The UK is seeing unprecedented temperatures with Monday and Tuesday of this week (18th and 19th July 2022) receiving extreme heat red warnings from the authorities. Tuesday saw a record temperature of 40.3 degrees in the UK. And it was no joke! It felt like being in the Middle East, but unlike the Middle East there was no respite via AC systems inside buildings. It was brutal and torturous. Many parts of the country even saw natural wildfires and numerous homes were destroyed and deemed inhabitable. Our thoughts, prayers and concerns are with them and with anyone affected. This post is going to be a little more lighthearted. In this mega post, I’m going to list some of the best desserts and heat beaters in the city of London! I’ll include a variety of desserts and drinks ranging from ice cream concoctions, refreshing drinks and oriental desserts. I am sure you’ll find at least one thing within walking distance and if not I’m certain an Uber Eats or Deliveroo away (so you don’t have to go out in the scorching heat if you don’t want to). Let’s go…
Unique soft serve ice cream from Soft Serve Society
The soft serve ice cream here is as delicious as it is aesthetic. With unique flavours, interesting colours and intriguing toppings, you’re bound to find something to tickle your fancy or excite your curiosity.
Location: Boxpark Shoreditch and Seven Dials Market
Creative liquid nitrogen ice cream desserts from Chin Chin Lab
How does coffee and olive oil ice cream topped with bee pollen honeycomb and pistachio and cardamom powder sound? Or maybe Sticky Toffee Pudding Sundae? Yes, this is the level of creativity and innovativeness on display and offer at Chin Chin Lab. A proper London institution now and considered by many as the best ice cream parlour in the capital. A must visit to try their genius liquid nitrogen ice cream offerings.
Location: Camden and Soho.
Matcha sundae from Tsujiri
If matcha is your thing, then look no further than Tsujiri. Their unique sundaes combine unique Japanese flavours with luscious matcha ice cream. Once you have one of their sundaes, you won’t be looking at sundaes the same again!
Location: Camden and Chinatown
Baklava ice cream sandwich from Darlish
How does a baklava sandwich with saffron, rose and pistachio ice cream sound? A dream right? At Darlish, this can be a reality! Darlish are a luxury ice cream parlour that produces unique Persian inspired flavoured ice cream and you can either get the ice cream on its own (but that’ll be boring) or put it in a baklava to form a baklava sandwich. Read more about them here.
Location: Covent Garden
Ube bilog from Mamasons
Mamasons is a Filipino dessert spot in London that has, over the years, captured the imaginations of London foodies and truly no dessert list is complete without at least a mention of their classic bilogs. Read more about them here.
Location: Chinatown, Kentish Town and Westfield
Bubble waffle from Bubblewrap
A Hong Kong classic that quickly become a London favourite. A bubble waffle cone filled with ice cream. You can’t go wrong with this really. Read more about them here.
Location: Chinatown, Old Spitalfields market and Covent Garden
Icy taro ball from Meet Fresh
Authentic Taiwanese desserts such as shaved iced ones are sure fire heat beater. If they can work in a climate like Taiwan, they’ll be a hit in London. Frequented by Taiwanese people, it is no surprise that this spot is very popular. And I can’t think of too many things that can be more satisfying in this heat than shaved ice!
Location: Chinatown
Bubble tea
To be fair bubble tea is the right answer in all weathers isn’t it? I just need an excuse to drink it. However, get it with extra ice and maybe go for the more fruity ones for the extra satisfaction during a heatwave. I haven’t mentioned where to get it from as everyone has a favourite to be fair and there are numerous bubble tea spots around the city nowadays so your options are endless. My personal favourite is Xing Fu Tang. Read more about them here.
Location: Xing Fu Tang in Chinatown or any good bubble tea spot.
Iced latte
Is this the product of wanting to look boujie or is it the perfect summer drink? It seems every other Londoner is posting pictures of their favourite iced latte drink this summer. Has it always been this popular? I’m not the biggest fan to be honest, but I do like the coffee they do at % Arabica, but again like bubble tea, there are so many options and you’re bound to find one that tickles your fancy more than others.
Location: %Arabica in Covent Garden do a good one.
Nimbu paani / Falooda
Here’s an oriental offering, specifically from Pakistan/India. Nimbu paani translates to lemon water and it is the perfect summer drink. Slightly salty, slightly bitter and you can make it as sweet as you like. Hard to beat this classic. Falooda is a classic dessert from this region. It is a fully loaded milky drink that contains a lot of goodies in it. Chai places like Chaiiwala and Karak Chaii or anything similar are the places that will do these.
Location: Karak Chaii have a few branches around London.
Strawberry cheese tea
Can you imagine cheesecake in drink form? Well, this is it! It may not sound appealing at all, but trust me, it is actually really delicious. When done right, I even prefer it to the good old brown sugar milk tea classic. But it is quite difficult to get it right and I haven’t come across too many that do so. This may be the reason why this drink isn’t as popular as bubble tea or as popular as the drink itself is in China and Taiwan. Where can you get it from? All good bubble tea spots will do this wonderful drink, but strangely they’ll all name it with different names.
Location: The Alley and Jen Tea do good ones that we have tried.
Korean ice soda from Oseyo
This has gone viral recently and rightfully so or not, I do love the concept. You get a cup full of ice and a fruit flavour pouch full of drink. Combine the two and you have yourself a refreshing and cold drink! Read more about them here.
Location: Oseyo (they have numerous branches around London)
Bingsu from Shibuya
Shaved ice desserts have featured on this list already, but I cannot complete this list without mentioning this Korean classic. Loved by many and I assume will be even more so in this blistering heat. Head to Shibuya for delicious versions of this awesome summer treat! Read more about them here.
Location: Chinatown
Lychee Ice Cream Wheelcake from Wheelcake Island
This one is something different from one of our favourite dessert spots in London. It’s only around for a limited period of time though, so get it while you can! The lychee ice cream goes perfectly well with the thick doughy wheelcake (Taiwanese pancake). You can taste the lychee flavour and the texture of the ice cream is a little like gelato, so perfect for this heat. An added bonus is the rose petals! Pretty and delicious!
Location: Westfield London, Old Spitalfields Market & Seven Dials Market
