Having established their first store in Sydney in 2002, Messina has evolved into a local institution. Although there are now other gelaterias more aligned with our palate, such as Ice Kirin Bar and RivaReno, it’s undeniable that Messina, in their own words, almost single-handedly “set the benchmark for gelato in Australia” over the past two decades. Thus, venturing into their Hong Kong store to sample their exclusive flavours for the local market felt less like a gamble and more like a guarantee of well-textured and flavourful scoops.

In line with the astronomical rent in Hong Kong (even compared to Sydney), the pricing for the gelato is relatively high compared to Australia: tiny scrrop (55 HKD/11 AUD), 1 scoop (70 HKD/14 AUD), 2 scoops (85 HKD/17 AUD), 3 scoops (95 HKD/19 AUD), 0.5 L tub (210 HKD/42 AUD), 1 L tub (350 HKD/70 AUD), and 1.5 L tub (420 HKD/84 AUD).

There were 5 Hong Kong exclusive flavours. We selected three flavours for our order, and requested tastings of the remaining two flavours.

The Hong Kong Milk Tea (left) had a tan hue and featured fior di latte gelato infused with local Hong Kong black tea. It provided a rich yet smooth black tea flavour with balanced sweetness and just enough milkiness, perfectly capturing the essence of this quintessential Hong Kong beverage.

The YoYoYokult! (right) had a white hue and featured a light citrus yoghurt sherbet. It captured the refreshing acidity of the iconic yoghurt-like beverage, serving as an ideal complement to the other richer flavours.

The Black Sesame Tong Yuen was a dark grey hue and featured roasted black sesame gelato with tong yuen. The finely ground black sesame speckled throughout maintained the smoothness of the gelato, while the richly fragrant black sesame flavour delivered an immediately satisfying smoky nuttiness. However, the tong yuen component didn’t enhance the black sesame experience, as the glutinous rice balls were dense and lacked the elasticity or stretchiness characteristic of mochi.

The Dragon’s Back (left) flavour was named after one of Hong Kong’s most popular and scenic hikes. It featured red and white dragonfruit sorbet, capturing the refreshing and subtly watery nuttiness of the fruit. The addition of black sesame seeds not only enhanced the visual appeal but also paid homage to the appearance of the fresh fruit.

On the other hand, the Tofu Fa (right) flavour transformed another quintessential Cantonese dessert into gelato. It comprised soybean gelato layered with red sugar. The tofu gelato served as an enjoyable ‘vegan’ alternative, offering a creamy and smooth texture with an enjoyable soybean flavor. The red sugar introduced pops of sweetness and texture, although the inclusion of ginger in the sugar was not to our liking.

Overall, our experience at Messina’s Hong Kong store was delightful. The exclusive flavors crafted for the local market were enjoyable, and the familiar tastes anchored this Australian gelateria in the Hong Kong scene. The commitment to quality and texture mirrored their standards in Australian stores.

Messina is located at 37-43 Pottinger Street Central, Hong Kong.