Forget everything you know about the ice cream man. In lieu of candy-red cherry and day-glo orange popsicles, Loco Pops offers flavors like hibiscus flower, pomegranate and tamarind. This new Durham shop, which opened in June, exclusively features gourmet popsicles that will replace those sticky-fingered childhood memories with tantalizing, and surprisingly sophisticated, tastes.
Located in a nondescript storefront on Hillsborough Road, the store itself is decidedly spartan, lacking extensive seating or even a cash register. Instead Loco Pops focuses on the numerous freezers filled with dozens of flavors of handmade popsicles.
Since Loco Pops is modeled after a traditional Mexican popsicle shop, the popsicles are referred to as paletas, for their shovel-like appearance. The menu is divided up into las paletas de la crema and las paletas del agua, popsicles of cream and water respectively. Each of the two categories includes at least a dozen flavors available daily, though these selections make up only a fraction of the 80-100 flavors that Loco Pops rotates through on a regular basis.
Loco Pops seemingly begs its patrons to sample as many varieties as possible, with small popsicles costing only $1.00. Indecisive patrons can easily sample multiple flavors for only a few dollars. As summer winds down, Loco Pops will remain open and will begin offering new autumn and holiday-inspired flavors, ensuring its success throughout the year.
Prices: Small: $1; Large: $2
Picks: Mexican Chocolate-cinnamon and nutmeg flavors
in a mousse-like chocolate base
Grapefruit with Basil-tart and palate cleansing,
with herbal flavors wrapped in a syrupy citrus base
Perks: walking distance from East, totally unique, retro
gourmet, cheap
2600 Hillsborough Rd
Durham
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