This week Blogger Elizabeth wrote about her love for ice cream. Her flavors are tempting, but you might have to go to Vegas or Singapore to indulge. (Hint: One flavor has just come available at your local Trader Joe’s.)
By Elizabeth Shay, Food & Drink Editor
Chocolate. Cookie dough. Strawberry…. These are some of the most common flavors of my favorite dessert: ice cream. These flavors are popular, and rightfully so, but there are many underrated types of ice cream as well. Here are three flavors of ice cream that I believe deserve more appreciation.
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip
Not to be confused with blackberries, black raspberries are a special variety of the more common red raspberry that is native to North America. Black raspberries are very difficult to find, as they are only available for a few weeks during midsummer. They are similar in flavor to their red counterparts, but are described as sweeter (Healthline).
I first had black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream at a Graeter’s Ice Cream store at Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Graeter’s is a Midwestern-based ice cream chain, founded in 1870. I was drawn to the vibrant mauve color of the ice cream sitting on the other side of the cool glass case, took a chance, and fell in love. This flavor, when done right, is perfectly sweet and creamy. Graeter’s remains my favorite brand that makes black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream, although the grocery store tubs never taste quite the same as my first experience in Vegas. Graeter’s is pretty much nowhere to be found at our local grocery stores, so if you are looking to try this flavor, Talenti makes a decent alternative.
Black Sesame
Black sesame seeds are primarily produced in Asian countries. These small, flat, oily seeds are grown in the fruit pods of the Sesamum indicum plant, which has been cultivated for thousands of years (Healthline). In addition to containing more nutritional value than their white counterpart, black sesame seeds also have a stronger flavor and more crunch. The flavor profile of black sesame seeds is characterized as being earthy and nutty, with a smoky, almost peppery flavor and a hint of bitterness. These seeds are no longer being used solely as a garnish, and are being incorporated into a variety of desserts, including cakes, donuts, ice creams, and more (Los Angeles Times).
Our local Creamistry ice cream shop in Palm Desert featured black sesame ice cream while they were still in business. This was one of my favorites out of all their offerings. I have not actively searched for this particular flavor of ice cream in grocery stores in the desert, but there are many brands that create black sesame ice cream which are available in Asian grocery stores.
Ube
Ube is a purple yam that originates from the Philippines. It has an even sweeter, more mellow taste than its orange relative with undertones of nuttiness and vanilla. Ube is a staple in Filipino desserts and has made its way into mainstream U.S. culture over the last three years. A large factor in ube’s popularity is its vibrant purple color that lends itself well to photography–especially important in a world addicted to social media (Real Simple).
I believe that ube ice cream deserves more recognition in the United States. My love for this flavor began after first trying soft serve ube ice cream from a McDonald’s in Singapore. Ube ice cream can be widely found in Asian grocery stores. Trader Joe’s has since come out with a line of ube-flavored products, including a mochi pancake and waffle mix, and, of course, ice cream! These products are seasonal items, so be on the lookout at your local Trader Joe’s to see when they are back in stock. Wait! I just checked. They are in stock right now! Go!
Have you tried any of these flavors of ice cream? What flavor do you think is underrated? Let us know in the comments!
Editor-in-Chief: Roman Rickwood
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/black-raspberry-vs-blackberry
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/black-raspberry-vs-raspberry#what-they-are
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeter’s
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/black-sesame-seeds-benefits#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/popular-ingredients/what-is-ube
The Trader Joe’s ube ice cream is super good!! My family always gets it when it’s in season:)) I think Trader Joe’s also has a new flavor that’s like southern peach. Have you tried it?