Far-out Flavors

The average American eats more than 10 pounds of ice cream each year! You might like your scoop with fresh bits of strawberry or chunks of chocolate. But what about the flavors of flowers, pine trees, or blue cheese? Read on to discover how some of the wildest ice creams in the country are made. Which of these oddly delicious desserts would you try?

The average American eats more than 10 pounds of ice cream each year! You might like to eat ice cream with fresh strawberries or chocolate chunks. But what about ice cream that tastes like flowers or pine trees? What about ice cream made with blue cheese? Read on to find out how these wild flavors are made. Which of them would you try?

Salt & Straw
Where to Find It: Portland, OR

Oregon’s state fruit is the pear. That’s why this flavor is always on the menu at Salt & Straw in Portland, Oregon. Italian gelato machines churn out the ice cream base, which makes the dessert extra creamy and rich. Then ice cream makers swirl in 5 pounds of candied pears and 1 pound of crumbled blue cheese. The result? A treat that’s mostly fruity with a pop of tangy, salty cheese.

Salt & Straw
Where to Find It: Portland, OR

Oregon’s state fruit is the pear. That’s why this flavor is always on the menu at Salt & Straw in Portland, Oregon. Italian gelato machines mix the ice cream base. The machines make the dessert extra creamy and rich. Then ice cream makers add 5 pounds of candied pears. They also mix in 1 pound of crumbled blue cheese. The result? A treat that’s mostly fruity with a pop of tangy, salty cheese.

Grassroots Ice Cream
Where to Find It: Granby, CT

You might have seen geraniums in local gardens or flower shops. But did you know some types of these vibrant flowers are edible? For this ice cream, concentrated geranium flavor is added to 2.5 gallons of cream and churned into a sweet floral treat. The flowery flavor is a hit at Grassroots Ice Cream—it always sells out!

Grassroots Ice Cream
Where to Find It: Granby, CT

You might have seen geraniums in local gardens. You might have smelled them in flower shops. But did you know that you can eat some types of these colorful flowers? For this ice cream, concentrated geranium flavor is added to 2.5 gallons of cream. Then it’s churned into a sweet floral treat. The flavor is popular at Grassroots Ice Cream. It always sells out!

Max & Mina’s 
Where to Find It: New York, NY

What’s better than pizza and ice cream? How about both combined! For this flavor, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese are soaked for 25 hours in tubs of tomato sauce to form the ice cream’s base. Then 5 pounds of sweet cookie dough gets mixed into each 5-gallon batch. “The response is phenomenal,” owner Bruce Becker says, “but it’s not for everybody. Some kids love it, some don’t.”

Max & Mina’s 
Where to Find It: New York, NY

What’s better than pizza and ice cream? How about a mix of both! For this flavor, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese are soaked in tubs of tomato sauce. After 25 hours, the mixture becomes the ice cream’s base. Then 5 pounds of sweet cookie dough gets mixed into each 5-gallon batch. “The response is phenomenal,” owner Bruce Becker says, “but it’s not for everybody. Some kids love it. Some don’t.”

Creole Creamery 
Where to Find It: New Orleans, LA

There’s nothing like the scent of pine around the holidays. But what about the flavor? Every December, Creole Creamery makes pine forest ice cream. It’s made with a green, syrupy pine tree flavoring mixed with candied pecans and chopped figs. The pine gives the treat a woodsy taste. But the flavor is so strong, only 3 to 4 drops of syrup get added to each 10-gallon batch!

Creole Creamery 
Where to Find It: New Orleans, LA

There’s nothing like the scent of pine around the holidays. But what about the flavor? Creole Creamery makes pine forest ice cream every December. The pine taste comes from a green, syrupy pine tree flavoring. The ice cream also includes candied pecans and chopped figs. The pine gives the treat a woodsy taste. But the flavor is strong! Only 3 to 4 drops of syrup get added to each 10-gallon batch.