Our story · Greensboro, NC
A story in every flavor
Now scooping: Z's LemonadeVanilla MilkStrawberry Hot ChocolateRoseQ'ahwa (Coffee)PlantainCarolina Peach SonkerSulaimani SorbetPineapple Hibiscus SorbetJinn's Peanut UndaKulfi
Elaka is a frozen treat brand from Greensboro, locally made in North Carolina. We capture regional flavors with small batch quality, true to the way they'd be made at home, with all-natural, sustainably produced ingredients and a touch of cardamom in every one.
Each spoonful is a ticket to anywhere.
- Founded by Shafna Shamsuddin
- Cardamom in every flavor
- Locally made in North Carolina
Our mission
To inspire and delight through the sharing of unique stories and delicious cultural flavors, to make people smile and feel more connected.
We share flavors from around the world the way they're shared at home: generously, with a story attached. Fair warning, though: enjoying an Elaka treat may result in bursts of joy, nostalgic memories of childhood and unexpected cravings at any time.
MEET THE FOUNDER
Hi, I'm Shafna
I grew up in Kerala, on the southwest coast of India, where plantains and coconuts are part of almost every meal and cardamom grows in the hills. Food there is something you share, usually made by someone who loves you.
When I started making frozen treats in North Carolina, I wanted to bring that same feeling to every container: real ingredients, recipes true to the way they'd be made at home, and flavors that open a conversation. Plantain, one of our very first flavors, is a love letter to Kerala. Everything since has grown from there.
Shafna Shamsuddin
Founder & CEO
The Elaka story
From a family table to freezers far and wide
Every Elaka treat starts the same way: with a story worth sharing. Here's ours, from the first batch to the boxes we ship today.
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01Elakka means cardamom
Chapter 1 · Kerala, India
It started with a taste of home
Meet PlantainOur founder, Shafna Shamsuddin, grew up in Kerala, on India's southwest coast, where plantains and coconuts turn up at nearly every meal and cardamom grows in the hills. Food there is something you share, usually made by someone who loves you.
That feeling is what Elaka is built on. Even our name comes from there: elakka is the Malayalam word for cardamom, the little green pod you'll taste in every flavor we make. Plantain, one of our very first two flavors, is our celebration of Kerala's sunny coast.
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02Made with love
Chapter 2 · The family table
Recipes with family in them
A lot of our recipes started at home. Sulaimani Sorbet honors Shafna's mother's love of the spiced black tea poured at the end of a feast. Z's Lemonade began as a 4th-birthday request and became a favorite with kids everywhere. Strawberry Hot Chocolate brings together two treats our creator can't resist.
These aren't flavors dreamed up in a lab. They're the ones we make for the people we love, and now we get to make them for you.
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03All-natural
Chapter 3 · Locally made in North Carolina
Small batch quality, big flavor
Meet all elevenEvery flavor is made with small batch quality: all-natural, sustainably produced ingredients and nothing artificial. We capture regional flavors the way they'd be made at home: real fruit, real spices, real tea and coffee, and a touch of cardamom in every single one.
Kulfi is our Signature. Pineapple Hibiscus Sorbet, Sulaimani Sorbet and Vanilla Milk are our House flavors. And each of our eleven flavors comes with a story worth telling.
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04Made in NC
Chapter 4 · Across North Carolina
Global recipes, Carolina roots
Taste the Carolina Made packOur recipes travel the world, but we source as close to home as we can. Strawberry Hot Chocolate is made with Videri Chocolate Factory's hot chocolate from Raleigh. Jinn's Peanut Unda gets its crunch from French Broad Chocolates and Tidewater Carolina gold rice. Q'ahwa is brewed with coffee from Work Bench Roasters in Wendell.
And Carolina Peach Sonker is our tribute to Surry County's beloved deep-dish fruit dessert. Global flavor with a local heart: we think that's the best of both.
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05Pop-ups & partners
Chapter 5 · Our community
From family recipes to local favorites
Carry Elaka wholesaleWord spread the way good food does: one spoonful at a time. Today you'll find Elaka at Greensboro favorites like Scuppernong Books, Hotel Denim and Taaza Bistro, at pop-ups and events, and on the menus of cafes and restaurants that wanted something their guests couldn't find anywhere else.
We supply businesses in 3 oz cups, pints and scooping tubs, so a little bit of Kerala, the souks and Surry County can show up on menus across the state.
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06Ships on dry ice
Chapter 6 · Far and wide
Now shipping to your door
How shipping worksSome stories are too good to keep local. So we pack our 4-packs in insulated boxes with dry ice and ship them frozen, so a taste of Elaka can land on tables far beyond Greensboro.
Birthdays, care packages, thank-yous, new neighbors, or a Tuesday that simply needs a treat: we've got you covered, cold.
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07Small batch quality
Chapter 7 · What's next
Built to grow, made the same way
Shop the flavorsAs more people discover Elaka, we've built our production to scale without changing what makes it special. Same family recipes. Same all-natural ingredients. Same small batch quality and a touch of cardamom in every container. We simply make more of them, so more people can taste the stories.
Small batch quality, never shortcuts. That's our promise.
The places behind the flavors
Travel the world, one scoop at a time
Every Elaka flavor comes from somewhere. Pick a stamp to see the places behind the recipes.
Kerala · India
Kerala & India
Elaka's story starts in Kerala, our founder's home state on India's southwest coast, where plantains and coconuts turn up at nearly every meal and cardamom grows in the hills. Sulaimani is poured after a feast, and Kulfi, India's classic frozen treat, is never far away.
The souks · Arabia
The Arabian souks
Fresh juices, spice stalls and the ritual of coffee shared with friends: Arabian markets inspired three of our flavors, from a pineapple-and-hibiscus sorbet to rose and almond to Q'ahwa, Arabic coffee with cardamom and dates.
NC · USA
North Carolina
Global recipes, Carolina roots. Carolina Peach Sonker is our twist on Surry County's beloved sonker, and Strawberry Hot Chocolate is made with Videri hot chocolate from Raleigh.
Home · Family
The family table
Some recipes started at our own table. Z's Lemonade began as a 4th-birthday request, and Vanilla Milk layers vanilla bean with cardamom, sea salt and Tellicherry black pepper.
What we stand for
What goes into every batch
Five promises we keep, whether we're making one tub or a thousand.
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All-natural
Real fruit, spices, nuts, tea, coffee and dairy. Nothing artificial, ever.
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Sustainably produced
Thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and North Carolina partners whenever we can.
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Small batch quality
Every container made with the care of a small batch, true to the way it would be made at home.
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For mothers and Mother Nature
Elaka is a tribute to mothers and Mother Nature alike. That's not a slogan; it's how we cook.
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Cardamom in every flavor
Elakka is Malayalam for cardamom. It's our name, our signature and our favorite pod.
Small batch quality, big flavor
- 11 FlavorsEach one with its own story and its own color.
- 10 Gluten freeTen of our eleven flavors are made without gluten.
- 3 Fully veganDairy free, with every bit of the flavor.
- 4 NC partnersVideri, French Broad, Tidewater and Work Bench.
OUR MISSION
Stories & Smiles In Every Bite
It's more than a tagline. It's why we make every flavor: to share a story, start a conversation and put a smile on someone's face.
So pull up a chair, grab a spoon, and tell us which flavor takes you somewhere new.
Fair warning
Just remember: we warned you if one of our flavors inspires you to drop everything and venture around the globe!
Stories & smiles in every bite
Start making memories today!
Eleven flavors, eight curated packs and a story in every one.
