About us

The inspiration for ‘Zen Gelato began one evening over dinner with a close friend. As we caught up, the conversation turned to our plans for the upcoming year. I mentioned that after a recent trip to New Zealand, I had fallen in love with the idea of starting an ice cream business, inspired by the real fruit soft serve machines I encountered there. To my surprise, my friend responded with, "I’ve been thinking of doing the same thing!" And with that, the seed for Zen Gelato was planted.

We launched our business with a commitment to creating all-vegan ice cream, starting at the vibrant vegan markets of Melbourne and expanding to several others in the area. My business partner, who was exceptionally skilled in woodworking, handcrafted our entire stall setup to fit perfectly inside his van. Our original machine, though incredibly effective, was a hefty one-tonne piece of equipment. Realizing the challenges in maneuvering it, I invested in a compact food cart—a fully enclosed trailer that became our mobile gelato station.

When the pandemic hit, circumstances led me to buy out my business partner and return to my roots in Tasmania. Today, ‘Zen Gelato thrives in the heart of the picturesque Huon Valley, where I craft our unique ice cream using fresh, locally sourced produce. This beautiful region provides not just the inspiration but the very ingredients that make ‘Zen Gelato a true taste of Tasmania.