Lokelani Alabanza, Founder/Owner of Saturated Ice Cream

Growth & Failure

This is the story of Lokelani Alabanza. In this sweet episode, we discuss:

- What it was like growing up in a black household with her wide-ranging heritage: her Dad is half-Filipino, half-Mexican; her Step-Father is of Danish and Sicilian descent, and she was heavily influenced by her maternal grandmother.

- How a trip to Denmark changed the course of her life and got her into the kitchen

- The batch of ice cream she made that got a standing ovation from 250 people

- Creating over 350 flavors of ice cream

- The tears shed from eating her Magnolia ice cream

- Constantly pushing herself to be comfortably uncomfortable

Today, Lokelani creates beautiful flavors that spur the imagination while educating consumers about African American culinary history. She has been featured in Bon Appetit, Milk Street Radio, Wirecutter, Food52, CherryBombe Magazine, NPR, Oxford American, and The Sewanee Review. Lokelani is excited to share her view of the world through Saturated Ice Cream, her own brand of plant-based, hemp-derived CBD ice cream. Her first cookbook debuts in the Summer of 2023.

Please enjoy this interview with the delightful founder, Lokelani Alabanza.