There’s something so sweet and satisfying about an ice-cold popsicle on a hot summer’s day. Perhaps it’s because these treats harken back to a simpler time of long days spent running around barefoot and through sprinklers, eagerly slurping down Creamsicles and Jumbo Jet Stars with sticky hands and blue tongues. Even as adults, popsicles are just as soul-satisfying, filled with nostalgia and memories, and even grown-up flavor combinations (and spirits!) too.

In Portland, Oregon, there’s a brand-new brick-and-mortar popsicle shop that’s spreading positivity in its little corner of the Rose City. In 2019, a colorful cart arrived in Portland, Oregon, delighting everyone with its fresh take on a classic summer treat. Kulfi, a type of Indian ice cream, was its name, and Kiran Cheema and Gagan Aulakh its owners, operators, recipe developers, social marketing team, chefs, and pretty much everything else. Three years later, on the heels of a global pandemic that claimed many small businesses and restaurants, Kulfi has set up a permanent popsicle shop in Portland, Oregon, and their story is nothing short of extraordinary.

Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our 2022 Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Massachusetts to Southern California.

There's a saying that we "eat with our eyes first," because food isn't simply something to feed and sustain us; it's a soul-filling, total sensory experience. Simply put, when food looks good, we're more inclined to try it, including fruits, vegetables, spices, and flavor combinations we've never had before.
Photo courtesy of Kulfi
The treats at Kulfi in Portland, Oregon, are definitely the kind of Insta-worthy wonders your eyes will greedily gobble up. Followed, of course, by getting them straight into your belly. (But not too fast, because you wouldn't want to get a brain freeze.)
Photo courtesy of Kulfi
Kulfi rolled its popsicle cart into Portland in 2019, bringing a new fusion of flavor and frozen treats to a city known for its unique global-meets-PNW-inspired cuisine.
Photo courtesy of Kulfi
Kulfi is a type of frozen Indian dessert similar to ice cream. "What makes it unique is that it's not churned," explains Cheema. "It's made by slow boiling milk on the stove until it evaporates. It's then frozen and typically served on a stick. The boiling method results in dense ice cream with a slight chew to it."

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The inspiration for Kulfi came somewhat out of the blue. "Gagan and I were walking down the street on our way to get some ice cream," muses Cheema. "We started talking about kulfi and wondered why nobody was making it, especially in such a food-centric city like Portland."
Photo courtesy of Kulfi
So Cheema got to work in her home kitchen, giving away test batches to neighbors and coworkers, until folks began requesting more than their apartment kitchen could churn out!
The mobile pop shop's menu also features fruit ice pops made with real fruits, herbs, and even vegetables. Kulfi eschews all artificial colors, juices, flavors, preservatives, and stabilizers, too.
Photo courtesy of Kulfi
The result? A delicious and inspired dessert on a stick. "As first-generation South Asians, we grew up in a blend of cultures and Kulfi is our way of telling our story and the story of others who grew up the same way," says Cheema. "We love being able to create a traditional kulfi and also [...] create our own fusion version that has the kulfi base [with] ingredients we grew up eating like Oreos."
Sounds totally delicious right? Portlanders agreed. And even in the midst of a pandemic, when local businesses were closing their doors right and left, Kulfi began appearing at more and more pop-ups, markets, and events. Because they had made something greater than the sum of its parts; the couple had created a way of spreading happiness while representing their culture.
Photo courtesy of Kulfi
"We realized during the pandemic that we create a product that makes people happy," says Cheema.

"No matter what is happening in their life or their day, we were able to provide them with a few minutes of happiness through our ice cream. We want to create ice cream that evokes a feeling. Seeing the happiness on the faces of our friends and customers when the flavors take them back to whatever makes them feel at home is what inspires me to keep coming up with new flavors."
And this is how, in April 2022, Kulfi opened the doors of its brick-and-mortar shop at 5009 NE 15th Avenue in Portland, Oregon.
Photo courtesy of Kulfi
"We believe our success came from putting out a unique, high-quality product, but even more than that, we believe it's our customer service," says Cheema. "We put a lot of effort into making our customers feel valued every time they come to see us; we take the time to talk to them and build relationships with them, as well as [with] other small businesses." Simply put, "We define success by our own happiness and the happiness of our customers," she says.

And given this Portland popsicle shop's last few years, we'd say Kulfi is a resounding success.

Many thanks to Kiran Cheema for sharing the story and mission of this amazing small business. Learn more about Kulfi at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages, and be sure to visit the brick-and-mortar popsicle shop at 5009 NE 15th Ave., Portland, OR, 97211.

Of course, Kulfi is just one of the many small businesses affecting positive change in Oregon; you can nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Oregon article. And be sure to follow Only In Oregon on Facebook and Instagram to learn about the Beaver State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.

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Featured Addresses
Kulfi, 5009 NE 15th Ave, Portland, OR 97211, USA