“I don’t really understand what ur selling bestie,” one person commented.
A supermodel-turned-ice cream mogul’s new creation is churning chatter online.
On Sept. 26, Tyra Banks, who owns growing Australian ice cream brand Smize & Dream, announced via TikTok that she has invented a new dessert — something she’s calling “hot ice cream.”
“This is my favorite ice cream flavor, and I have been working on making it hot for a year, and I’m not talking about me in a swimsuit in the ‘90s,” Banks says in the video, holding a scoop of Smize & Dream’s “Tyra’s Favorite” ice cream.
“I am talking about hot ice cream, something that has not been done before,” Banks continues, holding a “Hot Mama” branded cup. “I ain’t talking about a latte. I’m not talking about a flavored hot chocolate. I’m talking about hot ice cream.”
The first Hot Mama flavor is based on Tyra’s Favorite ice cream, which is made with salted caramel butter, butter-roasted pecans and salted sweet cream, and was tested at the flagship store in Sydney, Australia for a week, according to the caption.
So … what is ‘hot ice cream,’ exactly?
Since that first TikTok announcement — and a teaser on Instagram a day before — Banks has posted several videos on subject, explaining it in slightly more detail while announcing a second flavor.
“Fairy Dough Diva ice cream. Everybody is loving this,” she says. “I made it hot, as in hot cream, hot ice cream, liquid, warm, soothing, yummy, silky.”
In the caption, we find out that Fairy Dough Diva hot ice cream combines buttery vanilla biscuit–infused hot cream and tops it with Chantilly cream, rainbow sprinkles and a slice of house-made fairy dough crunch biscuit.
Banks’ invention, though, has many commenters squinting in confusion.
“i don’t really understand what ur selling bestie,” wrote one person.
“She clearly is friends with willy wonka,” wrote another.
“i feel like im astral projecting in trya banks dreams,” joked someone else.
“One thing about Tyra is she’s gonna confuse the hell out of you,” another commented.
“I’m confused on if it’s just warmed ice cream. Someone explain it to me,” added one more.
Neither Banks nor Smize & Dream responded to TODAY.com’s request for comment.
As for how hot ice cream is being received in Australia, where all of her brick-and-mortar stores are located, at least one customer waited hours to try the flavor — which Banks documented on TikTok.
“Incredible,” the customer says after tasting it. “Certified, certified.”
Although hot ice cream might sound odd, there are many variations on ice cream around the world: Turkish dondurma, Indian kulfi and Italian gelato all have vastly different textures.
Banks’ creation, though, seems to be closer to a custard or creme anglaise.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
