In much the same vein as Ice Kirin Bar’s flavours reflect East Asian heritage, the gelato at Icy Spicy finds inspiration in traditional Indian flavours. Established in 2021, Icy Spicy has rapidly expanded to seven locations across NSW and Queensland. Their growing popularity piqued our interest, prompting us to visit while in the area.

The gelato was priced at $5.00 for one flavour, $9.00 for two flavours, and $12.00 for three flavours.

The lady who served us was exceptionally friendly, recognising us as first-time visitors and generously offering tastings of most of their flavours, and even more if we were interested. Now, turning to the three flavours we selected:

Guava (top, pink): The delicate floral and sweet-tart notes of pink guava were apparent, yet somewhat overshadowed by the spicy kick of the chilli salt topping, which left lingering but gentle heat. We felt that opting for the guava without the chilli salt would allow us to better appreciate its natural flavours.

Green Mango (middle, green): The green mango flavour presented a subtle acidity, reminiscent of the fruit’s natural tartness. Even without the chilli salt, it carried a spiced savouriness that evoked the taste of a green mango curry rather than the typical sweet-sour profile found in Southeast Asian mango salads.

Chikoo (bottom, brown): This gelato captured the sweet, malty essence of the chikoo fruit, also known as sapodilla or soapapple, which is commonly grown in tropical Asia. Among the new flavours we sampled, this one stood out as the most approachable for palates unfamiliar with Indian subcontinent flavours.

There were 22 flavours on offer. In addition to the flavours we ordered, we also tasted the following:

• Coconut Apricot: The chewy texture and sweet-tangy flavour of the dried apricot complemented the creamy nuttiness of the coconut base perfectly.
• Custard Apple: The addition of spices, possibly cardamom, altered the flavour profile, deviating from the refreshing tropical taste of the frfesh fruit.
• Sweet Paan: This flavour offered a fragrant blend of peppery and grassy notes, with hints of floral rose, reminiscent of the inside of an Indian store.
• Lychee: While it captured the familiar taste of lychees without added spices, it lacked the refreshing quality of a typical sorbet.
• Mad Mandarin: It had an intense mandarin flavour that immediately recalled the oils from the rind, but did not capture fruit’s refreshing, mellower juiciness.
• Gulah Jamun: Inspired by the Indian dessert of the same name, it delivered a sweet, earthy, and spiced flavour with distinct hints of cardamom and rose.

It’s easy to see how the flavours at Icy Spicy could evoke nostalgic memories of childhood for the Indian subcontinent diaspora. Although these flavours weren’t exactly aligned with our preferences, which lean more towards East and South East Asian tastes, we appreciated the high quality of the gelato. Creamy and smooth, it was a delightful experience to try.

Icy Spicy is located at Shop 7, 12 Harwood St, Seven Hills NSW 2147.