Luxury Dessert Archives – URBAN-ADVENTURER

January 24 2025

A Scoop of Luxury – Gold Leaf Soft Serve

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This cute boba shop on Shaftesbury Avenue is selling soft serve wrapped in 24K gold leaf.

Gold Leaf Soft Serve

Photo: Urban Adventurer

One of central London’s cutest bubble tea shop, BOBA Tea London, launched their new luxury soft serve at the end of 2024.

The trend started in Japan by a luxury beauty and souvenir store, called HAKUICHI.

HAKUICHI is located in Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture which is famous for producing 99% (!) of Japan’s gold leaf.

Kanazawa is a historical city in Japan where gold leaf production dates back to the Edo period (1603 – 1868). The perfect combination of humidity, temperature and pure water made the city the perfect location for gold leaf production.

HAKUICHI is located in one of the historical districts of Kanazawa. The shop sells luxurious makeup products and delectable treats infused with gold.

They launched their Gold Leaf soft serve last Summer and it instantly went viral. Locals and tourists all flocked to the store to try the super photogenic luxurious sweet treat.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

This trend has arrived in London and now available at BOBA Tea London for a surprisingly affordable price.

The Golf Leaf soft serve costs £4.50 and is served in a black waffle smoothy cone. For an extra 50p you can choose a different cone: chocolate waffle cone, rainbow sprinkle waffle cone or black cookies & cream waffle cone.

Photo: Urban Adventurer

When it comes to flavours, we don’t have too many choices. You can choose form chocolate, vanilla or the mixture of the two.

Once you’ve picked your cone and flavour, they’ll meticulously incorporate a 24K sparkling gold sheet on your swirly ice cream.

About Gold Leaf

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Gold leaf is actually an incredible thin sheet of gold (0.0001mm). It’s very fragile, meaning it can break from the slightest touch or can get torn by a gentle breeze.

Therefore, transferring a gold sheet on an ice cream is not as easy as it may seem. It requires experience and the person doing it needs to be very quick. The whole process has to happen in an instant, so, don’t blink or you might miss it.

It is believed in Japan that gold bestows the best of luck in financial matters when eaten.

Are you trying it?

Practical Info

Photo: Urban Adventurer

Address

BOBA | 55-57 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6LD

Opening Times

Mon – Fri: 12pm – 11pm

Sat: 11am – 11pm

Sun: 12pm – 10pm

Price of Gold Leaf Soft Serve

£4.50

+50p extra if you choose a different waffle cone.

Ready for your next adventure? Canary Wharf Winter Lights is now open and free to visit. There are 12 otherworldly light installations on display, plus seven permanent installations to be enjoyed until the 1^stFebruary 2025.

January 14 2023

Luxury Donut Boutique: Donutelier by Roladin Opened Their First Shop in London

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Legendary Dutch bakery, Donutelier by Roladin opened their first luxury donut shop next to Leicester Square station. Donutelier have been creating luxurious artistic donuts for three decades combining traditional modern techniques, taking inspiration from modern fashion ateliers (‘atelier’ is an artist’s workshop) and fuse it with street food aesthetic.

Watch Pasty Chefs Constructing Donuts

Photo: Urban Adventurer

While in the shop, you can witness pastry chefs frying donut balls and creating the intricate decorations by hand before displaying them on the elegant brass cake stands.

Watch mini video tour here.

Alongside with their signatures, Donutelier offers a selection of special donut creations, designed specifically for London.

Pink Royal and Pistachio donuts at Donutelier by Roladin

Photo: Urban Adventurer

We tried two flavours:

Pink Royal, which is probably the most eye-catchy one on the menu. It’s filled with raspberry chantilly cream, topped with wild berries cream and garnished with crispy raspberry and mini strawberry meringues.

Pistachio donut is filled with chantilly pistachio filling, topped with pistachio crème and garnished with almond and pistachio nibs and crispy raspberry.

The prizes are between £5-£6 per donut, depending on the type.

Besides, their artisan donuts, Donutelier offers other classics to sink your teeth into, such as croissants, cruffins, cookies alongside with hot and cold drinks.

Address

48, 50 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0BS

Ready for your next adventure? The UK’s biggest pancake house, Stack & Still has also opened their first restaurant in London and it’s just a few minutes walk from Donutelier.