Melting in 3, 2, 1,...

IT DOES not melt. Not the same way that ordinary ice cream does, anyway.

A few hours in and this frozen treat only diffuses a bit, its form gets less sharp but it does not go as far as becoming completely liquid. Quite handy if you are occupied as you eat or, say, if you are pretty clumsy with cones and cups, because then this slow melt soft cream is right for you.

Slow-melt soft cream was a craze that took over Japan just recently. Served in a variety of traditional Japanese flavors like black sesame, pumpkin and wasabi—young and old alike would troop to the nearest convenience stores for a taste of it.

A sprinkle of flavors. (Photo by Allan Cuizon)

Now, there’s no need to fly to Japan to have a fix of this delightful dessert. The process used in making it has been brought to Cebu by longtime diving buddies Eric Vincent Casas and Toshiki Shimaya, as they established the first locally based soft cream brand, Sakura Cream.

The secret here—okara paste. Sakura Cream infuses slow melt technology with okara, a by-product of soy milk and tofu, which are highly popular food products in Japan.

Okara paste holds the soft cream in tact longer, making it the quirky “slow melting” dessert that it is. Then because it is soybean-based, it is rich in fiber and protein, likewise making it a nutritious treat for anyone, including those who are lactose intolerant.

The first outlet of the brand is located on the upper ground floor of JCentre Mall along A.S. Fortuna St. in Mandaue City. Dabbed in cutesy pastel hues, the creamery has been tagged by owners as similar to cosplay cafés in Japan, where servers don character costumes and where they plan to hold cosplay events later on.

There one can have a go at any of the soft cream’s flagship flavors: mochi vanilla (rice cake), Sakura (cherry blossom) and matcha (green tea).

The taste of the three can be overwhelming at first; there’s little trace of saccharine and it’s far from the usual flavors that are sold commercially and that many are used to. But once you get past that, the soybean-based soft cream is actually easy enough to like, and you might end up craving for its novel and unique taste.

Cherry Hues. (Photo by Allan Cuizon)

Should you want to add a sweet touch to the cup, Sakura Cream offers a toppings buffet, where you can go all out at putting on the sprinkles, mallows and the like. As for the beverage side, signature Monin drinks are available there, the Sakura Cherry Tea and the Sakura Cherry Tonic.

Whether one is in it for its unconventional taste, the fun fact that it does not melt (try turning the cup upside down), or perhaps for the servers dressed in Lolita and schoolgirl outfits—bottom line here is, dropping by Sakura Cream is certainly worth a try. Sakura Cream is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.