What are the ingredients for ice cream? Cream, sugar, and Squid? You read that correctly, there is an ice cream flavor with SQUID!! Buckle up and get those tray tables in the fully upright and locked position. You are about to go on a tour around the world…to investigate Ice Cream.
1) Squid Ink
Um…what? Thankfully, the Japanese did not harvest actual squid ink to create this recipe. They simply use it as a term to describe the color of the dessert. Regardless, it’s a flavor that’s sure to turn heads, which is why it’s included in this list.
2) Seaweed
This one is also from Japan. Everyone knows how much the Japanese love their seaweed. There are some people who scarf down dried seaweed like potato chips. I’m mostly impressed that they found a way to infuse seaweed into their ice cream.
3) Wasabi
I hope you like spicy food! This ice cream will confuse your tastebuds. Is it supposed to be feeling cold? Hot? Who knows!? Japan really likes its wacky desserts huh?
4) Chicken Wing
We’re still in Japan. Meat flavored Ice Cream!? Yeah, it’s rather strange. Some reviews claim it tastes exactly like chicken. I don’t know how that is supposed to be accomplished but there is no way I’ll chicken out of a taste.
5) Shark Fin
My tastebuds are squirming. Remember when I said Seaweed Ice Cream is impressive? I take that back. This is so much more impressive. The Namco Namja Town in Ikebukuro has an ice-cream museum with a lot of odd flavor choices. Check it out if you’re ever in the area!
6) Horse Meat
Personally, I think Horses are supposed to be used as a means for transportation rather than an ingredient for Ice Cream. That being said, I am a little bit curious about what this tastes like. Japan is still coming at you with weird meat flavors.
7) Indian Curry
Bear with me. We are still in Japan (sorry.) What’s your favorite flavor? Spicy? Savory? Sweet? What about all of the above? Somehow, a culinary genius in Japan combined everything for a beautiful curry flavor.
8) Natto (Fermented Soybeans)
Who could possibly use fermented soybeans in their ice cream? The answer: Japan. This flavor is infamous for its squishy and sticky texture. It also has a strong pungent scent. Maybe don’t try this one if you’re not feeling up to it.
9) Sakura (Cherry Blossom)
Made to match Japan’s most famous tree, this ice cream is mostly reserved for the spring. Thousands of locals and tourists admire the beautiful Cherry Blossom Trees while munching on this beautiful pink treat.
10) Soy Sauce
Soy sauce has a home in breakfast, lunch, dinner, AND dessert. This flavor is from the Soy Sauce Kingdom in Saitama, Japan. It is both light and salty. Who knows, maybe you can dip your sushi in it too!
11) Octopus
Uhhh…
Japan back at it with the Seafood Ice Cream! This is supposed to be really…interesting. There are little chewy tentacle chunks in the ice cream which act as a texture enhancer. I dunno…sounds a little fishy to me.
12) Sili (pepper)
Sili is a spicy pepper in the Bicol region of the Philippines. This ice cream was actually created to attract more visitors to the area. The spicy-sweet combination may seem strange, but their scheme worked and there are many tourists visiting the region for its cool treats.
13) Bicol Express
One thing to know about Bicol locals: They love spicy food. This ice cream is made with a Spicy Coconut Custard and is topped with fermented shrimp. This stuff is very very VERY spicy, so please proceed with caution.
14) Crocodile
Ok ok before you freak out let me tell you that this is not made with real Crocodile meat…it’s made with their eggs. You can actually order this two ways: Crocodile Pandan and Crocodile Coffee.
15) Tilapia
That’s right, Japan. The Philippines can make seafood Ice cream as well! This Ice Cream does not smell or taste fishy. It’s actually supposed to be really good. It was created by Central Luzon State University and won the Salon International de L’Agroalimentaire (SIAL) Innovation Gold Award during the SIAL ASEAN Manila 2016. I’d say it’s worth a try!
16) Keso/Quezo/Queso
Basically, it’s cheese ice cream. It may seem weird so some people, but it’s actually a favorite of the Philippines. It’s sold in many Filipino Supermarkets such as 99 Ranch, so maybe pick some up and give it a try.
17) Ube
Ube is a root crop in the Philippines. It’s purple and used in a lot of different dishes. It’s used to make breads, smoothies, and even cakes. My favorite, however, is it’s ice cream. It has just the right amount of sweetness blended with starchiness.
18) Tabasco
Let’s go back to the U.S.A for a bit. We can explore some flavors you can try during a road trip. Avery Island in Louisiana is home to the Tabasco Factory. When you go to visit, you can check out the museum, the warehouse and their Country Store. That is where you can try some Tabasco Ice Cream. Caution: It’s Hot!
19) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Yes…that stuff you cook your vegetables in. It’s used in Ice Cream. Oddfellows Creamery in New York is known for its strange flavors. This is probably one of the strangest.
20) Thanksgiving Dinner
This…this is a strange one by any stretch. An ice cream parlor in Rehoboth, Deleware decided to concoct a dessert which will taste like an entire dinner. This includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. That’s quite the undertaking.
21) Goat Cheese with Red Cherries
That’s right. We are revisiting the cheese flavors. I don’t know how this idea came to be but I’m happy it did. It sounds like a cheesecake…in ice cream form. This flavor is actually offered commercially by Jeni’s Slendid. It ships all over the U.S.A
22) Ghost Pepper Peppermint
These flavors sure are confusing. Mallard Ice Cream in Washington decided to create a little Ice vs. Fire action. Ghost peppers are super spicy, whereas peppermint is known for it’s cooling properties. These two combating sensations will take over your mouth, so be prepared before you chomp down on your first bite.
23) Pickle
This is sold at a drug store in North Dakota called Dakota Drug Stanley. They blend it up in a machine right in front of you before serving it to you. If your road trip brings you through North Dakota, it may be worth a quick stop.
24) Lobster
It probably comes as no surprise that this flavor is from Maine. Where else would such a flavor be invented? Buttery Lobster swirls beautifully with buttery vanilla in this scoop. Make sure to pick some up next time you’re in Maine!
25) Prickly Pear
It gets…REALLY hot in Arizona. Arizona is also in the middle of the desert. What does this mean for desserts?? Well…they use cacti in them. Prickly Pear Cactus Ice Cream is a great way to cool down from the intense desert sun.
26) Tequila
This ice cream is from Florida. Of course it is, haha. You can wind down after a long work week with one of these bad boys, just make sure you have plans to return home safely.
27) Coconut Jalapeno
This Georgian Ice Cream is sure to tickle your tastebuds. It’s an exotic combination of spicy and sweet. Its unique flavor is reminiscent of the beach, so make sure to enjoy it in the summer months.
28) Potato Ice Cream
Boil ’em! Mash ’em! Stick ’em in an Ice Cream? This flavor, of course, comes from Idaho. Potato is a root crop, so odds are the Ice Cream is starchy. This novelty is sold in an Ice Cream Truck by the West Side Drive In.
29) Beets and Goat Cheese
We are once again revisiting cheese. This time beets are joining in on the fun. I honestly think this ice cream can replace your side salad at dinner. This culinary wonder is from Glace creamery in Kansas.
30) Margherita Pizza
I know there are some INTENSE Pizza Lovers out there. This just takes it to the next level. If you want to try this beautiful creation, take a trip of FrozBroz in Minnesota.
31) Maple Bacon
I guess the human race has decided to put bacon in everything. This Ice Cream is at Area 51 Ice Cream in Memphis, Tenessee. You know those Southern Folks LOVE their bacon.
32) Mountain Dew and Dorito
Okay, so this one isn’t ice cream, but it’s still pretty weird. This cupcake is bright green in color and has Dorito crumbs sprinkled over the top. It’s worth a try if you’re in Missouri.
33) Fried Chicken and Waffles
This brunch classic has secretly been holding another life. In ice cream form. This cool flavor is from Cool Haus in New York City. What other brunch food should gain another life in ice cream form?
34) Bone Marrow and Bourbon Smoked Cherries
This may sound more like a nightmare than an ice cream flavor but the sweetness from the cherries balances the smokiness from the bone marrow nicely. Imagine honey barbeque sauce. That’s how this Oregon flavor would work.
35) Black Sesame Ginger
Talk about strange. This recipe from South Carolina certainly has an odd combination of flavors. It’s sold by the sweet cream company and has a strange flavor profile.
36) Asparagus Water
Er…Refreshing? This flavor is super healthy. You could probably get away with eating this inside of your side veggies. Pick some up next time you’re in Texas.
37) Fig and Turkey
This one is strange, just like the Thanksgiving dinner flavor mentioned earlier. The combination of sweet and savory is quite spectacular. This flavor is sold by Laboratorio del Gelato in New York City.
38) Creole Tomato
Louisana is home to all things Cajun, and they love to cook up all sorts of new dishes. This flavor is rather acidic and quite tasty. Stop by Creole Creamery in New Orleans for a taste of something special.
39) Akutaq (Eskimo Ice Cream)
This one is a cultural dish to the natives in Alaska. It’s made by mixing a base of animal fat with various berries found in the region. More current recipes substitute Crisco for the animal fat. It’s defintely something to try if you’re ever in this nation’s largest state.
40) Flaming Hot Cheeto
This SOUNDS like a Flaming Hot Mess. I am personally not the biggest fan of Cheetos but I’m willing to give this a try. This novelty dessert is sold in New York, so give it a nibble if you’re ever in the Big Apple.
41) Aran donn (Brown Bread)
Ireland is known for Brown Bread. Some people even call it the “Spine of Ireland” I would never have guessed it would become it’s own ice cream! The ice cream pictured is from Murphy’s Ice Cream in Ireland.
42) Ketchup
This is perhaps the funniest origin story of any ice cream flavor ever. Pop star Ed Sheeran was scheduled for a concert in Dublin. To welcome him back to the country, Gelati ice cream in Ireland decided to create a Ketchup Ice Cream flavor!
43) Raw Herring
This flavor was created in the Netherlands, a country known for its love of herring. This flavor is described as having the texture of traditional ice cream and the pungent smell and taste of herring. It is made with raw herring, onion, sugar, and cream.
44) Bier
This German ice cream is infused with beer. The boozy blend is sold by Der Verruckte Eismacher. It’s a nationwide company so you’ll be able to try it from anywhere in Deutchland.
45) Spaghettieis
This dessert looks so much like actual spaghetti that it actually fools some children! This is sold in a German store in Berlin. It’s made by pressing vanilla ice cream through a pasta press.
46) Turrón
This flavor is famous in Spain. It’s almost like an almond paste bar and tastes almost like a nougat. While the flavor is sold everywhere, I suggest you visit this location in Barcelona.
47) Resin
Resin is made with ingredients from the Mastic Tree. This Greek flavor has a gummier texture than normal and is found at this store in Athens.
48) Swiss Chard
Yes. This flavor is made out of leaves. Its flavor is strongly influenced by the cuisine of Southern France, where it originated. This flavor is sold by Fenocchio, a local creamery.
49) Mayonnaise
Ice Falkirk in Scotland created this interesting recipe fairly recently. Some people think it’s a brilliant way to enhance the creaminess and the tanginess of ice cream. Other people think it’s gross. If nothing else, you can make this flavor into a Milkshake and dip french fries in them.
50) Tar
This is actually a very common ice cream in Finland. You do not have to visit a specific creamery or novelty shop to find a scoop. Just walk into any grocery store and buy a pint
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