit and Strawberry. A scoop is $4.90.
I would recommend the Thai dessert inspired Mango Sticky Rice ($6.50 per cup), with Mango and cream ice cream on the top, and coconut sticky rice at the bottom. Sweet and refreshing, matched with a balanced blend of textures, tasting almost like the actual Khao Niaow Ma Muang dessert.
After a taste test, yes liquid nitrogen ice cream is denser, smoother, milkier and feels more denser packed the usual, as though there is ‘no air’ with the scoop.
‘Pantang’ people may want to avoid The Death By Chocolate ($6.50), a valrhona chocolate ice cream, topped with oreo crumbs with a butter cookie that spells “RIP” stuck inside.
Superstition aside, this flavour was extremely rich, tasting intense and deep after a few mouthfuls, and would likely need some sharing. Unless of course, you live for chocolate.
The creations are very much influenced by foods that Ee Lin has grown up with, thus you would see cups like Chendol, Japan Hour (Matcha) and Nuts about Nutella.
Some of the flavours could be still in the stage of experimenting, thus the Gula Melaka tasted weirdly salty. And I would wish for a larger fuller bigger scoop for its price.
Do expect more surprises in creations in time to come. Let it go, let it go, can’t hold it back anymore.
Ice Queen
217 East Coast Road, Tides, #01-02 Singapore 428915 (opp Chin Mee Chin, next to Spizza)
Tel: +65 64408098
https://www.facebook.com/icequeensg
Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 10:00pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Other Related Entries
The Hideout (Cassia Crescent)
Seriously Ice Cream (Everton Park)
The Milky Way (Tanglin Halt)
Alfero Artisan Gelato (Lor Kilat)
Udders (Thomson Road)
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