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Why is it (almost) impossible to find good ice cream flavours in shops?

89 replies

exhaustDAD · Today 12:46

Lighthearted, please don't take this personally if you disagree - everyone loves what they love.
(It is also a little bit making me annoyed at myself for being annoyed by such a first-world problem.)

Ice cream. Very topical with our heatwave here in the UK. For the longest time the ice cream flavours in shops are making me feel like an old grump. But this year, with people raiding ice cream freezers in shops it is even worse. I am a very fruit-oriented guy. To me limes, lemons, grapefruits, cherries, etc are refreshing. You can even go crazy, and combine your lime with bits of mint, something that makes sense. Or combine cherries with chocolate, it is divine.

But why on god's green earth is the majority of ice cream stacked in the shops are random, overkill flavours? I am sorry, cookie dough is not a flavour. oreos, or whatever random brand of sweet is not a flavour. All my boring face is trying to do is spot a nice, simple flavour... like a passion fruit... When I reach for "lemon" I don't need it to be lemon cheesecake. Cheesecake is not a flavour. it is a dessert of its own. Are people really loving these nonsensical inventions? Why can't a flavour be clear, and not an "ice creamified" specific dessert/sweet?

And I am talking about actual, good ice cream here. Not the lemon sorbet that is 45 spoons of sugar with lemon essence.

Why do I always find proper and clean flavours in the most remote farm shops if I want to buy some? The reign of silly ice cream flavours needs to end...

(oh, and a little personal addition that will make me unpopular: vanilla can die a painful death, too. It was already boring even when I was a kid. There is a reason we say "he/she's a bit vanilla". And yet vanilla is the flavour that you have stacks and stacks of from all brands.. )

Yes, I know we can make our own. And yes, I know some cafes have wonderful handcrafted ice cream.. I specifically aimed at shops.

OP posts:
OotontheRandan · Today 15:08

Most vanilla ice cream is merely a means of breaking up the dry cone tbh. Apart from the stuff from Nardini's in Largs. Or Janetta's in St Andrews.

Otherwise... sometimes a sharp sorbet is perfect for hot days. But I am firmly in the camp of more is more with ice cream flavours and added bits. I don't want sophistication, I want sugar rush and food coma in quick order.

I suppose that leaves more tubs of grown up ice cream for everyone else though. I'm doing all you sophisticats a service, really.

CurlewKate · Today 15:28

Buy good quality vanilla. Put in a food processor with your choice of fruit. Blitz. Refreeze. Sorted.

Badbadbunny · Today 15:35

Gowlett · Today 13:09

Anyone seen a Lemon Cornetto at all?

Loved them. Sometimes find one, on holiday!

I've sometimes found a cherry Cornetto at various resorts in the Med, but they're very rare. Absolutely delicious. Last time was several years ago on Crete.

There's also an ice cream kiosk in a big shopping centre in Limassol (Cyprus) that do an astounding melon ice cream - never seen that flavour anywhere else.

carnivalcat · Today 15:36

I had tiramisu ice cream today and it was divine 🤷🏻‍♀️

Therobot · Today 15:36

Glitterbiscuits · Today 13:30

Has anyone seen tubs of ginger ice cream ? I’d love some. I can only get micro pots at a local venue.

Yes! Ocado has started selling Salcombe Dairy and they have a Stem Ginger ice cream - it’s good.

I’m with you OP, and I love Hazelnut ice cream you can get in Europe. I still fondly remember an apricot ice cream I bought in circa 2003

pizzaHeart · Today 15:37

We all like fruity ice cream in the house so I’m always on look out for new flavours.
Haagen -Dazs does nice fruity collection. Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury usually do seasonal flavours every summer in their premium range. I just stock them up when available.
Check Marks and Spencer, they started new range last year, it was really nice.
I was seriously considering to order big container designed for farm shops at some point but my freezer was not big enough. 🙂

added: I wasn’t considering big container from M&S, sorry if it wasn’t clear, it was from a specialized place who produced for farm shops. It just shows how desperate I was to get fruity ice cream.

Bloozie · Today 15:39

I love chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. But that aside, I agree with you. Everything is so claggy these days. Our caramel, is always salted. Our lemon, it must be cheesecaked.

I'm the same with perfume actually. Singular, crisp, strident and clean please. Stop making everything so everythingy.

exhaustDAD · Today 15:41

CurlewKate · Today 15:28

Buy good quality vanilla. Put in a food processor with your choice of fruit. Blitz. Refreeze. Sorted.

Ah, not the same as a lovely sorbet... vanilla base would just turn it way too desserty

OP posts:
exhaustDAD · Today 15:42

Therobot · Today 15:36

Yes! Ocado has started selling Salcombe Dairy and they have a Stem Ginger ice cream - it’s good.

I’m with you OP, and I love Hazelnut ice cream you can get in Europe. I still fondly remember an apricot ice cream I bought in circa 2003

Oh apricot! We made apricot sorbet last year, it was heaven.

OP posts:
Arlanymor · Today 15:44

Welshcake ice cream is life-changing. It really is. Since moving to the seaside, I don't buy ice cream in shops anymore, I have two really good ice cream parlours where they make it fresh every day.

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · Today 15:46

The mango one is lovely!!!

ilovepixie · Today 15:46

Birthday cake flavour gets me. Like WTF is birthday cake flavour!

LarksAscending · Today 15:47

ilovepixie · Today 15:46

Birthday cake flavour gets me. Like WTF is birthday cake flavour!

It’s white cake with sprinkles. So colourful vanilla.

LarksAscending · Today 15:48

Arlanymor · Today 15:44

Welshcake ice cream is life-changing. It really is. Since moving to the seaside, I don't buy ice cream in shops anymore, I have two really good ice cream parlours where they make it fresh every day.

My local gelateria does fig and mascarpone and a ginger and honey one. Both amazing

BCBird · Today 16:00

There is a icecream shop where i have recently moved to. Apparently it's lovely. I asked my friend if they do any certified gluten free icecream- yes vanilla- no thanks - wat a waste of calories. The nicest I have ever had is mince pie flavour this was delicious. It was before I didn't eat gluten. I have also had delicious pistachio flavour.

BCBird · Today 16:01

Arlanymor · Today 15:44

Welshcake ice cream is life-changing. It really is. Since moving to the seaside, I don't buy ice cream in shops anymore, I have two really good ice cream parlours where they make it fresh every day.

Would this be Red Boat icecream by any chance?

LarksAscending · Today 16:01

M&S has tonnes of sorbets

LowLightsHighLights · Today 16:03

Just make your own.

JaneIves · Today 16:07

There is a farm shop near me that makes cinnamon gelato, it is incredible.

Another vote for the Hackney Gelato’s.

Arlanymor · Today 16:09

BCBird · Today 16:01

Would this be Red Boat icecream by any chance?

Joe's! But I very much enjoy Red Boat when I'm up north. I am slightly dribbling now, thinking of Red Boat's orange and sea buckthorn.... mmmmmmmmmmm!

Arlanymor · Today 16:10

LarksAscending · Today 15:48

My local gelateria does fig and mascarpone and a ginger and honey one. Both amazing

Oh my word - those both sound right up my street!

Foraor · Today 16:16

Arlanymor · Today 16:09

Joe's! But I very much enjoy Red Boat when I'm up north. I am slightly dribbling now, thinking of Red Boat's orange and sea buckthorn.... mmmmmmmmmmm!

That sounds astonishing!

Arlanymor · Today 16:17

Foraor · Today 16:16

That sounds astonishing!

It's truly amazing - I am not even remotely a pudding person, but what they can do with ice cream has made me a convert! Nothing better than eating ice cream outdoors either, wandering with the sea breeze in your face, and this lovely zingy fun substance on your tongue!

socialdilemmawhattodo · Today 16:21

OttersOnAPlane · Today 12:51

Waitrose stock Ottolenghi brand Pistachio with Sour Cherry. It is the dessert of the gods.

I looked forward to that flavour last year. Horrid, soft pistachio and sickly. Not enough sour and crunchy. And £6 a small tub!