Global flavours meet local scoops at Crema ice cream

As the smell of fresh berries and warm vanilla travels through the street, a crowd gathers outside Burnaby’s latest dessert spot: Crema, a brand-new ice cream shop that offers unique and exciting flavours. 

Crema is currently running in an ice cream truck, and they are soon opening their very first ice cream shop here in Burnaby. Their ice cream is made from scratch, and they don’t have the typical flavours you’d see in any other shop. Crema creates flavours that are a combination of classic ones, with ingredients from different cultures and countries, to mix tastes from around the world.

Since 2020, Crema has been participating in pop-up events, festivals, and catering in the Burnaby area. As of right now, they are operating on wheels, but their first shop is expected to open on Willingdon and Hastings. 

“A lot of challenges came our way when it comes to opening up the shop, it’s all a part of the process,” the Crema ice cream team told 8forty.  

Crema is known for their original flavours that reflect different cultures. More specifically, they offer multiple Asian and Latino flavours with a twist. For example, on Italian Day they were offering Ube tiramisu, which combines the purple yam that originated in the Philippines, with the delicious Italian dessert, tiramisu.  

The owners of Crema are from Taiwan and Peru, and according to their team, “they wanted to share part of their cultures and childhood with their customers.” Which is where they got the inspiration to create a menu that offers a broad range of options, from your favourite classic flavour to something you’ve never heard of or tried. As an ice cream place that changes their flavours monthly, you never know what to expect. Either way, Crema keeps us guessing, and they never disappoint. 

When I tried the Saskatoon berries and sea salt ice cream ($6.75 in a cone), I was instantly met with a great balance of sweet, and salty flavours. The sea salt balances out the tanginess of the berries, without overpowering their flavour. The berry seeds also add a nice contrast to the creaminess of the ice cream. If you’re someone who isn’t a big fan of overly sweet desserts, then the Saskatoon berries and sea salt ice cream flavour is for you. 

On the other hand, the Cookie Monster ice cream flavour ($5.50 in a cup) is sweeter, but just as tasty. It is a combination of Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, and the blue colour of the ice cream, which is naturally coloured with butterfly pea flowers. According to Crema, “cookie monster is one of [their] most beloved ice cream flavours.” 

Crema has multiple other fun and original flavours. Some of them include matcha strawberry fog, lychee Lulo mimosa, and Colombian tutti frutti, which all combine certain tastes from around the globe. 

Even though the crowds and the heat was overwhelming on Italian Day, the Crema employees made it a nice welcoming experience; they were very kind and patient. As I walked towards their ice cream truck, I was worried because the line seemed very long, but I soon realized how quick and efficient the service was—I was in and out of there with my ice cream in under five minutes. 

On Friday June 13^th, Crema made a post on their Instagram hinting at an opening date for their ice cream shop. They said that their equipment is ready to be moved in, with the walls now up and the flooring on. “It may not look like much, but considering the fact that we started from nothing, this is a lot,” they said in the post.  

Crema says that they will be opening in just two and a half weeks, with the exact date being revealed soon. “We can’t wait to share our dreams with you all!” Crema told us in an online message. 

What makes Crema stand out from other ice cream shops is not just the flavour of their ice cream—even though it’s incredibly tasty— it’s the cultural identity and passion that brought their vision to life.

Cover image: @Cremaicecream on Instagram