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Heladería Coromoto, commonly known as Coromoto, is an ice cream parlor in Merida, Venezuela, known for offering a Guinness World Record of 860 flavors. Coromoto was established by Manuel da Silva Oliveira, who began his ice cream career at well-established ice cream firms, before founding the store in a bid to create more appealing ice cream flavors. Coromoto sells 60 different ice cream flavors in accordance with factors such as the weather. Lonely Planet Venezuela calls Coromoto a popular tourist destination.
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History
Heladería Coromoto was founded in 1980 or 1981 by Manuel da Silva Oliveira, an immigrant from Portugal. Prior to that, Oliveira served as a worker for "the big ice-cream companies". Wanting to create ice cream flavors that would appeal more to consumers, he broke out and started Coromoto. The parlour started out with four common flavors, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, and coconut, however when its avocado favour, launched for its novelty value, became a hit, he started experimenting. By the time, he created flavour No. 593 called "Chipi Chipi", after its ingredient a saltwater shellfish, the Guinness Book incorporated his name in their book. In 2006, the shop opened its first franchise, "Coromoto" at Portimão on the southern coast of Portugal and 185 miles south of capital Lisbon. It is opened by his eldest son, also named Manuel Da Silva Oliveira, and Oliveira thereafter divides his time between Venezuela and Portugal.
For unknown reasons, Oliveira no longer patrons the store; Jose Ramirez manages the store.
Products
Coromoto is known for offering 860 ice cream flavours – recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most in the world – although only around 60 to 75, are sold each day. Among others, the store sells garlic ice cream and chilli ice cream, as well as quirkier-sounding flavours such as "British Airways" and "Viagra Hope".
Operations
Coromoto is located in Merida, Venezuela, and operates Tuesday through Sunday from a one-level building across from a church. Lonely Planet Venezuela calls Coromoto "the most famous icecream parlor in South America" and Frommer's calls it one of Merida's "chief tourist draws".