What started as a nostalgic craving turned into a frozen phenomenon. Ice Queen founder Rebecca Smith brought the vibrant, flavor-packed paleta tradition of her childhood to Portland—and the city hasn’t been the same since.
Meet Rebecca Smith, the creative force behind Ice Queen—Portland's favorite plant-based paleta (pah-LEH-tah) shop. What's a paleta? Think popsicle, but with lots of extra personality. These beloved Mexican frozen treats are made with real fruit, creamy bases, and bold, traditional flavors like mango, horchata, and tamarind.
Rebecca grew up in the Bay Area, surrounded by great food (her mom's a chef!) and a vibrant paleta culture that just didn't exist in Portland when she moved here in 2010.
That changed in 2018 when she launched Ice Queen with a few paleta molds and a whole lot of hustle—someone had to flip the molds every six hours! Her first pop-up sold out instantly, and that's when she knew she was onto something special.
After the pop-up success, Rebecca decided it was time to take the business to the next level. Enter 2021, when Rebecca met Lori Hunter, New Seasons' Local Finds & Culinary Events Program Manager, through Built Oregon. It was a game-changing connection that helped take Ice Queen to the next level. With Lori’s support—and her dad’s help securing a popsicle machine—Rebecca found the right partners and tools to scale up and bring Ice Queen to more people than ever.
In 2022, her dream became a reality when Ice Queen's brick-and-mortar shop opened in SE Portland. Since day one, Ice Queen has been about more than just paletas—it's about creating a space where flavor, Hispanic culture, and community can come together.
Today, the shop is a full-blown flavor playground, with rotating seasonal creations (pickle! tamal!) and a dipping station for chocolate, caramel, and all the fixings. Rebecca still leads with the classics—but always with her own twist.
Luckily, we get to share a taste of Ice Queen.
You can find Rebecca’s top-selling, plant-based paletas at your neighborhood New Seasons. And don’t forget to visit Ice Queen for the incredible hand-poured seasonals!
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