Ice cream de la creme

Everyone's favorite dessert comes in a variety of styles and tastes, Yu Ran reports.

While the summer heat wages on in Shanghai, keeping cool can be made tasty with a delicious cup or cone of ice cream. Shanghai has a plethora of ice-cream shops ready to do the trick. Here are some of the best, most original and most interesting places in Shanghai to get this summertime treat.

1. Awfully Chocolate

Awfully Chocolate, just like the name describes, offers a variety of chocolate-flavored products that will satisfy any chocolate addict. While they might not be the healthiest of treats, Awfully Chocolate boasts all-natural products with no artificial flavoring or coloring. The dark chocolate ice cream has an intense, dark, rich and dense chocolate taste that lingers on after each mouthful. Hei, the name of the chocolate, is manufactured in Singapore and is carefully selected by contract manufacturers.

Address: 174 Xiangyang Road, near Fuxing Road

Opening hours: 10 am-9 pm Sunday to Thursday, 10 am-10 pm Friday and Saturday

2. Anna Banana

For a low-calorie treat that won't enlarge the waistline, try Anna Banana, an original Chinese frozen yogurt store. Frozen yogurt is a healthier option than ice cream and has some nutritional benefits. Anna Banana's frozen yogurt is made fresh daily with real yogurt that contains four different types of good bacteria, which helps the digestive and immune systems. Every week, Anna Banana produces a new flavor of frozen yogurt for customers to try. Along with a vast array of frozen yogurt flavors, there is also a selection of toppings, crepes and waffles to go with the dessert.

Address: 88 Henan Road, near Guangdong Road

Opening hours: 9 am-9 pm on weekdays, 10:30 am-9 pm on weekends

3. Le Crme Milano

Le Crme Milano, the original Italian ice cream store that opened in July 2009, has brought traditional handmade Italian gelato to Shanghai. Curious customers can see how the delectable dessert is made in the store's open kitchen and view the 20 different flavors on display. Gelato, Italy's version of ice cream, differs from normal ice cream with its lower fat content, real fruit flavoring and nut purees as main ingredients. The owner imports all gelato-related materials, except for the fresh seasonal fruits, from Italy to ensure an authentic taste.

Address: 434 Shaanxi Road S., near Yongjia Road

Opening hours: 11 am-10 pm Sunday to Thursday, 11 am-11 pm Friday and Saturday

4. Dyrike

Dyrike, the first soft ice-cream brand in Shanghai, features ice-cream hotpot, handmade soft ice cream and do-it-yourself ice cream. With its many varieties of ice cream, it has become increasingly popular among young people and students. The ice-cream hotpot is one of the unique products in the store. Topping sauces like chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, raspberry and other flavors are available to be cooked in the hotpots. Customers can create their own ice cream toppings with prepared cocoa powder, cream and brandy to suit their personal tastes.

Address: 2F-59B, Metro Town, 890 Changning Road, near Huichuan Road

Opening hours: 10 am-10 pm

5. Fuga

Fuga is a teppanyaki restaurant that offers customers a unique, delightful experience in sight and taste with its beautiful Bund views and flaming ice cream. Experimenting with his grill, the chef has created a new dessert that's sure to impress and delight diners. Fruits are placed on the grill before the ice cream. Spraying red wine or brandy onto the grill, flames roar around the ice cream and fruit. Even after the fiery performance, the ice cream doesn't melt and tastes warm yet is cool in the mouth.

Address: Unit B/C, 2967 Lujiazui Road W.

Opening hours: 11:30 am-10:00 pm

6. Kita No Watayuki

The Japanese ice-cream brand Kita No Wtayuki offers Japan's top ice product to local customers - snow ice. Snow ice is a different kind of ice cream that looks like cotton candy and tastes like a sweet version of snow. The small shop serves customers in an open space decorated in a pink Japanese style. Fifteen flavors of snow ice, including green tea, mango, almond and coffee are available and fresh seasonal fruits can be applied as toppings.

Address: 308B, Infiniti Shopping Mall, 138 Huaihai Road M.

Opening hours: 10 am-10 pm

7. Twist

Twist, a shop that specializes in Taiwanese desserts, features a range of cool specialties. Twist's brown sugar ice stands out as one of the summer's best treats. Brown sugar has a lower caloric value by weight than white sugar and prevents chronic diseases. Made with brown sugar, skimmed milk, sugar snap peas, taro and sweet potatoes, the sweet and summery cold treat will satisfy the hottest customers.

Address: 708 Weihai Road, near Shaanxi Road N.

Opening hours: Noon-8 pm

8. Hokkaido Bokujou No Aisukurimu

Hokkaido's ice-cream store specializes in creations that deliciously mix crepes, ice cream and colorful toppings. The milk used in the ice cream is imported from a farm in Hokkaido, Japan, which is famous in the traditional and organic milk industry. Three main flavors of ice cream - green tea, vanilla and chocolate - have strong creamy tastes that soothe the tongue with a sudden coolness. Crepes can be served separately or combined with ice cream. The crepe, fruit toppings and fresh milky ice cream offer customers a mix of tastes that make a perfect snack during a shopping break.

Address: B1 Hongyi Plaza, 299 Nanjing Road E.

Opening hours: 10 am-10 pm