I'm not going to divulge what is, I believe, an unbeatable record for daily ice cream consumption here (yes, it was a one-off and yes, I got belly ache).

I'd be afraid that it might inspire a few of you to take on the challenge (I couldn't deal with the responsibility of raising your cholesterol to such unhealthy levels).

But with Google weather predicting that temperatures in the Jing will reach 39 degrees Celsius or 102 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this week, we need something to cool us down.

So maybe just keep it to 'one a day' and never keep it in the house.

My son Max's current fave is the 'blue ice cream' (or 'Ocean' as it's officially known), which is made in the traditional Italian way by Gelataria Romana at Solana. They also offer take-out and can cater for parties -- as we were delighted to discover recently when one of their freezers appeared in the garden at our compound. Ooh, that lemon sorbet was refreshing.

Coldstone Creamery (at Solana and Sanlitun Village) has distinctive waffle cones and DIY options on how to fill them. Construct your own dairy fantasy or try one of the tempting suggestions. This is where Max gets his chocolate fix -- mini marshmallows and white chocolate chips mashed in to delicious milk chocolate ice cream right before his eyes.

We're also happy to see Gustomenta back on Sanlitun Road as it’s such a handy location for the occasional after-school treat. It's a pleasure to sit outside and watch the world go by with something chocolaty and minty. Max is more likely to order something fresh and fruity like mango, which, although it's not bright blue, puts us right back on the colour chart.

Haagen Dazs (next to the St Regis Hotel) deserves a nod and not just for location alone (we live close by). Have you tried their dreamy, creamy 'vanilla bean'? Wow.

Where do you get your ice cream kicks? I promise to be a responsible adult when checking out your suggestions!