Strolling through Panorama Mall in Riyadh, I came across Stickhouse which sells frozen ice on a stick using a new technology. This micro-crystallization process combined with the absence of air and the exclusive use of natural ingredients produce an intensely flavorful ice cream and deliciously fruity sorbets.
Stickhouse, which was founded in 2008, is already present in 73 countries including the Arab world, Malaysia, China, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines and Spain. Stickhouse has opened stores in the Kingdom’s main cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah.
Their ice cream and sorbet are guaranteed without preservatives, colorings, vegetable fats, synthesis emulsifiers, gluten and they are made with 100 percent natural ingredients. Frozen ice on a stick is also called an ice pop in the United States and ice lolly in the United Kingdom.
Incidentally, the first ice pop was created by accident in 1905 when 11-year-old Frank Epperson was mixing a white powdered flavoring for soda and water out on the porch. He left it there with the stick still in it. That night, temperatures reached a record low and the next morning, the boy discovered the frozen drink. He called it the “Epsicle”. It became an instant hit at school, and later with his own kids. They continuously asked for “pop’sicle”, a combination of soda pop and icicle. In 1924, Epperson finally applied for a patent for his ‘frozen dessert’ which he called the “Epsicle ice pop”. His children persuaded him to rename it “Popsicle”. Popsicle was eventually sold to Unilever. The name “popsicle” is now a registered trademark of Unilever and therefore cannot be used as a name for just any frozen pop on a stick.
I particularly liked the selection of fruit sorbets on a stick, the perfect refreshing summer snack. Unlike other icy treats available in the market, the Stickhouse sorbets are not loaded with sugar and dyes.
At this point, it is important to make a distinction between sorbet and sherbet. In America, sherbet must include milk or cream to reach a milk fat content between 1% and 2%. Furthermore sherbets can also contain milk, gelatin, or egg whites. On the other hand, a sorbet is made exclusively with pureed fruit, sugar and water. Sorbets never contain any type of dairy product and are thus friendly to lactose-intolerant individuals.
There is nothing like icy fruit sorbets to cool you down. They are not only sweet, colorful and lickable but fruit sorbets are also a delicious and practical small snack. Stickhouse has concocted a wonderfully refreshing mango sorbet available on a stick of course. The mango is one of the world’s most delicious fruit. Its flesh has a slightly acid sweetness which convinces us that this is indeed a delectable fruit which is best to leave as it is. The flesh of a ripe mango can be mixed with whipped cream to or blended with a syrup to made an unctuous sorbet.
If you are health conscious, you might prefer mixed berries or even better a pomegranate sorbet which gives you all the goodness of this fruit which is no more than a closet of juicy seeds. A pomegranate is indeed not an easy fruit to eat and although many think of it as an unrewarding fruit to eat, it is full of vitamins and antioxidants.
The famous French writer Andre Gide wrote a beautiful and incisive description of the pomegranate, in a poem published in his master piece “Les Nourritures Terrestres”:
“A little sour is the juice of the pomegranate
Like the juice of unripe raspberries…
Close-guarded this item of treasure, beehive partitioned
Richness of savor,
Architecture of pentagons…”

Lemon and lime are also popular flavors. Both, a lime or a lemon sorbet are indeed so refreshing during the hot summer months. However, under the impulse of the new cooking in France, fruit sorbets are served now all the year round.
You might be tempted to try a water-melon which is not a very common flavor or a melon sorbet? Strawberry and pineapple flavored sorbets are also included on the list but if you prefer a creamier texture, you can choose ice cream on sticks. There are basic flavors like hazelnut, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, mocha, pistachio and less common flavors such as cheesecake strawberry flavor, cheesecake berry, triple choco cake, Ice Cream sandwich and Nutella, a scrumptious duo of chocolate and hazelnuts. If you are craving for something cool on a stick, head straight for the nearest Stickhouse and lick to your heart’s content!
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