The world's first hot ice-cream, created by supermodel and entrepreneur Tyra Banks, has divided opinion since its launch in Sydney's Darling Harbour. Dubbed Hot Mama, the dessert is neither a latte nor a hot chocolate nor melted ice-cream, according to its maker, but customers have been left puzzled by its tepid temperature and watery consistency.
At Banks' shop Smize and Dream, customers described the drink as 'wet toast' and 'reverse-volcano', collapsing under the weight of a spoon. Colleagues of a Guardian Australia reporter found it 'confronting' and 'lukewarm', with one editor observing: 'It's just so thin.' The $12.50 price tag provoked 'uproar', with one colleague declaring: 'You can just buy your own cup of ice-cream and melt it yourself!'
Under a generous topping of whipped cream and caramel sauce, the drink resembles a thick milkshake left too long in the sun. Its flavour, reminiscent of Ovaltine or crème anglaise with a salty-sweet kick, divided tasters. The hot factor failed to materialise – it arrived 'lukewarm at best, like a forgotten cup of tea'.
A Smize and Dream spokesperson defended the creation: 'Some fall for HOT MAMA at first sip. Others need a second date. Not everyone's gonna get it… but those who do? Oh, they REALLY do.' The shop is reportedly 'running out of cups' and 'running out of Hot Mama', with customers returning for more. Banks herself described the product as 'liquid, warm, soothing, yummy, silky' on Instagram.
At a SXSW Sydney panel on brand power, Banks said: 'Different is the new same.' Whether Hot Mama is a revolutionary treat or a gimmick remains a matter of taste – but for now, critics seem to agree that it is neither hot nor conventional ice-cream.
