Café Review: Neh Neh Pop
When asked the reason behind the shop name, Bjorn Shen, 33, owner of Neh Neh Pop, chuckled. Bristling with amusement, he reveals: “I’ve never been a conservative guy so the name is just befitting”, before adding that he also wanted something attention-grabbing.
The cheekily named booth is located within Bjorn’s Middle Eastern restaurant, Artichoke, in place of Overdoughs, Bjorn’s previous bakery. Within a few short months, it has already started attracting crowds with its uniquely flavored ice cream combinations.
Neh Neh Pop hits us of nostalgia with its old school ice-cream on a stick which was grabbed out of a freezer from our childhood. But they also take ice cream pops to a new level with unconventional flavor combinations like Mango Sticky Rice, Baklava, Sneekers and more.
Six flavors are currently offered: Chocolate Rockie Road, Chocolate Ice Cream Cone, Strawberry Pokie, Baklava; and the two flavors that are always in demand, Sneekers and Mango Sticky Rice. These unique concoctions satisfy people of all ages trying to beat the heat.
“Usually when older people come over and ask what’s for dessert, straightaway we’ll ask them to try the Baklava. And then they’ll love it,” says Bjorn about his original recipe.
He adds, “When you see young people screaming and coming over, you know they’ll want Strawberry Pockie or Sneekers, definitely.”
The Sneekers Pop ($8) is a mixture of caramel ice cream and peanut butter ice cream, layered with gooey caramel sauce and then dipped in dark chocolate. It’s finished with sprinkles of toasted marshmallows and salted pretzels. This is definitely one of the favorites for little kids.
The sweetness of caramel and peanut butter is slightly masked by the marshmallows and crispy pretzels, reducing the overall cloying mouth. It’s definitely worth the calories!
You’ll probably second-guess this Mango Sticky Rice ($7) popsicle when comparing it with the other flavors but it’s actually a favorite amongst many.
This unconventional flavor is not really an ice cream but a frozen Thai sticky rice pudding with lots of coconut milk, mango puree and a generous amount of mango chunks. Ideal for someone feeling adventurous; it also has the bonus of not being too sweet. The fresh fruit gives it refreshing and natural flavor instead of the usual artificial aftertaste.
Baklava ($7) consists of dark chocolate-layered cherry blossom ice cream, chunks of baklava [a Middle Eastern pastry], and rose water. The whole popsicle is then dipped in sweet nut dukka, an Egyptian spice mix of nuts and seeds. It was devised as a flavor for those with a more grown-up palate as it’s not too corny, unlike the other flavors.
Strawberry Pockie ($7) is a popular flavor among the young. It’s a familiar flavor for those less adventurous with their taste buds, made with strawberry ripple ice cream, dipped in white chocolate, and layered with strawberry pocky.
Sadly, this one tastes just like the $1 ice cream you would buy from the ice cream man on a bicycle. Amusingly, Bjorn tells us it’s a favorite among big-sized men, too (it’s okay; we won’t tell anyone).
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The Chocolate Cone ($6) is the simplest of the lot, just like its name. Chocolate ice cream inside and dark chocolate outside; it’s sprinkled with wafer crumbs that stay crunchy instead of turning soggy and chewy. This is a refined version of a magnolia cone with better chocolate.
The cold, creamy, and flavorful multi-layered goodness on sticks is a perfect treat to devour on a sweltering day—or if you’re feeling peckish while waiting to get a table at Artichoke.
Bjorn and his Neh Neh Pop team, Ron, the business development manager, and Melissa, the pastry chef, are coming up with crazier ideas for their popsicles that could even involve spaghetti and Bolognese sauce! So keep looking for this new kid on the block, they could whip up a wacky flavor that’ll tickle your fancy.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tell us what you thought of Neh Neh Pop and which dessert café you want us to review next!
Information:
Address: 161 Middle Road, Sculpture Square, Singapore 188978
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Neh-Neh-Pop/1397138833944554?fref=ts
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nehnehpopsg/
Opening Hours: Tue – Sat: 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm
Sun: 11.30 am – 3:30 pm (closed on Mondays)
