International ice cream brand, Baskin Robbins has released a new seasonal plant-based frozen dessert, “Horchata Ice.” Like the name suggests, this “refreshingly indulgent“ sorbet is inspired by the sweet Spanish drink.
According to Delish, “[t]he vegan scoop tastes like coconut and cinnamon and is way creamier than most sorbets.”
Animal rights activist and president of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Ingrid Newkirk, joined many on Twitter today, sharing her approval of the new vegan offering from the longtime ice cream maker. She captioned a picture of the scooped sorbet in a pink tub: “Junk food-y, but DELICIOUS on the tongue: Baskin Robbins’s new #VEGAN Horchata Ice – a cinnamon horchata-flavored ice swirled with coconut cream. What can’t you get vegan now?!”
Baskin Robbins already has a permanent variety of frozen plant-based ice creams. These include Blue Raspberry Fruit Blast Bar, Lemon Sorbet, Lime Daiquiri Ice, Mango Fruit Blast Bar, Strawberry Fruit Blast Bar, Strawberry Sorbet, and Tropical Ice. The company also offer animal-free packaged drinks.
Both demand and supply of vegan ice cream are growing at speed, with the North American market set to reach $1 billion by 2027 and the global market estimated to hit $2.5 billion within the same period. In the UK, major supermarket chain Sainsbury’s recently launched three private-label plant-based ice cream flavors, and just recently a 70-year-old dairy company debuted its first-ever vegan ice cream.
This shift in the market toward more plants and fewer animal products can be accredited to consumers becoming more aware of how the dairy industry negatively impacts animal welfare, climate change, and personal health. In fact, recent data uncovered that one in ten people consider dairy to be unhealthy. Notably, research has linked dairy consumption with multiple health conditions, including arthritis and Parkinson’s disease.
As a result, alternative products such as vegan ice cream are becoming highly sought-after. Not only are vegans opting to purchase dairy-free desserts with their groceries, a recent study revealed half of dairy-drinkers also buy non-dairy alternatives.
To pick up your own tub of Horchata Ice from Baskin-Robbins, head on down to your local supplier soon as this flavor will be discontinued in three months.
Image Credit: Ingrid Newkirk
