Do you know that the 19th of July is actually celebrated as Ice Cream's Day in the United States, thanks to their 40th president Ronald Reagan?
Well, I wasn't aware of such a celebration day either until last month when I planned out my content calendar and found out this fun fact. As a result, I decided to invite some fellow bloggers to contribute their piece about their favorite ice cream around the world since my last collab post about instant noodles was quite a success!
It's summer in most parts of the world, and ice cream always sounds like a great idea under the heat. But then again, who am I kidding? It's still a good idea to enjoy in the winter too, so why don't we start talking about ice cream around the world now on Ice Cream's Day?
It won't be complete to post about ice cream if we don't start with how it all began.
The ice cream history started around the Tang Dynasty period in China (around 618-907 AD) when the emperors are believed to be the first people to enjoy the frozen milk confection.
A few centuries later, it is also believed that Marco Polo brought back home the recipe of ice cream in his journey from the Far East. The recipe in question was later on transformed into something similar to today's sorbet.
It didn't take long for the dessert to gain its popularity. However, at the time, ice cream is mostly enjoyed by the upper-class community across Europe and America.
Fast forward to today, ice cream has become the reward for almost everyone. And there are many variations of ice cream that we can try worldwide, from the classic popsicle to some fancy ice cream like a banana split and other kinds.
And that's why we're going to cover some notable and favorite ice creams around the world that you should definitely take some time to stop and try in your travel… Let's begin!
ASIA
Given the idea that Asia is believed to be the origin of the ice cream, it's not surprising to find so many kinds of ice cream you could try across the continent!
Thanks to some help from my other fellow bloggers, I could include some of the must-try ice creams in Asia. Be it by the ingredients, the type of ice cream, or even the specific brand that is well-known in each respective country!
Yes, you read that right. No, it's not a joke. ‘Sweetcorn and Peas' is an ice cream flavor available across many parts of East Asia, including China and Japan, and people do actually eat it unironically.
In fact, it is many of my friends' go-to choice from the corner shop on a warm sunny day.
I have tried it and I have to report that I was not a fan. But maybe I just have too many preconceived biases on the mixing of sweet and savory – for me, that's just a step too far. I couldn't quite get my head around the idea of licking this cold, refreshing, ice-lolly on a hot summer day, to be greeted with the taste of sweetcorn. But that's just me!
It comes in ‘Pea' flavor, ‘Sweetcorn' flavor or go crazy with the ‘Sweetcorn & Pea' 50/50 combo.
Taiwan – Ice Cream Burrito
Recommended by CK Travels.
The ice cream burrito is a fun Taiwanese dish and extremely popular with both locals and visitors to Taiwan. Shavings of peanut candy brittle are combined with two or three ice cream scoops, all folded up inside a handmade thin rice flour tortilla.
The ice cream flavors are usually either taro, vanilla, peanut or pineapple, but it varies depending on the vendor. The mixture of ingredients tastes sweet, nutty and salty, while the texture is creamy and crunchy.
You can easily find this dish at several night markets across Taiwan, and it is great fun to watch the dessert being prepared as the market stallholders shave a huge brick of peanut and caramel brittle right in front of you.
Coriander is also a strange and optional ingredient you can add to the mix and is highly recommended as an extra aromatic layer. This ice cream burrito usually costs around NT$40 ($1.30 USD).
Japan – Matcha Ice Cream
Recommended by Bharat and Supriya of Fun Travelog.
Matcha is a type of green tea produced in Japan. Young tea leaves are grown in the shade for three to four weeks before being harvested. Next, the leaves are processed into finely ground matcha tea powder. Matcha tea is typically high in caffeine levels.
This matcha powder or green tea powder is often a part of tea ceremonies in Japan. It is also a key ingredient used in making matcha ice cream. Although this ice cream's origin is unknown, today it is available in several other parts of the world.
It is also highly instagrammed, and social media has helped boost its popularity considerably. However, to taste as authentic a version as possible, one must taste matcha ice cream in its country of origin.
Today, matcha ice cream is available in all supermarkets, convenience stores, and even fancy restaurants across Japan. A delicious and simple scoop of this ice cream costs as low as 300 yen or about $3.
Recommended by Mikaela of Low Maintenance Traveler.
Say hello to South Korea's unique ice cream called bungeo-ppang (붕어빵) or carp bread in English.
This ice cream is famous street food or snack, often sold in street stalls near crowded places such as shopping districts, university streets, and public markets.
It's a fish-shaped pastry like waffles, filled with sweetened red bean paste (original flavor) or custard. The fish-shaped bread serves as the cone for the ice cream—giving it more texture, wonderful taste, and Instagram worthy.
There are varieties of ice cream flavors available, but the eye-catching one is with the honeycomb on top. You can find the bungeo-ppang in Myeondong—the famous Korean street for shopping and street foods.
Plain bungeo-ppang costs around 3,000 won, and the flavored ones range from 4,000 won to 5,000 won. It's a must-try ice cream snack for sweet-tooth travelers.
Sold on the streets, particularly along Orchard Road every afternoon or anywhere close to the malls or schools, these are not similar to the cold treats you would find in supermarkets or in other countries.
Singapore's authentic ice cream sandwich is a slab (not a scoop!) sliced off a block of ice cream and wrapped in a piece of rainbow-colored bread. You may also have the option to use white bread or wafer instead of the colorful rainbow swirl.
Sold at S$1, Singapore's ice cream sandwich comes in a variety of flavors. You have the classics like vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint chips, and mango. If you feel more “adventurous,” you can also try the durian one.
Whichever wrap or flavor you choose, you will enjoy the goodness of ice cream contrasting with the bread's soft texture.
Pontianak, West Kalimantan (Indonesia) – Es Krim A Ngi
Recommended by me.
Known as the city of Equator due to its location in the 0° of Equator line, it isn't so surprising that Pontianak can be unbearably hot. And the answer to the situation is a scoop of ice cream to chill down your day.
Hands down the most legendary ice cream parlor in Pontianak, Es Krim A Ngi has been in the market since the 50s. Despite the original name, they're also known as Es Krim Petrus since their parlor is located across a Catholic school institution St. Petrus.
If you get a chance to stop by Es Krim A Ngi, you may think that there's nothing much particular about the ice cream parlor. However, what's unique is how they serve the ice cream as they sell their homemade ice cream on the coconut shell for under IDR 35,000 (around $2 USD).
Malang, East Java (Indonesia) – Toko Oen
Recommended by me.
As one of the former Dutch colonials, you can almost always find a notable restaurant in each big city in Indonesia that has been in the market since the colonial era. To name a few, there's Batavia Cafe in the capital city Jakarta, and you can also find Braga Permai in Bandung.
There's also a restaurant in Malang that is well-known for its colonial ice cream recipe since the 20s. If you stop by the city in the eastern part of Java, you can easily find Toko Oen not so far from the city square.
Being almost Centurian in the market, they don't seem to change a lot judging from the restaurant's interior design. You could feel almost like going back in the colonial era as you'd be greeted by the welcome banner written in Dutch.
The must-try ice cream in the restaurant is Oen's Special that costs around IDR 55,000 (around $3.7 USD), but you can also find other colonial dishes on the menu.
Sanur, Bali (Indonesia) – Massimo
Recommended by Vaibhav of The Wandering Vegetable.
Nothing satisfies a person with a sweet tooth more than delicious ice cream at the end of a hard day's work. And if you get a chance to savor the best ice cream in Sanur while on a trip to Bali, then the experience becomes even more memorable.
Massimo, an Italian restaurant located at Jalan Danau Tamblingan 228 in Sanur, serves the tastiest gelato in Bali. The gelato of this restaurant is so famous that travelers from all corners of Bali come here just to relish the flavors of this “light on calories but heavy on flavor” ice cream. Thus, having a gelato in Massimo is one of the best things to do in Sanurand an experience that foodies just can't miss!
The restaurant serves several varieties and flavors of gelato but the 3-flavor gelato in a lime cone has a separate fan base. In this, you get to choose 3 gelato flavors of your choice from all the options on display.
The recommended flavors to try are bubble gum, rum & raisin, and charcoal. You can also opt for snickers, cremoso italiano and chocolate mint.
The flavors are so unique and lip-smackingly good that you get to experience the ultimate dessert-gasm. The gelato is consistent, fresh, homogeneous, natural, and has no coloring agents.
You can buy this triple flavored piece of joy for a set price of 25,000 IDR (around $1.7 USD).
Lahore, Pakistan – Chaman Ice Cream
Recommended by Samantha of Intentional Detours.
If you ever find yourself in Pakistan's cultural capital Lahore, you can't leave without trying some famous (and very delicious) Chaman Ice Cream.
This Lahori staple has been delighting both Pakistanis and tourists alike since the '60s. Today, they serve up a wide variety of flavors- Lychee, Mango, Kulfi, Orange, and classics like Vanilla are just some of the many options.
Though Chaman Ice Cream has numerous locations these days, – including a few outside if Lahore- their iconic main store can be found near Lahore's well known Mall Road.
Creamy, rich and distinctive, you can get yourself a serving Chaman's creamy ice cream for anywhere from the equivalent of 50 cents to $2 depending on how much you'd like to indulge. Speaking from experience- the larger, the better!
If you're in Lahore, it's possible to have your dessert delivered right to you, though you can also pick it up or dine in.
Lahore is definitely a city that doesn't sleep, and eating out at Chaman's main restaurants is always a late-night option- it's usually open until 2 AM most days and is never not packed!
When one has to choose iconic ice cream parlors from India, Kuremal Ice cream from Old Delhi must be added to the list.
The ice cream parlor dates back to the pre-independence era of India (1908). It has been successfully run by three generations in the family for over a century.
Name any fruit, and you will find frozen ice cream for the fruit in this place (mango and black grapes are my favorites!).
Milk-based ice creams with nuts (called ‘Kulfi' in local language) are in fact more popular amongst the locals.
What is even more special about these ice creams is that they are made of natural ingredients and do not cost more than 1 USD (INR 100) each.
The shop is quite small and can accommodate a maximum of 10 people at a time.
Old Delhi streets are known for India's spicy street food, ending the spicy meal with fruity or nutty ice cream is never a bad idea.
India – Naturals Ice Cream
Recommended by Abhinav of A Soul Window.
I had never been an ice cream person, until I tasted Naturals Ice Cream.
While attending Gudi Padwa festival in Mumbai, I had some time to kill. I decided to check all that buzz around Naturals Ice Cream, I ordered one and have been a fan ever since.
It was unlike any ice cream I had tasted till then. Rich with natural and offbeat flavors, it won my heart instantly. And the next thing I know, I was sampling all their flavors and was making a mental note of the locations of all their different outlets in Mumbai.
What won my heart were the delicate flour, very light sugar content and unheard of flavours.
I never tasted unusual fruity flavors such as custard apple (sitaphal), watermelon, fig, tender coconut, chickoo, gajar halwa (carrot-based Indian dessert) raspberry, guava, banana, jackfruit, pineapple, black grapes and assorted berries.
Even their traditional fruity flavors like mango tasted unusual. They are also low in calories. Small chunks of fruits in the ice cream make it more flavourful.
You can order ice cream in a cup or cone. Both cost less than a dollar each. Frozen yogurt, Shrikhand (Dessert from Gujarat) and regular non fruity flavours such as kesar pista (saffron-pistachios), kaju-kismis (cashew-raisins) also available.
Earlier Naturals Ice Cream was available only in Mumbai where it originated. Now it can be found in other big cities and states of India as well such as Goa, New Delhi and Bengaluru. It is also available in big tubs.
In case you want to take it on a short flight, that is possible too. They have special packing, which stops it from melting for long hours. What's not to love?
Jerusalem, Israel – Mousseline Ice Cream
Recommended by Jazzie of The Israel Bites.
If you are looking for an ice cream unlike any other, Israel has just what you need.
Mousseline Ice Cream, which has multiple locations across Jerusalem, serves up out of this world ice cream in shocking flavors that you never expected to love.
In my opinion, their best flavor is the basil ice cream. Yes, basil flavored ice cream. Its light, refreshing, and has hints of margarita pizza in the best way.
In addition to basil, they also have saffron, chai masala, wasabi, and the most delicious coffee ice cream you'll ever eat.
Prices are competitive and a nice sized cone is around 15 shekels (3-4$,) typical in Israel. If a cone isn't enough, get a 1/2 kilo to take home for about 12$.
EUROPE
Imagine you spend a hot summer holiday somewhere around Europe… I mean, sure it's almost impossible to travel these days, but I bet you wouldn't disagree with ice cream on the summer days!
Unfortunately, I couldn't get many ice cream options covered from Europe but hey… I have some that are worth to try!
Situated just off Blackpool promenade in Lancashire, UK, sits a little ice-cream shop called Notarianni's, which people flock to from all over the country, if not from all over the world. Why? What's so special about Notarianni's?
To this day, their ice cream is made from a secret family recipe that has been passed down since 1928 and, unlike many others, they only sell one flavor of ice-cream – vanilla!
As everyone who has tried it will tell you, their ice-cream is simply delicious.
Open daily, you'll find third and fourth generation family members working hard to serve you with their glorious ice-cream. Starting at just £2, you can pop to the kiosk window and get a cone or tub to take away, and you can add various flavors of sauce, sprinkles, nuts or chocolate.
If you want to enjoy a knickerbocker glory, banana split, or milkshake, to name a few, you can sit inside Notarianni's parlor, which is situated directly next door to the kiosk.
Ireland – Murphy's Ice Cream
Recommended by Krystianna of Volumes & Voyages.
Murphy's Ice Cream from Dingle, Ireland is hands-down the best ice cream in the whole world. Though it's hand-made in Dingle on the western coast of Ireland, you can purchase it across the entire Emerald Isle in all of Ireland's best towns.
A small cup or cone will only cost you €4.50, which isn't bad at all considering how good this ice cream is. The best ice cream flavor you can order is Dreamy Creamy Caramel. This comes as a sundae topped with caramel-flavored whipped cream and caramel sauce.
If you aren't sure which flavor you'd like to try, you're allowed to have free samples. Don't be shy and ask to try a few flavors to make sure you're getting one that you truly like!
Oh, and did I mention all the ingredients are locally sourced? They even make their sea salt ice cream with local Dingle sea salt!
If you find yourself in Ireland, be sure to take a trip to eat some of Murphy's Ice Cream.
Paris, France – Bartillon Ice Cream
Recommended by Nassie of Snippets of Paris.
When you think about Paris, France, you don't necessarily think about ice cream. But what started as a little family ice cream shop in the heart of Paris, has today become a Parisian institution.
Bertillon's on Ile Saint Louis has over 90 flavors of ice creams and sorbets, although only 30-40 are on the menu at any one time. With traditional flavors as well as more interesting ones, there is something for everyone.
There is everything from raspberry and vanilla, to salted butter caramel and orange Gianduja. And if you can't decide, there are the combinations like pear and caramel, or strawberry and nuts.
It has become so popular that even nearby restaurants in the Marais neighborhood of Paris have started offering Bertillon's ice cream on their French desserts menus.
You can find Bertillons at 29-31 rue saint louis en l'ile in Paris or around restaurants and brasseries in the Marais.
Sicily, Italy – Granita at Café Sicilia
Recommended by Veronika of Travel Geekery.
Granita is a Sicilian take on ice cream. The semi-frozen dessert has a texture similar to sorbet and is made of water, sugar and local flavors. While in the East of Sicily, the texture is smoother, as it's a lot coarser in the West.
The most typical Sicilian flavors of granita include almond and lemon, but you can also find strawberry, apricot, tangerine, even chocolate or coffee.
While you can taste granita anywhere in Sicily, if you want ‘the real deal' without artificial flavoring, you need to do your research.
One of the best places in the East of Sicily to have the proper Granita Siciliana is Café Sicilia in Noto, a beautiful baroque town in Sicily's Southeast. Especially their almond granita is a legend.
The family behind Café Sicilia helped revive Sicily's dwindling almond growing industry. Since Café Sicilia was featured on a Netflix TV Show, it's quite popular among tourists, but it still retains its authentic feel.
AFRICA
Unfortunately, I couldn't get many representatives from Africa. It didn't help either that I've never been to anywhere in Africa with a layover. Luckily, I got a recommendation from Morocco to represent the continent for a start!
If you, by any chance, have more recommendations from Africa, feel free to reach out so I can add your submission later!
Morocco – Venezia Ice Cream
Recommended by Izzy and Phil of The Gap Decaders.
Venezia Ice is a legendary Moroccan ice cream parlor with 25 branches, in the famous cities of Marrakech, Fes and Casablanca, but also in a few more off the beaten track destinations such as Ouida on the Algerian border.
Morocco is not a country famed for ice-cream despite being warm all year round!
At Venezia Ice, you will find a large variety of traditional flavors of ice cream and sorbet. In winter, they also serve delicious gloopy hot chocolate. The lemon sorbet is sharp and tangy, made from traditional lemon varieties baked in the sun in the south of the country.
The best flavor of ice-cream is mint choc chip, unsurprising for a country so dedicated to, and in love with mint!
Wander any souk and you'll see huge bunches of it for sale for just a few cents. It is used as an air freshener, in many dishes as a flavoring and of course, to make the famous ‘whiskey berber' mint tea, a staple drink in Morocco.
If you're visiting Morocco, head to a Venezia Ice and enjoy an ice cream or sorbet for around 15MAD, about €1.40… The traditional flavors are the best!
OCEANIA
I said it once, I'll say it once again. While ice cream seems like the best option in the summer, it's still also enjoyable in the winter!
Now, let's head over to the down under and see the recommended ice creams around Australia and New Zealand!
Right in the Australian tropical North, you can find one of the most unique ice creams in the world. Floravilla Ice Cream is made and sold in Cape Tribulation.
This remote area is a part of the Daintree Rainforest, one of the oldest rainforests in the world, and one of the most authentic and less touristy bases to visit the Great Barrier Reef.
The ice cream in Floravilla is biodynamic, organic and made with local ingredients. On top of that, there are over 25 flavors to choose from. Although you won't find them all at the same time because some of these flavors are seasonal.
As you can imagine, Floravilla's ice cream has a tropical and exotic taste, with delicious flavors like jackfruit, mango, durian, sapote, dragonfruit, macadamia…
If you are not very into new gastronomic experiences, don't worry! You can also find chocolate and vanilla and strawberry, among other more traditional flavors.
We recommend you try their signature ice cream, which is named Daintree Rainforest Ice Cream. The price of the ice cream is $5 for one flavor cup.
Floravilla is open every day from 9.30am to 5.30pm.
Australia – Golden Gay Time
Recommended by Pauline of Beeloved City.
When it comes to ice cream in Australia, Golden Gay Time is an absolute must-try! This Australian ice cream is made of toffee and vanilla ice cream with a chocolate and honey crumb crust. It has been the Aussies' favorite for over half a century now!
Although new flavors have been introduced in recent years, the original is from far the best!
You can get it in packs of 4 in any supermarket in Australia and per unit in convenience stores and 7 Eleven for a couple of dollars.
The name might surprise any outsiders but Australians don't kid with Gay times. They even have a song devoted to it: Golden Gay Time by Justin Heazlewood. The ice cream is so popular that you will find it in various shapes and forms: deserts, cocktails, cakes… you name it!
More importantly, the Golden Gay Times are a symbol of friendship. That's something you should share with others and that's why most Australians will offer it to foreigners. If you are visiting Australia, you've got to try it!
Auckland, New Zealand – Giapo Ice Cream
Recommended by Jordan of Inspired by Maps.
Giapo is an absolute Auckland institution, a modern ice cream parlor that serves adventurous and innovative gelato with an unconventional twist.
Everyone in town knows about Giapo, which says a lot in a country like New Zealand where ice cream is practically a national dish.
In their crowded storefront on a small inner-city street, Giapo stands out by producing an immersive encounter that focuses on how you experience ice-cream.
What do I mean by this? They are always experimenting at Giapo, so they are bound to be doing something unique whenever you visit.
At the time of writing, they offered adventurous flavors like Tamarillo with Pineapple and Bitters or an exotic Macadamia and Bee Pollen creation. They are also known for their courageous serving methods.
You can have their ice cream in a cup, but that is so 2010. Instead, try the Selfie Cone, their Sourdough Donut ice cream sandwich, or sweet potato fries. Or go all out with their Collussus Squid work of art that is most certainly Instagram-worthy. A must-do in New Zealand, Giapo ice cream is out of this world!
New Zealand – Pokeno Ice Cream Shop
Recommended by Maureen of So Many Places! So Little Time!
Here in New Zealand, we probably have the most creamy, delicious ice creams in the world and the biggest!
Road trips, especially by campervans or motorhomes, are very popular with New Zealanders and overseas tourists. About 30 to 45 minutes drive south of Auckland just off the main highway going south, there is a little rural town called Pokeno.
There are two ice cream stores, right next to each other, in a little town of only half a dozen shops.
You can't miss them because there are always lots of cars parked outside, whatever hour of the day or night, and swarms of people sitting or standing around focused on devouring their large ice creams before they melt.
Two large scoops are the standard serve for most people, but the more daring can opt for ice cream of up to 18 scoops! And the prices are about half of what you would pay elsewhere in New Zealand.
New Zealand is said to have the creamiest ice creams in the world. Here in Pokeno, you will have a choice of 30 to 40 flavors and this is the most difficult part -making that choice- peering over peoples shoulders and dashing from one end of the counter to the other looking into the ice cream tubs on display trying to decide which flavor to have.
Traditional New Zealand flavors include Hokey Pokey (vanilla ice cream with chunky pieces of honeycomb toffee pieces), Goody Goody Gum Drops (Bubblegum flavored ice cream with gumdrop lollies) and Kiwifruit Pavlova.
THE AMERICAS
Last but not least, we're heading to the Americas! It's the American who declares the National Ice Cream today after all. So, it would be fun to find out the recommended ice cream from America and the surrounding countries in the continent!
Newport Beach, CA (USA) – Dad's & Sugar N Spice Balboa Bar
If you've ever strolled through Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA, surely you have seen Balboa Bars being sold at several different locations.
They're named after Balboa Island, the biggest island in Newport Harbour. To put simply, Balboa Bars are vanilla ice cream bars on a stick, freshly dipped in chocolate. After they are dipped, they're rolled in different toppings, things like sprinkles, coconut flakes or nuts.
You can also eat them as it is, with just the chocolate. A Balboa Bar will cost you around $5 USD each.
The two most famous places to get them in Newport Beach are Dad's and Sugar N Spice on Marine Avenue on Balboa Island. These two establishments are just 100 feet apart, but each gets its share of loyal customers!
They both claim they have the original bar, though neither has been able to prove it. Which is better? We think you should visit, try them both and decide for yourself.
Seattle, WA (USA) – Frankie and Jo's
Recommended by Michele of Adventures Abound.
Seattle, Washington in the Pacific Northwest region of the US has no shortage of delicious ice cream eateries, but Frankie and Jo's is a unique shop, unlike any other.
Co-founded by the owners of a vegetarian juicery and cafe, and an organic dessert shop, Frankie and Jo's is the perfect mix of the two with creative plant-based, gluten-free ice cream flavors.
Though they are not made with traditional cream, the flavors are no less full of delicious and unexpected ingredients.
The standard Brown Sugar Vanilla in their gluten-free maple cone with “moon-goo” (a warm caramel infused with activated charcoal) is a delicious nod to traditional ice cream, but patrons can also find surprising flavors like Chocolate Tahini, or California Cabin, made with cashew and coconut milk infused with smokey vanilla and pine. It is sure to be an experience like no other.
The shop also strives to source everything locally and in season, so you can often only find their rotating seasonal flavors during a single month of the year. Some fan favorites have been Cured Persimmon Pudding, Japanese Pumpkin, and Velvet Heart-Beet.
Flavors can be sampled in any of the 3 scoop shops around town and enjoyed while discovering the many free things to do in Seattle, or purchased in pints to be brought home for $14.
Pints can also be purchased through their monthly pint-club and shipped with dry ice to most places in the US for a hefty shipping fee.
Hawaii, USA – Dole Whip
Recommended by Marcie of Hawaii Travel With Kids.
One of the most popular ice cream in Hawaii is Dole Whip. Originally, you could only get it from the Dole Plantation on the North Shore of Oahu. However, in the past few years, it's popped up at ice cream shops all across the islands and the Mainland.
Dole Whip is a non-dairy pineapple ice cream that packs a powerful fresh fruit flavor. You can get it in a cup, in a cone, or even in a carved out pineapple!
At the Dole Plantation on Oahu, you can get a regular cone or cup for $5.95 or a Dole Whip Cup with topping for $6.95.
And if you are looking for Dole Whip in Waikiki, look no further than Aloha Whip at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel. Not only do they serve the original pineapple flavor, but they also have strawberry, raspberry, mango, orange, lemon, lime, coconut, and ube.
No matter where you taste Dole Whip, it will send your taste buds straight to Hawaii!
Ontario, Canada – Kawartha Dairy
Recommended by Eric and Lisa of Ontario Away.
If you're exploring Ontario, Canada in the summer and looking for a cool treat, there's a good chance you'll find Kawartha Dairy nearby.
Founded back in 1937 in a small town called Bobcaygeon, this Canadian dairy company only started producing their signature ice creams in Ontario cottage country in the 1950s. Even today, they use 100% fresh Ontario milk and ingredients found locally like blueberries.
These days, eating Kawartha Dairy is an actual thing to do in Ontario for locals and visitors alike. You can find their retail shops throughout the province – especially in the Muskokas and Kawarthas, but many corner shops scoop Kawartha Dairy as the choice of ice cream to sell.
With varieties like Death by Chocolate and Black Raspberry Thunder, there is a flavor for everyone. A cup or cone won't set you back too much – a small one is around $3 CAD – and it's usually scooped generously. Just remember to eat it fast in the summer sun!
Bariloche, Argentina – Rapa Nui
Recommended by Suzanne of Meandering Wild.
Bariloche is a small ski resort in the Patagonian Alps in the foothills of the Andes. The town is known across Argentina for its amazing chocolate and ice creams.
While there are a number of bigger chains in the town, Rapa Nui is a family run business established in Bariloche in 1948 that has an amazing range of ice creams. These are made using traditional methods with family recipes brought over from Torino in Italy after World War 2 when the family emigrated.
The flavors are based around the chocolates sold by the family, the fruits found in the mountains around the town and Dulce de Leche.
Dulce de Leche is found across Latin America and is made from heating sweetened milk. This is added to many of the ice creams giving them an intense and creamy consistency somewhere between caramel and butterscotch.
Many of the ice creams taste like the chocolates themselves and are the perfect treat. The ice creams are not expensive, but prices vary depending on scoop numbers, cones, cups, or decorative additions.
Argentina – Freddo's Dulce de Leche
Recommended by Elizabeth of The Fearless Foreigner.
Most people know Argentina as the best place to go for steak. While that is true, it is also one of the best spots to try dulce de leche.
Dulce de leche is a sweet treat that is typically made with milk, sugar and vanilla. It is very similar to caramel. It can be found in many South American countries, but varies slightly from place to place.
In Buenos Aires, you can find Dulce de leche everywhere. You can order it on your toast for breakfast, on at least one dessert on every restaurant's menu, drizzled on top of waffles, or many other ways. One of the best ways is with ice cream. Dulce de leche is one of Argentina's most popular ice cream flavors.
It's easy to find the flavor in most of the heladerías (ice cream parlors) in the city.
You can also add a drizzle of dulce de leche on top of any flavor at most places.
Freddo is a chain that you can find all around the country. They have at least 8 different varieties of dulce de leche ice cream. It is one of my favorite places to have the drool-worthy ice cream!
Arequipa, Peru – Queso Helado
Recommended by Ilona of Top Travel Sights.
One of the best ice creams I had while traveling is Queso Helado. This ice cream is a typical Peruvian dessert from the city of Arequipa, where you can find vendors at every street corner.
Queso Helado literally translates to frozen cheese, but don't worry. This ice cream is not cheesy or smelly and does not even have cheese as an ingredient.
It consists of fresh milk, condensed milk, and cinnamon. To thicken the mixture, locals use chuño, which is a powder made from dehydrated potatoes. Look out for those dehydrated potatoes when visiting markets in Peru and Bolivia. They almost look like small rocks.
Fortunately, you can't taste the chuños when eating the ice cream. Queso Helado tastes sweet and creamy, with a hint of cinnamon.
Some vendors like to add coconut, which makes it even better.
As already mentioned, you can buy Queso Helado almost everywhere in Arequipa. Expect to pay around 3-5 soles (around $1 USD) for a small cup.
Outside Arequipa, it'll be more challenging to find the ice cream, but not impossible. For example, in Lima, multiple ice cream parlors sell Queso Helado, so you can also try it there.
Finally, we've come to the end of the ice cream recommendations this time. Which ice cream have you tried on your travel? Did you like it? Or do you have any other ice cream that has become your favorite? Share your two cents below, and cheerio!
I have always loved eating ice cream and whenever I get a chance I never miss eating ice cream and your ice cream taste and recipe is really amazing I hope you will give us more delicious ice cream information in future.
Arris Gawe
Wow! I’m fond of ice cream and I totally loved this one! Thank you for this.
Rosey
Such a cool write up on ice cream. I never liked it much until the last two years and now I love it!
I have always loved eating ice cream and whenever I get a chance I never miss eating ice cream and your ice cream taste and recipe is really amazing I hope you will give us more delicious ice cream information in future.
Wow! I’m fond of ice cream and I totally loved this one! Thank you for this.
Such a cool write up on ice cream. I never liked it much until the last two years and now I love it!
Even the images are so mouth watering. Loved this post on ice creams…Thanks for sharing
Such a wonderful post,
You should not miss Turkish Icecream when in UAE
I love Turkish ice cream, although I used to live in Turkey so I’m not sure whether Turkish ice cream in UAE is better. Worth to try though! 😉