Frozen Yogurt - Get On The New Way To Cool Off

Yogurt and toppings from Yogopop in Elkridge

Tart frozen yogurt was once such an exciting idea that we drove to Olney to sample what we'd heard the celebrities were eating in New York and Los Angeles.

Three years later, the serve-yourself yogurt shop has become so popular that I can't even track all the openings, closings and nuances between them.

Tutti Frutti opened in Fulton on Friday, and we stopped by in a crowd to pick from the 16 flavors and spoon on mochi and boba.  I've heard that the Red Mango in Clarksville is close to opening as well.  That means there are at least eight options in Howard County plus more in Catonsville  -- an entirely new way to cool off on a hot summer night.

If you haven't tried this yet, here is the basic idea:  Someone decorates a shopping center bay with white paint and modern design from Ikea and knock-off furniture stores.  They install a bunch of self-serve yogurt machines and a toppings bar that they fill with candy, fruit, breakfast cereal, and Asian items like mochi and boba.  Then they hire young people to weigh bowl and take money.

Lots of money if you aren't careful.  You're paying by the ounce, so small bowls can hit $6 and the large bowls must top $15 in the hands of a teenager.

The second shop next to H Mart

But it's really fun.  You can start with desserts that are basically soft-serve ice cream -- vanilla or chocolate yogurt with sprinkles.  Kids can go crazy with cake-flavored yogurt and scoops of diced candy bars.  Or you can harken back to the Pinkberry start of this trend with tart plain yogurt and fruit on top.  You have so much control that you can always make yourself happy.

On the one hand, the shops are similar enough that I'm not sure that I'd drive past one to try another.  On the other, owners matter.  The best shop have friendly employees, maybe 10-16 yogurt flavors, and toppings that look fresh and fun.  Some joints have been uninspiring with just a few flavors and toppings that are clearly just frozen fruit and candy poured out of bags.

Turnover seems to help.  The Tutti Frutti on Rte 40 has an energetic vibe with people sitting outside and groups of people flowing through the line.  Beyond the yogurt, I like this trend because the shops often stay open until 11 am, and the people sitting outside give life and some after-dinner options to shopping centers.

Honestly, I can't keep track of every shop -- or every time that a shop seems to close briefly and then reopen.  The local trend started with a cluster along Rte 40, but it has expanded.  There are now two -- Mangoberry and SweetFrog -- in the same shopping center with H Mart.  These are the ones that I know:

• Iceberry in Ellicott City.  It has closed and opened.  Check before you go.
• Mangoberry in Catonsville.
• Pink Beach in Ellicott City.  I haven't tried it yet.  Is it still open?
• Red Mango coming to Clarksville.
• Sweet Frog in Catonsville.  I haven't tried it yet, but my nephews love one in Virginia.
• Tutti Frutti in Ellicott City, Columbia and Fulton.
• Yogi Castle in Ellicott City and a new one opening on McGaw Road in Columbia.  (Hat tip to Alicyn.)
• YogiBerry in the Columbia Mall.
• YogiCup in Columbia.  Updated after reminder below.  This is near Pub Dog and Mango Grove.
• Yogopop in Elkridge

Anyone have a favorite yogurt shop?  Anyone suggest a favorite concoction?  The new Tutti Frutti in Maple Lawn has cards on each yogurt machine that recommend complimentary yogurts and toppings.  What have you discovered that brings you back for me?

This is the second of three posts about staying cool in the summer.  First, I wrote about snowball stands.  Next up, ice cream options.  Click here for the entire series.