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HOT: Cuppa Turca, Northcote

cuppa turca

Just when you think you’ve eaten at every ice cream/gelato in Melbourne, along comes one with a product so unusual that it’s a standout.

Cuppa Turca in High Street Northcote that brings traditional Turkish ice cream (or dondurma) and ice cream showmanship to Melbourne.

cuppa turca

cuppa turca

Dondurma is not a straightforward scoop in a cup-or-cone. The egg-free ice cream is churned and scraped using a special metal pole regularly so that the result is icy elastic and melts slowly.

cuppa turca

In Turkey dondurma is made using salep, a starchy flour extracted from orchids. It can’t be exported – so in Australia, Cuppa Turca’s owner Harun Yalcin has developed a recipe that substitutes salep.


Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Cuppa Turca, Northcote


At Cuppa Turca the dondurma is made fresh daily, with a rotating menu of flavours including vegan options. I suggest you taste test some of the more traditional flavours, including classic mastic, pistachio and halva. On a blind tasting Baby 2.0 chooses pomegranate, this first-ever counter with this fruit.

We are both fascinated by the process of seeing our ice cream stretch and pulled out of the pozzetti.

cuppa turca

The ice cream is actually served in a cup or cone after all, or you can have it sandwiched between baklava for a sugar overload.

cuppa turca

With their Turkish pastries and sweets Cuppa Turca also serve traditional black tea, apple tea and Turkish coffee unusually brewed over hot sand.

cuppa turca

There’s quite a bit of seating at the front and back, with high chairs available and a roomy back area in front of the toilet where you can park a pram/change a nappy.

Click here for the best gelato and ice cream in Melbourne


HOT Tips:

  • pram access;
  • high chairs;
  • large toilet is at back; and
  • limited street parking.

Cuppa Turca 244-288 High St, Northcote 0422 288 161

Tues – Thur 10am – 10pm

Fri 10am -11pm

Weekends 10:30am – 11pm

Cuppa Turca Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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