Grass and charcoal ice cream among bonkers new flavours
Not so long ago, sticking a flake in your vanilla ice cream was enough to make it a sophisticated treat. Not any more.
These days, for true wow factor, you have to go for a really wacky flavour â€" from the slightly kooky, like liquorice, to the downright weird. Ricotta and pepper or blue cheese and walnut, anyone?
But can it really be a patch on raspberry ripple? REBECCA LEY asked a couple of ice cream obsessives â€" her children Isobel, six, and Felix, three â€" for their thoughts on the best of this summer's odd ices.
Ruby violet (left) sells 'bespoke' and organic ice cream in beautiful patterned pots. Horseradish flavour looks innocuous enough â€" pale and creamy â€" but it has a real kick in the tail
Yes, it's black ice cream. And it's good for you â€" allegedly. Jude's uses charcoal made from coconut ash to give the ice cream its black colour and rich coconut flavour. File photo
IT'S BLACK MAGICÂ
Jude's Black Coconut Flavour, £3.50 for two scoops (judes.co.uk)
Yes, it's black ice cream. And it's good for you â€" allegedly. Jude's uses charcoal made from coconut ash to give the ice cream its black colour and rich coconut flavour. The charcoal is 'activated', so health nuts say it helps to cleanse your digestive system by absorbing toxins. I think it's delicious.
Isobel says: 'It's the wrong colour for ice cream, but it doesn't really taste black.'
Felix says: 'Can I have a Magnum?'
Rebecca's verdict: Arresting and really succulent: an eye-catching treat. 9/10
ANYONE FOR TEA?
Laverstock Park Earl Grey, £4.99 for 450 ml (ocado.com)
Loving a nice cup of Earl Grey, I was looking forward to this one. Produced using Asian water buffalo milk and cows' cream from the Laverstock organic farm in Hampshire, this has a gorgeous texture. The flavour is intensely fragrant, if a little strange. This could grow on me, though.
Isobel says: 'This tastes just like my Mummy's handwash.'
Felix says: 'It's a bit funny, but not spicy.'
Rebecca's verdict: Slightly odd, but in a good way. 6/10
Jude's Gin and Tonic (left) and Tesco Jaffa Cake ice cream (right) - Wacky Ice Cream Taste Test. From camel milk, to green grass and Jaffa cake - ice cream flavours have never been weirder. We see if they really taste any good - and do kids give them the thumbs up?
COOL CUTTINGSÂ
Chin Chin Freshly Cut Green Grass, £4.45 for a 200ml serving and topping at its North London store (chinchinlabs.com)
This doesn't actually contain any grass, but it's the bright green of a freshly-mowed lawn. Ingredients include parsley, violet, lavender, lime leaves and lemongrass. I'm not sure if it tastes like grass, but it evokes the fresh smell of a mowed lawn, with a creamy texture.
Isobel says: 'This is a good colour and it tastes minty. I like it.'
Felix says: 'Disgusting. Really, Mummy, I want a Magnum.
Rebecca's verdict: Seriously fun, try at least once. 7/10
ONE FOR ADULTS
La Gelatiera Basil and Chilli, £3.30 for a small scoop (lagelatiera.co.uk)
For a walk on the wild side, this basil and chilli is a good option. It's fragrant but without a soapy, synthetic aftertaste found â€" to my taste anyway â€" in some similar products, and surprisingly refreshing on a hot day.
Isobel says: 'Yucky. I want to have the grass-flavoured one again.'
Felix says: 'Sorry, Mummy, I don't like it.'
Rebecca's verdict: Lovely, don't waste it on the little ones. 9/10
JAFFA CAKE IN A TUB
Tesco Jaffa Cake, £2 for 480ml (tesco.com)
A big supermarket muscling in on the novelty ice cream act, with sickly results. It's a chocolate-orange monstrosity with a horrible texture that turns into slush quickly. Tastes cheaply synthetic. Perfectly revolting.
Isobel says: 'I love it. Jaffa Cakes are my favourite and this puts them in ice cream! Much better than those other weird ones.'
Felix says: 'More please.'
Rebecca's verdict: Obesity in a tub. Too sweet and synthetic. 1/10
Chin Chin Freshly Cut Green Grass (right) doesn't actually contain any grass, but it's the bright green of a freshly-mowed lawn. Ingredients include parsley, violet, lavender, lime leaves and lemongrassÂ
HEALTHY CHOICEÂ
Oppo Mint Choc Chip With a Hint of Spirulina, £4.99 for 500ml (ocado.com)
'Healthy' ice cream, with 43 calories a scoop. I'm not sure what spirulina â€" a trendy 'superfood' algae â€" tastes like, but I don't think that you can detect it in this. And it's not particularly creamy or inviting in texture.
Isobel says: 'OK, quite sweet.'
Felix says: 'Not more green ice cream. Has it got choco late in?'
Rebecca's verdict: I'm not sure why anyone, diet or not, would bother with this, frankly. 3/10
GIN'S A TONIC
Jude's Gin and Tonic, £1.85 for 120ml (ocado.com)
Another one from Jude's, and surprisingly refreshing and flavoursome â€" not at all sugary. A good adult choice for the weather we've been having. That said, it does contain alcohol so I don't let the kids try it. The slightly sour taste wouldn't appeal, anyway.
Rebecca's verdict: Yes, please. This would be great fun on the sofa on Friday night in front of the TV â€" perhaps with a real G & T in my other hand. 8/10
CHEESY CRACKERÂ
La Gelatiera Cornish Blue & Caramelised Walnut, £3.30 for a small scoop (lagelatiera.co.uk)
This arrived in a tub with the walnuts arranged on top. The care and love are obvious â€" even down to the top-quality blue cheese. But I don't know what to think. On the one hand, it's delicious. On the other, the idea of blue cheese ice cream makes me feel ill.
Isobel says: 'I only like Cheddar or Babybels.'
Felix says: 'No thanks, Mummy.'
Rebecca's verdict: It could hardly sound less appetising, but throw aside your preconceptions â€" it works. 8/10
These days, for true wow factor, you have to go for a wacky flavour â€" from the slightly kooky, like liquorice, to the downright weird. Ricotta and pepper or blue cheese and walnut, anyone?
PEPPERY SURPRISE
Gelupo Ricotta, Chocolate and Black Pepper, £3 for a 100ml scoop (gelupo.com)
Another 'artisan' ice cream shop, another eye-catching flavour. This is truly superb â€" creamy, chocolately with a hint of something hard to identify. Even the children agree, which is genuinely impressive.
Isobel says: 'This isn't a weird one is it? I like it. It's creamy and I like the chocolate.'
Felix says: 'This is so yum my. Can I have more?'
Rebecca's verdict: At last, a quality product that pleases both parents and children alike. 10/10
FLOWERY FANCY
Ruby Violet Lavender, £3 for a 100ml scoop (rubyviolet.co.uk)
This is delicate, fragrant and not too sweet. The texture is just right and it's also the prettiest shade you could imagine. I love it.
Isobel says: 'Soapy and not nice.'
Felix says: 'It's OK.'
Rebecca's verdict: The kind of unusual but well-realised product you could develop a yen for. 8/10
BREAKFAST TREAT?
Purbeck Dorset Marmalade, £5.50 for 500ml (purbeckice cream.co.uk)
Another discombobulating ice cream moment for those of us used to marmalade on toast at breakfast. It's orangey and creamy. Actually delightful.
Isobel says: 'I like the Jaffa Cake flavoured one lots more.'
Felix says: 'Quite nice. Orangey. Please can I have some more, Mummy?'
Rebecca's verdict: Not quite in the Gelupo league but a quality ice cream with lovely ingredients and an unusual flavour. 8/10
Pictured: Trendy food - Black ice cream with black sesame. Health nuts say that charcoal in some black ice cream helps to cleanse your digestive system by absorbing toxins
ONE HUMP OR TWO
Camel Mango Flavour by Simply Ice Cream, £5.99 for 500ml (simplyicecream.co.uk)
It might not sound that appealing but apparently camel milk is low in fat and high in Vitamin C.
Isobel says: 'It's OK, not my favourite. Was this made from a camel's milk? That's disgusting!'
Felix says: 'Quite yum.'
Rebecca's verdict: Lacks the intense creaminess of some others, but it's an interesting alternativ e for the lactose-intolerant. 7/10
LICK OF LIQUORICE
Oliphant and Pomeroy Liquorice Ice Cream, £5.99 for 500ml (wholefoodmarkets.co.uk)
I wasn't expecting to like this. Ice cream and liquorice seems wrong, but it has a lovely flavour.
Isobel says: 'That's a funny colour. It doesn't taste too bad, though.'
Felix says: 'Not more funny colours, Mummy?'
Rebecca's verdict: Even those who don't like eating normal liquorice might like this. 9/10
CONE WITH A KICKÂ
Ruby Violet Horseradish Flavour Ice Cream, £3 for a 100ml scoop (rubyviolet.co.uk)
Ruby violet sells 'bespoke' and organic ice cream in beautiful patterned pots. Horseradish flavour looks innocuous enough â€" pale and creamy â€" but it has a real kick in the tail.
Isobel says: 'Why would anyone make ice cream like that? It's a trick.'
Felix says: 'It's burning my mouth. Please get me some water!'
Rebecca's verdict: Not a crowd pleaser. Something you might crave in pregnancy. 4/10
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