With the weather slowly heating up, the list of reasons to order scoops of cold, creamy ice cream is rapidly growing. While we like a cone of supermarket soft serve every now and then, it’s the handmade artisanal stuff that’s really worth the calories. Here are five great ice cream spots in Jozi to curb your cravings.

An ice cream combo at Paul’s Homemade Ice Cream in Rosebank. Photo supplied.

The Knickerbocker Ice Cream Company (in and around Joburg)

This pink ice-cream trailer can be spotted anywhere from Picnic in the Park to the Stables Village Market and even at music festivals. Aside from the handmade, gourmet ice cream, there’s also soft serve, frozen yoghurt, don pedros, artisanal lollies and sorbets to be had. Flavours might include pistachio, pale ale, rum and raisin, hot fudge, English toffee or butter-pecan curl. Everything is made from carefully sourced natural ingredients and they even offer sugar- and dairy-free options. Follow them on Twitter (@KnickerbockerSA) to keep up to date with their whereabouts.

Kiddies enjoying their desserts at The Knickerbocker Ice Cream Company. Photo supplied.

La Cremosa (Dainfern Square)

Italian-born gelato enthusiasts Mauro Benedetti, David Ficini and Sandro Tomassetti have put their entrepreneurial minds together to bring South Africa a taste of real, homemade gelato. Using ingredients from family businesses in Trastevere in Rome, the trio is bringing a touch of Italian gelato to Joburg. Try Sicilian pistachio, stracciatella fior de latte, fresh mint, Nutella and Mozambican coconut.

A photo posted by Amanda Joy Booth (@amandajoybooth061) on Aug 21, 2016 at 5:48am PDT

Paul’s Homemade Ice Cream (Melville and Rosebank )

Paul Ballen scoops up some of the best ice creams at his trendy parlours. The menu features an array of supreme quality ice cream with classic and interesting flavour combos. Look forward to scoops like birthday cake, peppermint crisp tart, roasted banana, speculaas cookie batter, cardamom white chocolate, butterscotch brownie and even hot cross bun. They offer banting flavours such as cocoa nib or natural coconut, as well as ice cream cakes for those indulgent occasions. They’ve also just launched a new store at the Gautrain station in Sandton, where flavours like white rabbit will be available.

Pete’s Super Natural Ice Cream (Fourways)

Peta Frysh (nickname: Pete) and her team produce six-litre batches of ice cream in intriguing flavours daily. Think Vietnamese coffee (with a dash of chicory to enhance the dark intensity of the coffee and condensed milk), French-inspired salted caramel, peanut-brittle with hand-crafted brittle and caramel sauce layers, and lemon frozen yoghurt with organic lemons. The ice cream is sold in pints at Oaklands Fruit in Oaklands, Organic Emporium in the Bryanston Shopping Centre and online at www.organicemporium.co.za. You can also find it at Jackson’s Real Food Market, Riverside Shopping Centre Bryanston, Impala Fruit in Craighall Park and Greenhill Grocer in Emmarentia. Scoops are also on the menu at Voodoo Lily Café in Birdhaven and Fireside Bistro in Norwood.

Pete’s Super Natural ice cream . Photos by Rupesh Kassen.

Trieste Café (Greenside)

This deli and ice-cream parlour is where you can buy Trieste Gelati’s famous Italian-style ice cream and sorbet made with a 100-year-old family recipe. There are around 30 flavours from which to choose, all made using natural flavours. Try a scoop of chocolate brownie, cinnamon, rose petals, cashew nut, Bar One, peanut crunch or granadilla. Pro tip: they also offer magnificent gelato cakes, perfect for special occasions.

A photo posted by robyn lea brady (@robynleabrady) on May 12, 2015 at 9:13am PDT