Krem Tarik: Malaysia’s first stretchy ice cream is now serving in Bukit Jelutong

Imagine the thrill of stretching your ice cream like taffy, pulling it as high as it’ll go before taking a bite. That’s the magic behind Krem Tarik, Malaysia’s first-ever stretchy ice cream. What began as a home-based operation is now ready to wow you in person at their brand-new store in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam.

From cravings to success: The Krem Tarik story

Would you believe me if I told you that Malaysia’s first stretchy ice cream brand all started with a simple craving? Azareil Akasha, a 24-year-old ACCA student and entrepreneur, had a love affair with Turkish dondurma after traveling to the Middle East. If you’ve ever visited Turkey, you’ve likely seen vendors performing tricks while serving their ice cream.

This Turkish ice cream is known for its thick, chewy, and, yes, stretchy texture. While Azareil adored the treat, he quickly realised that the stretchy ice cream he fell for was hard to find in Malaysia, and when he did find it, it didn’t quite match the stretchiness of the real thing.

Seeing an opportunity to introduce something fresh and exciting to Malaysia, Azareil teamed up with his neighbour, 21-year-old Elmira Nabilah. Together, they dove headfirst into research and development in Azareil’s home kitchen. Their goal? To bring the stretchy ice cream experience to the local market.

Before launching, the duo wanted to ensure there was a demand for stretchy ice cream in Malaysia. To test the waters, they released a questionnaire on social media and the positive response was overwhelming, giving them the confidence to move forward. A total of RM3,000 which Azareil bootstrapped from his previous ventures—selling ballpoint pens and working for his father’s green technology-based fuel additive business—helped get things rolling.

Krem Tarik was born in August 2021 and it wasn’t long before the business took off, generating impressive sales. Now, the duo has opened their first physical store, ready to serve up the stretchy ice cream experience Malaysians never knew they needed.

Stretchy ice cream but it ain’t dondurma

While the stretchy ice cream may have been inspired by Turkish dondurma, Azareil and Elmira are quick to clarify that Krem Tarik is not just a local version of Turkish ice cream. In fact, they don’t use any Turkish ingredients, and instead, they’ve crafted their own recipe using halal-certified ingredients. They were determined to make something uniquely theirs. Stretchy, creamy, and distinctly Malaysian.

The key to Turkish dondurma’s stretchiness is sahlep (a rare orchid root) and mastic (a resin from the mastic tree), but due to export bans, these ingredients weren’t an option for the duo. After months of grueling trial and error, the duo developed a secret formula that delivers the perfect stretchy ice cream texture. While their ice cream is inspired by Turkish dondurma, it’s entirely their own creation, and they’re keeping the formula under wraps.

Creating that tarik magic

Making Krem Tarik is a far cry from just mixing a few ingredients together, it’s a true labour of love. The process starts with heating fresh milk and natural flavourings to thicken the mixture. Once the base is ready, the real fun begins. Elmira and Azareil tarik the cream to give it that signature stretch. The mixture is then transferred to a freezer drum, splashed onto the frozen sides of a bowl, and scraped repeatedly until a frozen ball forms.

The final step, key to their signature stretchiness, is the hand-stretching process. The duo manually craft the ice cream by beating it with a pounder to break down ice crystals and help the mixture bind together. Hand-stretching also incorporates air, making the ice cream lighter and giving it that perfect chewy texture that has become Krem Tarik’s trademark.

Who needs dondurma when we have Krem Tarik?

Krem Tarik’s newly opened store features a chic glass cafe concept, offering a modern, welcoming space to hang out with friends. Of course, the ice cream is the star of the show. They offer 24 rotating flavours, including their signature, Blue Comet. On weekdays, they serve about 200 cups, but on weekends, that number jumps to 400.

If you’re in the mood for something a little different, they also offer hot and cold drinks like Pistachio Lattes and Strawberry Matcha. For those who want their ice cream in milkshake form, try their Krem Shake, a new addition to the menu that combines the best of both worlds.

Not your ordinary ice cream spot

Since launching, Krem Tarik has been all about innovation, making sure every step of their ice cream process is uniquely their own. So if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind ice cream experience, head over to Krem Tarik in Bukit Jelutong for a stretchy, creamy, and totally indulgent treat. Who knew ice cream could be this fun?