NEW YORK (PIX11) — It could be the perfect frozen dessert that you just’ve by no means had. Home made in lots of South Asian households, there’s now an effort to carry Kulfi to the mainstream ice cream group in New York and past.
Mansoor Ahmed, the founding father of Heritage Kulfi, is taking his love of Kulfi and turning it right into a enterprise. An enormous a part of that drive is range, even within the type of South Asian ice cream within the frozen part of your neighborhood shops.
“The easiest way I might describe it’s as a South Asian type of ice cream, much like how Gelato is commonly thought-about an Italian type,” mentioned Ahmed. “It’s meant to be very decadent and filling, so it pairs very properly with South Asian meals.”
Heritage Kulfi has some not-so-typical ice cream flavors like saffron, cardamom chai, malai, and rosewater. Then once more, Kulfi will not be your typical ice cream.
“Ice cream is one thing that brings all of us a lot pleasure,” mentioned Ahmed. “Kulfi particularly is supposed to be one thing somewhat emotional.”
Ahmed talks about Kulfi prefer it’s a ardour as a result of it’s. A lot so, he needs to take Kulfi out of South Asian meals kitchens and into the mainstream.
Ahmed spent the COVID-19 shutdown experimenting with flavors and studying the business ice cream-making course of — all from residence. In late 2021, he was prepared and launched Heritage Kulfi, paying homage to his upbringing in New York’s South Asian group.
“On one hand, it’s about being genuine and representing these components I grew up with and desirous to share that,” mentioned Ahmed. “On the opposite, it’s about bringing range to the ice cream part.”
Kulfi is nothing new; it originated within the sixteenth century, and in fashionable instances, you’d discover it in popsicle or block type. Households additionally make it at residence. A part of Ahmed’s plan to take it mainstream is to bundle it in pints.
“For me, it’s very nostalgic as a result of as somewhat child, I might keep in mind my mother, my relations would come round and we might [make] it collectively,” mentioned Ahmed.
What units Kulfi other than ice cream is its course of. It’s slow-cooked and cooled, yielding a dense and creamy texture.
Ahmed has created 10 flavors, from distinctive to conventional. Heritage Kulfi is offered in specialty markets in New York, like Kalustyans’ the place PIX11 Information met him for a style check. He’s increasing distribution alongside the East Coast and in the end needs to take it nationwide. He’s additionally engaged on a vegan line, with 4 to 5 further flavors.
“We’re an area small enterprise,” mentioned Ahmed. “We’re a licensed minority-owned enterprise and it’s actually necessary for me to have roots working with impartial retailers.”
One man’s nod to his heritage and his manner of sharing it with all individuals.
You’ll find extra info on Heritage Kulfi right here.
