New Brooklyn Shop Scoops up Ice Cream With African Flavor

Families and friends of East New York received a sweet treat this summer. Kente Cones, which opened its doors just a few weeks ago in East New York, has been delighting the community with inventive ice cream made with ingredients from Africa.

Owner Ashley Marrero began Kente Cones alongside her friend and then business partner, Charles Asante in 2022. They first sold their ice cream through popups at the Flatbush Street Fair and Fort Greene Park. The pair then hosted tasting parties and eventually rented their own commercial kitchen for their ever-growing clientele.  

With their name in the wind, a large following and support poured from the community, including from state Assemblymember Nikki Lucas and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

Kente Cones, at 527 Stanley Ave., isn’t just any ice cream shop. The name is an ode to Ghanaian culture, celebrating kente, which is a textile made of handwoven strips of silk and cotton, once only worn by royals beginning in the 11th century in West Africa.  

The shop specializes in bridging the gap between Africa and the diaspora. By using ethically sourced ingredients from African countries, Marrero hopes to bring some African culture to the U.S. through her delicious scoops. 

The shop offers vegan ice creams, sorbets and Ethiopian coffee options. Specialty summer flavors include their signature Madagascar vanilla bean ice cream; Black is King, a black cocoa ice cream; Granny’s Favorite, a butter pecan; and Melanin Madness, a vegan Ghanaian chocolate crunch. Sorbet flavors include mango-pineapple and a sugar-free red berry sorbet.  

Marrero only does business with companies that adhere to fair trade principles, prioritizing ethical sourcing, fair prices for producers, and sustainable practices.  “That means a lot to us, too. It's not just that we're getting cocoa [but] we're making sure that the farmers are being treated and compensated fairly," Marrero said.

Before Kente Cones, there were no ice cream shops in the neighborhood, she said. Now, as a native East New Yorker, Marrero is pleased to welcome teenagers, families and the seniors into the space.   

“I grew up with a lot of people around here, so they are super hype,” explained Marrero. “So it was just like, location wise, it made sense, [because of] the foot traffic. All signs led to yes. If I said no, it was me being selfish.” 

Beyond serving scoops, Marrero said she sees her shop as a safe space for the community. With limited third spaces, she hopes that teenagers will feel welcome to come in, eat ice cream and enjoy themselves. 

“For me, it's bigger than ice cream,” Marrero said. “Not only [are you] having delicious ice cream, you're going to leave with some knowledge, and you're going to have more self pride in your culture, our heritage, our ancestors, what they've contributed to ice cream.”