One morning at work last year while listening to a digital station, I heard a feature on crowd funding. The subject of food was mentioned in conversation, I immediately turned the volume up.
Listening to one of 2 brothers, he described how he had started a company producing ice cream. What interested me the most was the fact that the inspiration for this came on a trip to Brazil. The challenge they had taken on for charity was to cover the longest distance on land travelled by a kite and buggy. During this attempt they found themselves eating fruits to keep their energy levels up, the fruit in question, Lucuma.
On returning home they both jointly had the idea that it would be simply amazing to combine super foods into indulgent foods, namely ice cream. Ok, so in theory it sounded great, but in practice not an easy thing to achieve. Ice cream manufacture is not the most complicated thing. But when you start radically altering the make up by changing the levels of milk, cream and sugar it gets complicated, very complicated. After 2 years of trials, spending lots of their own savings and many ‘head in hands moments’ on just about their last roll of the dice, they perfected it. Oppo ice cream was born.
As the radio feature progressed I found myself captivated by their story. The thought of eating an ice cream that could be indulgent but at the same time good for you intrigued me. Once they had their recipe perfected they showed the finished product to the owner of GÜ deserts who quickly invested. What I loved about their story is that they had managed to successfully grow their company with 3 rounds of crowdfunding. Many of their customers contributing to Oppo’s growth, including 2 time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray!
As you can imagine it wasn’t long before I was at my local stockist, and walking out with 2 tubs of Oppo Ice Cream. On eating I was taken aback at just how good it tasted. It has been my ice cream of choice ever since.
Salted Caramel. Sodium content intensifies taste to almost define a rich toffee flavour. Clean and with no aftertaste, truly sweet and decadent. Super fruit Lucuma, rich in beta carotene, vitamin B6 and protein is used within this ice cream and gives a wonderful caramel like flavour. Cold-pressed virgin coconut oil and stevia leaf extract providing a natural sweetness. At 38 calories per scoop It has 59% fewer calories and 64% less sugar than standard branded salted caramel ice cream.
Mint Choc Swirl. At only 43 calories per scoop this tastes totally clean and fresh. Peppermint extract working so well with the slightest hint of chocolate flavour, cleverly provided Cacao from plantations in Columbia. Deep and rich in flavour, depth of mint is simply incredible. Containing Spirulina, a plant from the south China sea, naturally high in vitamins and iron. It has 54% fewer calories and 58% less sugar than standard mint choc ice cream.
What Charlie and Harry Thuillier have managed to achieve since their initial idea in 2011, to the present day is incredible. 4 flavours of ice cream that taste amazing in their own right. When you consider how the nutritional super foods have been used to mimic flavour profiles that we have all eaten, and loved while growing up is nothing short of miraculous. An ice cream you would feel happy to give to your children, one that won’t undo days of work at the gym, but most of all tastes beautiful. Oppo are a shining example of hard work, determination and British innovation.
Oppo ice cream is available in 4 flavours. Madagascan Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Mint Choc Swirl and Columbian Chocolate with Hazelnut. RRP £4.99 per 500ml Tub.
For more information on Oppo Ice cream, stockists and to use the store locator please visit www.oppoicecream.co.uk
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