Beku

The Verdict

If you’re going to open a new gelateria on Lygon St, you’d better be bringing the big guns. This strip has seen more gelato than we’ve had hot dinners (and we’ve had a LOT of hot dinners).

Thank god Brunswick’s new gelato bar, Beku, is changing the Melbourne gelato game. They’ve still got a few classic flavours like chocolate, mango and raspberry sorbet. But when was the last time you saw Durian gelato on the menu? Or coconut studded with bits of raw jackfruit? Or refreshing yuzu, or Malaysian Teh Tarik (a spiced, condensed milk concoction usually found in mamak stalls)? Yep, we didn’t think so.

Beku is more of an Asian-inspired gelato bar. Not something Lygon St is used to. Owner and founder Agusta Triwahyu has been selling gelato wholesale for a while under the name The Rolling Scoops—this place is her first proper bricks and mortar digs.

The name came from the Indonesian word for ‘frozen’ (appropriate). You can expect the flavours to change with the seasons, although vegans will be hoping the mint and lychee sorbet sticks around. Our personal picks? The watermelon and basil is pretty nuts, as is the housemade Turkish delight (you can smell this stuff from 3m away).

Beku’s prices are pretty reasonable too. A double scoop will set you back $6, and it’s $3 for a kids’ cone. You can also pick up take-home tubs in 500ml or 1-Litre varieties. Very dangerous around Valentine’s Day...

Image credit: Annika Kafcaloudis