Monday, December 4, 2023

Jolly Llama review: Casper’s vegan take on ice cream

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We tried Jolly Llama’s new dairy-free and gluten-free sandwiches and cones, and reviewed them for flavour and texture.

Casper’s Ice Cream’s vegan brand, Jolly Llama, offers dairy-free as well as gluten-free frozen treats to US consumers.

The health-conscious ice cream brand takes into consideration that 65% of Americans cannot eat dairy, and promotes dietary inclusivity with its gluten-free options. I tried four of its flavours, all made with coconut milk: premium vanilla sandwich, cool mint chocolate chip, vanilla fudge sundae and caramel chocolate.

Here’s my review of Jolly Llama’s vegan ice creams.

Premium Vanilla Sandwich

Soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free
4 servings

This creamy, delectable vanilla sandwich takes me back to when I would eat vanilla sandwiches as a kid from the ice cream truck. Its milky and rich texture paired with the particularly rich chocolate just melts in your mouth with every bite and does not disappoint. If you are looking for a guilt-free dessert snack, this should be your go-to.

5/5

Cool Mint Chocolate Chip

Soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free
4 servings

The Cool Mini Chocolate Chip surprised me with how flavorsome the mint was. Although mint isn’t normally my first choice, I can see the appeal with this one. With only 160 calories per sandwich, it’s hard not to indulge in the whole box. Mint lovers who are looking for a dairy-free version of this ice cream would find this a splendid match made in heaven.

4/5

Vanilla Fudge Sundae

Gluten-free, dairy-free
3 servings

By far, my personal favourite. I could not put Jolly Llama’s Premium Vanilla Fudge Sundae down. The coconut cream-rich flavour infused with its soft fudge dressing and crunch of the dark chocolate chips was a perfect blend. The wafer cone lined with more dark chocolate was an extra treat to the taste buds. Perfect for the whole household to enjoy after dinner or on a nice summer day.

5/5

Caramel Chocolate Chip

Gluten-free, dairy-free
3 servings

Caramel Chocolate Chip is something I really didn’t think I was ever going to be able to eat again as a vegan. But here we are. Serious chocolate ice cream lovers will find this treat delightful.

The combination of coconut cream, chocolate and gooey caramel on a wafer cone lined with more chocolate fudge will satisfy your chocolate cravings. I found myself eating every bite all the way down to the bottom of the cone.

4.5/5

Jolly Llamas’s line of new vegan ice cream sandwiches and cones retail for $5.99 and are available in select US grocery stores. I highly recommend these if you’re looking for a guilt-free splurge for your tastebuds.

Check out our review of OGGS Aquafaba.

Tijen Najarian
Tijen holds a certification in Vegan Nutrition, and Chinese Medicine from the University of Hong Kong. When Tijen was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at age 23, she set out on a path that would dramatically change the course of her life. After years of pain, struggles with the effects of medication, and countless differing opinions from Western doctors, Tijen put her trust in a holistic practitioner and began educating herself on natural medicine and healing remedies. Upon learning that certain foods are inflammatory to the gut microbiome, she chose to cut all animal-based foods from her diet. Based in New York City, she has been in remission for five years and has been blogging her health journey and struggles inspiring many to go vegan themselves, a decision that would ultimately lead to her brand Tijen the Vegan.