Lupita’s Ice Cream y Más is the newest addition to Hattiesburg, offering a unique fusion of traditional and Latin-inspired ice cream flavors, this one-of-a-kind shop is a welcome reflection of Hattiesburg’s cultural diversity and growth as a hub city.
The shop, owned by Esmeralda Gonzalez, recently opened its doors, offering the community a fresh and culturally diverse take on ice cream and more. With Hattiesburg being a growing hub city and home to various cultures, Gonzalez recognized the need for a unique dessert spot that reflects the town’s diversity.
“We believed Hattiesburg needed this,” Gonzalez stated. “Hattiesburg is growing with different cultures, and I thought, why not? It’s the perfect place for an ice cream shop like ours.”
Gonzalez was inspired by the ice cream shops from her hometown of Nashville. However, she wanted Lupita’s to stand apart by focusing on more natural ingredients. Large ice cream chains, she noticed, often used chemicals and shortcuts to speed up production. Not satisfied with this approach, she decided to teach herself how to make ice cream from scratch.
“I still use a little food dye for flavors like Tequila, Eggnog, and Mexican Vanilla, which are hard to replicate naturally,” Gonzalez explained. “But for everything else, I make it all from scratch.”
At Lupita’s Ice Cream y Más, every batch of ice cream is made with care. Gonzalez uses a base of powdered milk and heavy cream, ensuring just the right amount of sugar when adding fresh fruits. Currently, she offers 24 flavors, five of which are dairy-free, water-based options like mango, kiwi, and pineapple, to cater to a wider audience.
Lupita’s Ice Cream y Más delivers flavors that highlight the richness of Mexican culture.
“We offer your basic flavors like vanilla and chocolate,” said Gonzalez. “But we also add a twist with flavors like Mexican Chocolate, Gansito, and Tequila.”
The Mexican Chocolate ice cream, for instance, is made with Abuelita chocolate, a beloved Mexican brand that includes cinnamon, giving the flavor a spicy depth. Meanwhile, Gansito, a sweet cream-based flavor with chocolate, strawberry, and chunks of the famous Mexican snack cake, has quickly become a crowd favorite.
Hattiesburg resident, Sophie Emmer, who visited the shop recently, tried several flavors and was particularly fond of the Gansito.
“The ice cream is rich and flavorful with a smooth texture,” Emmer stated. “Each flavor stands out.”
In addition to ice cream, Lupita’s Ice Cream y Más serves a variety of traditional Mexican snacks and beverages. Customers can indulge in aguas frescas (fresh fruit waters), coffee, and savory snacks like Tostilocos, a unique mix of Doritos topped with cabbage, pico de gallo, cucumbers, peanuts, sour cream, cheese, and pickled pork skin. Mexican street corn and fresh fruit cups are also on the menu.
Open from 11 AM to 9:30 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11 AM to 10 PM Friday and Saturday, Lupita’s Ice Cream y Más offers plenty of opportunities for locals to satisfy their sweet tooth. Gonzalez is also committed to becoming a part of the Hattiesburg community, participating in local festivals like the International Festival at Saint Fabian.
In just over a month, Lupita’s Ice Cream y Más has earned praise from locals and newcomers alike. Gonzalez’s plans for the future include expanding the menu, becoming more involved in community events, and continuing to bring unique, homemade flavors to Hattiesburg.
For more information, follow Lupita’s Ice Cream y Más on Facebook and Instagram @lupitas_ice_cream_y_mas.