Overview
They're the soft serve heavyweights that first landed in Melbourne in April, helped cement the city's reignited love of creamy ice cream, and offered up flavours ranging from the unadorned Milky Way (aka pure, milky ice-cream, without any extras) to the affogato-like Avalanche (which is topped with coffee beans, fairy floss and a double espresso). And now, Milkcow are about to become Swanston Street's newest addition, courtesy of their very first permanent Australian store.
With 60 outlets worldwide, Korea's all-organic, all-natural soft serve ice cream chain is a big hitter around the globe; however, Melbourne residents have had only been able to get their fix at a pop-up that ran earlier this year. But as of Monday, December 19, that'll no longer be the case.
Once the doors open, expect the usual bunch of exotic flavours and epic add-ons. As well as the aforementioned Milky Way variety, Milkcow's three signature creations include Milky Honey (swirled with 100 percent organic honey) and Milky Cube (laced with honey swirl and honeycomb wedges). All of their soft serve is made with locally-sourced, organic milk, which is churned on-site every morning.
For something a little more decadent, try the sweet-yet-salty Black Pearl, the tropical-inspired Santorini or the Oreo-laced Mont Blanc, which features cookie crumbs, chocolate rocks, Italian apple syrup and a cloud of fairy floss. And these are just the tip of the ice cream berg. You can top your soft serve with anything from fairy floss umbrellas and macarons to caramel popcorn and a shot of espresso.
In case you're wondering, yep, soft serve is officially a thing. In fact, it has been for a while now. No longer stuck in the realm of 50-cent cones at McDonald's, the sweet treat has well and truly made it to the Melbourne mainstream with the likes of Tuck Shop Take Away pumping out inventive flavours like Redskin, Froot Loops and jam doughnut, as well as last summer's Pierre's pop-up at Green Park, plus Aqua S's first Victorian venture.
UPDATE, DECEMBER 19, 2017: To celebrate their opening day on Monday, December 19, Milkcow are going to give away 100 free ice creams from 1pm. Check the Facebook event for more details. Get there early.
Find Milkcow's first permanent store at 287 Swanston Street, Melbourne from Monday, December 19. For more information, visit their website.
By Jasmine Crittenden and Sarah Ward. Updated: December 19, 2016.