The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

US-based mochi brand, Bubbies Ice Cream, has expanded its mochi line with the launch of two new flavours, Ube and Mocha Chip. The Ube flavour blends classic Japanese-inspired mochi with ube, a purple yam that is a staple food item in the Philippines. Ube ice cream is wrapped in purple mochi dough, offering a creamy, nutty, vanilla flavour. The Mocha Chip flavour wraps creamy, coffee ice cream with chocolate chips in chocolate mochi dough. The coffee ice cream is made using coffee farmed and processed in the Kona coffee belt on Hualalai and Mauna Loa in Hawaii. According to the mochi manufacturer, “this sourcing offers a deeper connection to Bubbies Ice Cream since the brand started off as an ice cream shop on the island of Oahu in 1985”. Katie Cline, VP of marketing at Bubbies Ice Cream, said: “Ube and Mocha Chip are an extension of our promise to offer a better-for-you ice cream experience that meets consumers' interest in flavour profiles that are on trend and exciting”. Both the new variants contain 90 calories per piece and will be available to purchase from major US retailers in early Q2 for Mocha Chip and Q3 for Ube, at an RRP of $5.99-6.99 per six-count box.