Local Vittles: Mompops Gourmet Frozen Pops from West Chester, PA

Like most local food products, I initially discovered Mompops on Twitter. Not sure if I started following them first or they started following me first, but they caught my attention either way. Finding dairy-free frozen treats always makes the lactose-intolerant in me happy!

Last month when I was at Whole Foods Cherry Hill, I happened to see them vending in The Hatchery area. The Hatchery is a section of the store where independent and local food products can showcase and sell directly to the consumer. Every time I visit, there is usually someone in The Hatchery and I learn about a new, local food product. I’ve made many purchases to support these small businesses.

Anyways, I was happy to see that they had invited Mompops because I really wanted to try them. Based in West Chester, PA, they proudly boast that they are the “first all natural gourmet vegan & allergen friendly ice-pop company.” In other words, these ice pops are completely gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and vegan. Not to mention they’re made in small batches and all under 25 calories. Needless to say, these are a healthy choice when you’re in the mood for a cool treat.

But how do they taste?

I made arrangements to pick up a sampler so I could try them and give an honest review. I was given the Chocolate Sea Salt, Banana Raspberry Cream, Pineapple Basil and Mango flavors.

Mompops Flavors (from left to right): Chocolate Sea Salt, Banana Strawberry Cream, Pineapple Basil and Mango.

Mompops Flavors (from left to right): Chocolate Sea Salt, Banana Raspberry Cream, Pineapple Basil and Mango.

Be aware that these are mini pops; they are not the size of the ice pops you normally buy in the store. At most, you’ll get about 4 bites out of them, possibly more if you take very small nibbles. Trust me, you can “indulge” in these pops and not feel guilty. You can also feel good about giving them to your children or someone with diabetes as they are all very low in sugar. Keeping kosher? No problem there either. Most of these pops contain 5 or less ingredients, with the exception of the chocolate ones.

Mompops Flavors (from left to right): Banana Strawberry Cream, Mango, Chocolate Sea Salt and Pineapple Basil.

Mompops Flavors (from left to right): Banana Raspberry Cream, Mango, Chocolate Sea Salt and Pineapple Basil.

Out of the sampled flavors, it’s not surprising that the Chocolate Sea Salt came out on top. It’s a nice, light version of a fudge pop but without all of the preservatives and no dairy. While I don’t get a lot of “sea salt,” it’s not overly sweet either. As an avowed chocoholic, one of these chocolate pops could sate even my voracious chocolate cravings at just 22 calories!

My next favorite flavor was the Pineapple Basil. I love the addition of herbs to sweets as I feel it adds another dimension of flavor. The basil is there, you can see little green specks of it throughout the pop, but it’s not overpowering; so don’t fear these if you’re not into herbs or basil. The flavor is well-balanced and, again, not too sweet.

The Banana Raspberry Cream is definitely creamy and sweeter. The cream comes from coconut milk, so if you are lactose-intolerant like me, you can eat them with ease. A nice flavor pairing here; usually banana is paired with strawberry, but banana raspberry is a nice combo too!

The Mango pops are also a bit on the sweeter side and very mango-licious. Choose this if you’re a big fan of tropical flavors.

I am eager to try other flavors when they become available.

The truly “sweet” part is that, while they are artisan made, they don’t carry the artisan price tag. A box of 12 yummy pops is just $7.99. That’s a reasonable price and you can feel really good about supporting a local small, family-owned and operated business. The family being Issa Ostrander and his Mom – hence the name “Mompops.” Such a cute story.

If you’re interested in trying these, I wholeheartedly recommend them. For now, you can find them at Whole Foods in Southeastern PA and Cherry Hill. They are also available at other retail stores and they also vend at a variety of farmers markets and food events in the greater Philadelphia area. They also do catering.

Otherwise, stay tuned to their Events page to see where you can find them next or simply follow on their social media profiles: