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Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Claremont, RockridgeMon-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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What can I say, awesome flavors and even the standard ones are unique to this place. I have yet to try the black sesame, but I am looking forward to when they have it.
A couple of my favorites are the strawberry balsamic and the saffron. Tasmanian honey was also excellent. They even had Earl Grey the last time I went! My favorite! Been craving it since Sketch shut their doors. :(
I even considered buying the mint flavor because it actually tastes like real mint, not that fake pastel green stuff they have at the stores (bleh!).
Just a warning - they asked me last time if I wanted full scoops with my order. I assumed that that's what I had gotten previous times (they never asked before) so I said yes, and it was huge! I'd stick with the mini-scoops. But that didn't stop me from finishing the full scoops. It just took longer. :)
I've finally found a worthy replacement to Sketch! Yum!
Staff was friendly when I've gone. Although, I did see that the woman was visibly annoyed at the indecisive, loud crowd in front of us (I would have been too!), she was friendly to us when we walked up and ordered our cones w/out trying anything.
Everything about this place is what a local shop should be.
Unique, niche flavors, the owner hangs around and chats to the customers, and the decor and theme are personalized.
The ice cream is excellent, and I'm always on the lookout for new creations.
Supporting this place gives me a seriously warm fuzzy feeling. Except when I eat too much ice cream then it gives me brain freeze.
I like Tara's organic ice cream. I like that it's all organic. Not that I am a stickler for all-organic ingredients, but it's so Berkeley and it's great for people who care about this issue.
I like that every time I go, they offer different flavors. They have flavors that I would never think to turn into ice cream, like weird spices--saffron, cardamom, etc. But it's cool, because everyone can conjure up their own blend of flavors by mixing different exotic flavors of ice cream.
Thirdly, I am NOT a cone girl. I ALWAYS get my ice cream in a cup. This is because I have bad front teeth, which I won't go into further. However, I get my ice cream in Tara's sesame cone. It's light, crispy, and has just the right amount of sweetness and nuttiness.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, I like the fact that Hipline fitness studio is right above Tara's. This is because I can burn extra calories while eating my ice cream by mentally exercising to their music. How many ice cream places you know offer such balanced experience?
SIMPLY the best and the owners are nice too!!!
tastier than Ici, shorter lines (at least when i've been..), you get to meet tara, and nice dim, rosy lighting...i never KNEW that i wanted dim, rosy lighting as part of a late-night ice cream run, but this place made me realize what I've been missing all my life ; ) tried some flavor combinations I never thought i'd enjoy, such as strawberry balsamic (!!) in a black sesame cone..mm
Tara's Organic Ice Cream - good for the body & soul.
A delicious blend of a light creamy with a *zing* of flavor. Check out their Facebook fan page for the day's line up of delightful scoops.
To top it off, I immensely enjoyed the black sesame cone with my two scoops ~ the Chocolate + the Spiced Pumpkin. I must come back for more!
Yummy ice cream a little further down College Ave. that definitely rivals Ici, depending on what you like. I had the balsamic strawberry and saffron, while the BF had vanilla and lemon blueberry. The balsamic strawberry was a little too strong for my liking (I love Bi-Rites!) but the saffron was perfect and hit the spot. The vanilla was perfectly creamy and light, and mixed with the lemon blueberry, delicious! Great price (2 scoops for $2.85) too. I'm still an Ici devotee, but I wouldn't mind returning here when Ici's line is too long!
Childhood homie Tammie K. suggested this treasure of an ice cream joint if I were ever in the Berkeley area. We decided to obtain some sustenance here before taking a stroll through the UC Berkeley campus.
The attendant present for our visit was both super friendly and super helpful when allowing us to sample a lot of the exotic flavors. I settled on a medium-sized cup with three scoops. I put together the spicy Mexican Chocolate with a scoop of Vanilla Bean and Peanut Butter. Yes, nothing really uber exotic, but yet another shining example of my perpetual devotion to the Peanut Butter/Chocolate ambrosia fusion.
The place is small. Look for a purple sign while driving by and you won't miss it.
Nothing is worse than standing in line at a packed ice cream shop, trying multiple flavors, realizing that you actually do not want to order any of them, but forcing yourself to make an impulsive decision to avoid embarrassment or strife from those behind you.
I tried the Mayan Chocolate, then the Black Sesame, and wasn't too impressed with either. I asked for regular Chocolate even though the bucket was almost empty and she said they had run out so I guess there were no refills coming up.
I thought the shop was closing in 10 minutes (which it actually wasn't) so the pressure was getting to me and I ended up just getting the Mayan in an Even Smaller Cup ($2). It had a spicy kick that kind of gets you in your throat and I can't describe it but it just wasn't that exciting to eat. Think the name of the cup is funny? It was seriously the smallest cup I've ever seen at an ice cream shop, smaller than any kid's cup, and almost silly to eat out of but it was the perfect amount since I wasn't feeling it.
What was surprising to me were the cones. The sesame waffle cone is really a lovely balance of crunch, airiness, and a mild flowery/nutty taste. If you're looking for this place at night, you might easily miss it since the store name isn't lit up. But what you will notice are the crowds of people standing inside and out. For me, I'll just go down the street to Ici.
Delightfully creative ice cream and sorbet is sold here. In fact, it was so good, we came twice. In an hour.
Okay, okay. I wasn't quite that much of a pig that I consumed two portions of ice cream, but we did pick up a friend who we thought we should introduce to the delights of Tara's creations.
A small nets you up to two flavors, for which I selected rosemary pear and black sesame. The overarching theme of the frozen dairy here is rich creamy flavors that don't kick you in the face. They're just solidly present. The BFF had ginger maple and white pepper chocolate chip. Yep. That's right. White pepper. At first, you take a bite and it's just cold creaminess. Then the pepper hits you and you're like, "whoa!"
Cute little shop. Adorable employee behind the counter (we didn't get to meet Tara herself) who was spunky, energetic, and knowledgeable about all of the products. And reportedly, all of the magic is made in house here. Bonus: compostable plasticware. What's not to love?
Ah Tara...the neglected ice cream parlor of Berkeley because of Ici. It doesn't have the chez pannise graduate foundation like ici, but that doesn't mean it should deserve any less praise. The ice cream here has a more airy and lighter taste compared to ici. Cheaper prices, no lines and friendly staff -give it a try!
I recommend the black sesame and azuki flavors.
FAVORITE Ice cream place!!!
The flavors are unique (and change daily), and all taste amazing. Service is always great, the guy (i think he's the owner?) is so friendly! Annnd, they're organic!
Seriously, I crave this place all the time! In fact, my birthday is coming up and Im ordering a cake from here! Yummm.
My current favorite right now is the black sesame. Mmm on top of the black sesame cone! Nom Nom! I've also enjoyed the beet balsamic, and camote. A friend ordered the basil with the olive oil and salt topping. Interesting combo, but not my cuppa tea. They have other really cool topping options, I'll try them when I feel a bit more adventurous, but right now I am so satisfied with my black sesame! Mmm I love you Taras!
Been here a number of times and I have never been dissapointed!
It is hard to find a place that actually does unique ice cream flavors well. The customer service is great! There are just so many flavors I never know which one to get. They let you have free samples which is always a plus.
Great place to go to if your sick of the Ici line and so so ice cream. Has not been that busy everytime I have gone and they're open til 10pm which is great if you have an ice cream craving after dinner.
Go to their facebook page for their daily selection of ice cream!
My all-time favorite: Earl Grey...pure bliss!
Why are people complaining about the small portions??
Ice cream is not a whole meal. It's not a food group. It's a dessert.
Who eats a quart or half gallon all at once?
Tara is a fine artist - a painter and her artistry shows in her custom made ice cream.
I like the black sesame, and the tasmanian honey. I probably will like just about all of them eventually.
She is also environmentally conscious, and you can try many samples for free. Good customer service too. No way this place is only three stars.
It's not an all-you-can-eat buffet. Take your time, and savor the flavors.
I rarely give 5 stars to a place I've only just tried for the first time, but Tara's is worthy.
We stopped in tonight for an after dinner treat and from start to finish I was wowed! My girl had regular chocolate & mint chip in a plain (handmade) cone. Her words "it's good." I had Turkish coffee and the WHITE PEPPER CHOCOLATE CHIP. yes, white pepper. for those who love the sweet-savory combination, this will knock your socks off. the texture of all the options is superbly smooth. the staff is friendly, prices reasonable, eco friendly packaging... what more is there? oh right, its all organic.
i'm dying to have their pumpkin flavor and hope it makes it into regular rotation this fall. love. love. love. rivals both bi-rite & humphry slocombe (save the secret breakfast) without question!
Delicious ice cream walking distance from my home? Yes indeedy.
I love tea. Sometimes during the summer, I get sad because it is too hot for me to comfortably have hot tea. The first time I went to Tara's, I was able to get a scoop of Earl Grey and a scoop of Lavendar. Absolutely heavenly.
And I'm not a person to eat cones, but these cones are DELECTABLE!!!
Last night, I noticed how incredible this creamery smells as soon as you walk in the door. There's a warm vanilla-y sesame aroma (must be their fresh waffle cones). Yum.
KAFFIR LIME LEAF is my new favorite flavor.
Sage ice cream. I suggest you get some soon.
I love all of these family-owned organic creameries…
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I love the people who work at Tara's. I have always had great experiences with them. They are friendly, happy and full of great suggestions. I have to say: they really know the product they're selling. The ice cream on the other hand is okay, not great and WAY over priced for what you get. I do like supporting a small business, especially when it's clear how much effort they've put into keeping the "carbon footprint" as limited as possible. That speaks to me on a very personal level. But if you're looking for a deal... keep looking.
Sometimes I think the flavors, while interesting and unusual, can be overpowering and even bizarre. I've yet to leave thinking I'll be back for sure! Granted I've only been here 3-4 times and am sure there will be a 5th, I strongly doubt they will ever become my favored or coveted scoop shop.
Really about as good as it gets. Have you ever been to a Certified Organic CCOF ice cream shop? Well Tara's is the place. Huge selection of hand crafted, small batch ice cream.
We highly recommend sampling! Egg Nog, Lavender and Backberry were all mind blowing.
If you like waffle cones, the smell alone will grab you when you enter the shop.
This place takes their sustainable philosophy very seriously. Organic Straus cream, compostable cups, spoons and straws and happy workers!
Tara's proves that exotic comfort food is not an oxymoron.
Why does everything cool show up in your neighborhood AFTER you move? My favorite place I've ever lived was my apartment at Alcatraz and College. Now that intersection has an Indian place instead of Buttercup Pizza, Extreme Pizza instead of High Tech Burrito, and Wood Tavern. Why couldn't those have been there ten years ago? We lived there until 2004, and back then the northeast corner was just a liquor store and a newsstand, both of which we never went to. Now that newsstand has been replaced by Tara's. And let me tell you, if Tara's had been there back when we lived there we would have never left. (Okay, maybe we would have still left to be closer to our jobs but before leaving we would have eaten at Tara's every day.)
We heard all the buzz about Ici so last weekend on our day trip to Berkeley (which basically involved eating, eating, and eating), we stood in line for 10 minutes at Ici only to notice in horror that the line. Hadn't moved. At all. We decided to check out Tara's instead. (And also go inside the gate of our old fourplex and wander the grounds. Is that too stalker-y?) Tara's had no line and there was no pressure to stop getting samples.
We tried but did not get:
Nutmeg (good but too close to Orange Cardamom which we did get)
Turkish Coffee (one of the more popular flavors)
Sweet Corn (interesting)
Lemongrass (not a fan of in ice cream)
I wish I'd tried:
Fig and Port (another of the most popular flavors),
Epazote (as in the Mexican herb)
Rosemary Pear
Of note, there were no flavors involving chocolate that day (though there are chocolate flavors on their online menu showing all flavors they ever have).
We went with the Orange Cardamom (or as my husband calls it "the O-Card") and the Blackberry. (I like that they give you two scoops of different flavors for a small size.) The Blackberry was really good and a nice contrast to the Orange Cardamom, but the big winner was the O-Card. My husband declared the it to be the best ice cream he's ever had. I'm already a fan of Cardamom ice cream but the orange flavor added an extra shade of deliciousness.
Unlike Ici, the bench outside was totally empty and we enjoyed our ice cream booty.
Of note, Tara's strives to be environmentally friendly, believes in composting, and uses organic ingredients.
i probably could never step into another Baskin Robins or Dreyers ever again.
I love the flavors they offer here:
PANDAN???? are you serious? g-unit!!
and they serve the "even smaller" than small cups... PERFECT for people who cant consume too much sweets at a time.
We had:
-PANDAN ... totally asia ... getting all nostalgic here
-BLUEBERRY MINT .. i really love this one
-BLACK SESAME .. this one is very interesting and VERY good
somehow the flavors we got reminds me of Asia. wonderful.
who knew ice cream could be this good?!
YUM! I had the sage, which is an herb used for who knows what, but as a flavor... it makes my tongue happy!
They use compostable cups and spoons.. hooray for saving the environment!
Everything here is delicious. Warning: it may turn you into an ice-cream snob and start to turn down your nose at non-organic, super-conventional ice cream. Or maybe that's just me. Between Tara's, Ici, Scream, and the various gelato places through the East Bay, we're spoiled with terrific quality.
Do not miss out on the sesame cones! I haven't tried the plain ones, but the sesame are a real treat. The flavor and crispy texture really complement the ice cream/sorbet. You'll never want to have one of those cardboard-like store-bought cones ever again.
The sorbets have a really nice smooth texture, and the flavors are really refreshing. I really like the hibiscus-agave, and not just because of the gorgeous dark pink color. It's like fresh brewed hibiscus iced tea, but sweeter and frozen.
I must admit I haven't been especially adventurous with the ice cream flavors. I've got a serious sweet tooth and a soft spot for flavors based on or similar to classic vanilla. I really like their plum ginger, because it's got a good balance of sweetness, fruitiness and a touch of spice. The camote (sweet potato) is really nice too. The creamy texture of all their flavors is unbeatable.
I'm also really tempted to get a hoodie with their logo, especially because it's printed on one of my favorite American Apparel styles!
Ice cream is my favorite food. Even more than chocolate.
Tara's is the best I've had in Northern California. It's the best I've had in the world, except for Scoops in Los Angeles. They are basically equal to me. Compared to Ici for example, Tara knocks it outta the park! And I'm talking purely about taste!
Additionally, Tara's uses the best ingredients they can get. Fresh, whole-food, healthy ingredients. I don't have a shred of guilt when I splurge there. And their hot chocolate fudge is something like 74% cocoa. Wabam.
My favorite flavors are:
Coconut
Sweet Corn
Oaxacan Chocolate (or was it Mazatlan?)
All Spice
Tanzanian Honey
(and the green chile is worth a try when it's available, seriously!)
Dear Tara,
I had a hard time buttoning my pants this morning, and it's all your fault!
Sincerely,
Cara Y.
omg.
OMG!
ZOMG!!!
I'm going to go right ahead and jump on the Tara's bandwagon. I stopped here with my…
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it's nearly invisible, and almost a secret, even though it's received a lot of reviews. I went for the Bay Laurel flavor in a big way. It's very entertaining to watch one employee specialize in the hand scale manufacture of waffle cones.
Tara has easily as many great flavors and textures as Ici, but isn't over-patronized by lines wrapping around the block. A visit to Tara might easily be married to a pilgrimage to the Wood Tavern, Ver Brugge, or La Farine.
So good, it's ridiculous.
Seriously.
I was a bit of a glutton, as everyone in the very packed shop was ordering a small scoop of ice cream...I ordered a large bowl with two scoops, hot fudge, whipped cream, etc. I like to do it up with gusto.
I don't regret this however, because Tara's ice cream was SO DAMN GOOD that it was well worth the risk of gastric rupture.
I had one scoop of Sweet cream, and one scoop of Aztec Chocolate...or was it Mayan Chocolate? At any rate, the chocolate had a hint of spice to it, and it was out of this world. The fudge had a rich, bittersweet taste to it which reminded me of a very high cocoa content dark chocolate.
I hoovered my entire sundae in about 30 seconds, and stumbled out of the place in a daze, wondering how any ice cream shop could be so magical.
I'll be going in again today, because I MUST have the Tasmanian Honey.
Came here on a nice Sunday afternoon with a friend after tennis. There was plenty of parking, a definite plus. Also, there was no LINE as compared to ICI (a few blocks down). They had very unique flavors - I finally decided on Hazelnut, surprisingly it was more of a French Vanilla flavor. Since it was nice weather, I had frost byte trying to finish my scoop of ice cream. My friend got a scoop of Raspberry Sorbert, since he was lactose. It was extremely tart, but fresh raspberry.
I definitely want to come back to try other flavors!!
::SAMPLES::
Couldn't get any further... this stuff just plain sucks donkey @ss! Bummer... I was really in the mood... nothing a little Three Twins can't fix!
Just not for me... :)
This place has a huge selection of flavors compared to Ici down the street. The flavor I got was sweet potato and it was very delicious. The waffle cone was light and crisp. I would've tried the wasabi flavor but they ran out of tasting spoons. I like how everything's organic and has a nice earth-friendly vibe to it. Plus they have a super small cup that's a good portion for small children.
I'm not particularly picky about my ice cream as long as it tastes good but I think I still prefer Ici over this place but it was nice to try something new. I'd probably come back if I was in the area.
Pretty good. I loved my hazelnut! I tried some of their other flavors, like black sesame, lavender, and some others I dont really remember and they were just not my cup of tea.
If you are in the are then its a great little treat.
FYI they just opened a location in the SF in the metreon!
This place has several unique flavors! The service is fast and friendly. Sample any flavor before deciding, although it'll still be a challenge.
My personal favorite is the Pandan and Kaffir Lime Leaf.
The sweet corn is good too. Had it in a cup so I can't comment on their cones (though it looked good).
Tara's Organic Ice Cream has such unique flavors. Today I ordered cinnamon, molasses and pumpkin in a medium sized bowl. Both the bowl and the spoon were made from materials that will break down over time. This is very responsible. Prices are excellent. I love the Goddess mural and statues decorating the store.
I love this place. It has really well-made ice cream. The staff members are very friendly as well.
If there is one thing I wish about Tara's, it is that they would make regular old chocolate more often. But peanut butter is also sensational. And Tasmanian honey is delicious.
See, I like standard things.
Fat people beware this place is not for you. I would appreciate if you would stop going. I am tired of Tara's running out of the best flavors right when I get there. Well that may have never happened but I am concerned it might, and as a fatty I claim Tara's as my own.
Thanks,
Brian
try the mint chocolate chip ice cream here. i know, it's not a "unique" flavor, but it's like none i've ever tried anywhere else. they use real mint leaves, so it was super fresh and had a very crisp flavor to it. kind of reminded me of a nice glass of mojito. if you love mint leaves, you will love their mint chocolate chip!
i also tried the saffron flavor, and that was yummy as well. very friendly service (i tried a bazillion flavors, and she wasn't annoyed at all), and they're all organic!
my sister loved her strawberry balsamic flavor (though i was not a fan). they also have compost trash bins.
My Girlfriend and I recently discovered this place and it is our new favorite ice cream spot!
We like the fact that each portion isn't a beheamouth of ice cream but tasteful size in either compostable cups or yummy waffle cones, my favorite is the Sesame:) A truly unique and original ice cream shop that I can't share with enough people. I even talk about it on my film sets in LA...
I will admit that this place does get packed during all hours as we've been there at all times of day or night but good things come to those that wait!
I've been in yogurt/ice cream shops across the US that may have compostable cup options though most do not. Tara's is the first I've seen that is completely organic and sustainable for something simple as ice cream which requires a fare amount of energy to create, freeze, dispense, consume, and dispose of the cup/fork that are destined to be tossed. This type of establishment should get awards for their thoughtful design of this shop for something as simple as ice cream. The fact that it's GOOD ice cream is almost beside the fact.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
I recommend the Lemon Blackberry, Yerba Santa, Black Sesame, or the Bay Laurel.
Automatic plus one stars for not being Ici with that ridiculous line.
Plus one star for the amazingly nice scooper behind the counter, offering up all sorts of spoonful "tastes" of delicious (beet balsamic, nutmeg, earlgrey) ice cream.
Plus one star for organic, all compostable cups and spoons, posted nutrition information.
Plus 5 stars for the ice cream alone. The texture was creamy, the flavor intense and delicious. I'm a big believer in the idea that simple things executed perfectly determine the quality of a restaurant. While I too was dazzled by the extraordinary flavors, I found myself bowled over by the "sweet cream" flavor (not even vanilla in it). WOW. And on that homemade cone? Heaven.
if you haven't been, please please go.
After eating at Genova's Delicatessen for lunch, Kari S. and I ventured to one of my bookmarked places. This place really takes the cake or ice cream for their variety and combination of flavors. I can't even remember the flavors that they had when we went but I can tell you what we did order - lemon blueberry, peach agave sorbet, and ginger caramel all for $4.60. All were delish but I really took a liking to the ginger caramel which was actually Kari S.'s pick.
The guy who helped us was super nice and even offered us a huge glass of water to wash the sweet taste of ice cream away.
FYI...There's an interesting article in their front window referring to genetically modified fish blood. I thought it was referring to Tara's ice cream but the owner, Tara O., corrected me. My apologies. Tara's uses no fish products whatsoever! However, Ben and Jerry's and Breyer's do use fish products as a stabilizer in their ice creams.
Emeryville, CA
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