As summer's intense heat approaches, more and more consumers must balance the temptation to gorge on ice cream with personal health concerns.[Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

Chinese consumers take a shine to greater variety of tummy-friendly desserts

The pleasure of enjoying a scoop or two, or a cone or a tub, of ice cream is often accompanied by the guilt of consuming too much fat and sugar.

As summer's intense heat approaches, more and more consumers must balance the temptation to gorge on ice cream with personal health concerns.

Many consumers refuse the indulgence of ice cream to remain fit but sometimes pleasure can exist without guilt - in recent years, healthier alternatives have become a trend in the market.

Vivienne Li, the owner of Vivi Dolce, which is one of the most successful gelato studios in Beijing, said she has noticed a shift in Chinese preferences toward a greater, healthier variety of ice cream.

"As consumers upgrade their consumption habits, new types of ice cream are made from organic and natural ingredients - such as gelato, sorbet, and other reduced fat products," Li said. "(They) are certainly becoming more popular."

According to a 2015 report by research firm Mintel, more ice cream - 5.9 billion liters - is consumed in China annually than anywhere else in the world.

Thibaud Andre, senior consultant and marketing manager at Daxue Consulting, said the average amount of ice cream consumed per person annually in China is about 4 liters.

Many brands have introduced low-sugar, low-calorie or low-fat products in China. For example, a number of gelato boutiques have appeared throughout China, allowing customers to finally indulge in the frozen low-fat Italian delight.