Yonna Yonna Gelato, a brand-new concept from Okinawa’s award-winning Yanbaru Gelato, makes its global debut in Hong Kong at The Twins in Kai Tak, opening its doors to the freshest gelato crafted daily from succulent fruit grown in Japan’s prime ‘Southern Paradise’ orchards.

Yonna Yonna Gelato’s quality is assured through scrupulous selection of seasonal fruit and plants airlifted directly from the island prefecture, which are swiftly transformed in store into mouth-watering, creamy gelato bursting with flavour. Delivering fruity freshness, healthy goodness and pure, natural taste, and reflecting the relaxed tropical vibe of Okinawa – ‘yonna yonna’ means ‘taking time to enjoy life’ in the local dialect – each flavour glistens with the bounty of the local harvest.

Dressed in soothing hues and natural materials, the airy 500 sq.-ft shop presents 11 vibrant flavours of the delicious frozen dessert served by the cup (HK$48 each). Headlining the joyful selection is Orange Vanilla Mascarpone, a Yanbaru Gelato classic whose masterful blend of sharp citrus and sweet vanilla with rich cheesy overtones won the Japan National Grand Prize in 2015.

The ripe, juicy aromas of Okinawa’s fruit trees and green fields shine through in other signature flavours like the vegan-friendly Pineapple & Tankan Mandarin, a true original whose citrussy deliciousness comes from the natural crossbreeding of ponkan (a mandarin-pomelo hybrid) and navel orange.

Other innovative vegan gelatos certified by the Japan Vegan Association include Nakijin Watermelon, a signature flavour replete with native watermelon renowned for its exceptional sweet taste; Okinawa Mango delivering intense aroma and sweetness; and Katsuyama Shikuwasa featuring the vitamin- and mineral-packed Okinawan lime.

The house speciality of Premium Milk folds in the famous creamy milk of Hokkaido, while Lejima is a harmony of red sweet potato native to Iejima and marvellous milky aromas. Marron Glaces is the perfect choice for winter when chestnuts unleash their heart-warming notes – a texture-rich gelato of chestnut cream, purée and fresh nutty chunks. Black Sesame harnesses the earthy, toasty savouriness of the beloved Japanese superfood, and Dark Chocolate is enhanced by the pure, rich quality of the Caraibe cocoa blend from French chocolatier Valrhona.

Containing less sugar and fat, Yonna Yonna gelato is a healthier choice than traditional ice cream. Its standout Okinawa Mulberry Tea recipe is also high in iron and dietary fibre. A range of caffeine-free Herbal Teas (HK$18 each), freshly brewed with Okinawa treasures like protein- and vitamin-rich Moringa, Guava, and Shikuwasa, extends the wholesome vibe.

The new gelateria is a chic offshoot of Yanbaru Gelato, an internationally acclaimed gelato chain with six shops in Okinawa, named after the scenic forested Yanbaru area of the island heralded as Japan’s Southern Paradise. Among its many accolades, the chain is a frequentGrand Prix winner of the Gelato International Competition, and its consultants, Taizo Shibano and Katsuya Yonemori, became national heroes when they claimed first and second place respectively at the 2017 Gelato World Cup in Palermo, Italy – the first Asians to triumph over local masters of the globally adored Italian frozen dessert.

Yonna Yonna Gelato pursues an eco-conscious ethos through sourcing local Okinawa fruit with luscious flesh yet slight external imperfections that would otherwise be wasted – a practice that is not only sustainable but also supports local farmers in a prefecture where some 300 million yen of substandard fruit and plants are discarded each year. Food safety and quality can also be closely monitored by working directly with farms.

The inviting shop is proud to be the first retail outlet to open in Tower II of The Twins, Kowloon East’s new lifestyle shopping and commercial complex. Fronted by a lawn for outdoor enjoyment of its fruity delights, the eye-catching exterior features five colourful layers of perforated metal mirroring the swirls of gelato. Inside, there is seating for six people in a calming ambience that echoes the natural beauty of Yanbaru National Park – realised through the likes of heavy-grained wood and sand-coloured paintwork.

“We could not have chosen a better place to launch our new global concept of Yonna Yonna Gelato than Hong Kong, whose urban vibrancy is a stunning counterpoint to the vibrant natural flavours of our unique Okinawa gelato,” says Mr Kazuo Kokuba, Founder of Yanbaru Gelato. “We are indebted to our gelato maestros, Shibano san and Yonemori san, whose ingenuity in curating enticing new tastes ensures our gelato continues to stir the imagination, ignite the palate and garner international acclaim.”

Yonna Yonna Gelato is located at Shop G16, Tower II, The Twins, 12 Muk Chui Street, Kai Tak, Kowloon, Hong Kong and is open daily, from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.