EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
8 Ice Cream Brands Worth Seeking out this Summer
La Newyorkina's hibiscus-raspberry ice pops-Photo credit: Ed Anderson © 2011

8 Ice Cream Brands Worth Seeking out this Summer

Katy Morris

Chill out and indulge this summer with these eight icy-cool ice cream brands worth searching for this summer. At the heart of each of these brands are creatives using only the finest ingredients and often in delightfully unexpected ways. We love that.

You’ll find an array of artisan, kosher, farm-to-spoon ice creameries, spiked vegan frozen treats, and refreshing authentic gelato ice-pops here. We’re confident that you’ll feel ready to face the mid-summer heat once you’ve chilled with these creamy frozen treats.

Look for “where to indulge” details under each brand to see that most of these brands can be shipped directly to your door.

 

KOSHER

 Sweet Rose Creamery

Sweet Rose Creamery founder,Shiho Yoshikawa - Photo Credit Emily Hart Roth
Sweet Rose Creamery founder,Shiho Yoshikawa – Photo Credit Emily Hart Roth

 

The Scoop: This Santa Monica artisanal kitchen churns out certified kosher, GMO free, organic ice cream, each morsel handcrafted in small batches and made with natural ingredients sourced right from their favorite local Californian farmers. Flavors change with the season but are consistently inventive, with dairy-free options always available for everyone to enjoy.

A Taste: July offers include Blueberry Muffin, Summer Corn, dairy-free Vanilla Coconut and Stone Fruit Sorbet

Where to Indulge: Pints can be shipped right to your front door or found in shops throughout LA

Sweet Rose Creamery- Photo Credit: Emily Hart Roth
Sweet Rose Creamery- Photo Credit: Emily Hart Roth

PopBar

 

Popbar Handcrafted Gelato on a Stick
Popbar Handcrafted Gelato on a Stick

The Scoop: No spoons necessary for this innovative twist on your classic ice-pop. PopBar’s handmade, certified kosher, authentic gelato on a stick is made with the freshest ingredients around. The flavors and “popping” combos are endless: try ‘em dipped in white, dark, mint dark or milk chocolate (all gluten-free) and add a crunchy coat with sprinkles, chopped pistachios, shredded coconut and more for an unbeatable mid-summer frozen delight. Vegans: opt for their fruity popSorbettos that come in juicy flavors like blood orange, peach and kiwi.

A Taste: Tons of flavors ranging from traditional chocolate and vanilla, to inventive combos like Pistachio-topped, dark chocolate-dipped pistachio popGelato, Banana popGelato dipped in chocolate and topped with crushed waffle cone

Where to Indulge: Nationwide shops are poppin’ up all over – including in the West Village of NYC

Popbar Handcrafted Gelato on a Stick- Dipping Station
Popbar Handcrafted Gelato on a Stick- Dipping Station

 

KOSHER & VEGAN

Alchemy Creamery

The Alcreamists, Photo: Vladimir Weinstein
The Alcreamists, Photo: Vladimir Weinstein

 The Scoop: Decadent frozen treats with a remarkably smooth, rich taste, laden with fresh fruits and cookie crumbles, yet completely vegan, certified kosher, and free of dairy and gluten? We agree that with Alchemy Creamery that “Dairy has met its match.” An ambitious trio of Brooklyn-based “Alcreamists” has transformed this lactose-free dream into a mouthwatering, creamy reality using their magical blend of almond, coconut, cashew and hazelnut milk.

A Taste: Harvest Berry with Brownie Crumbles, Salted Caramel with Chocolate Chip Cookie Crumbs and Strawberry Cheesecake with Dark Chocolate Chips

Where to Indulge: Nationwide shipping is available for online orders or pick some up yourself at various NYC locations, including Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg

 

Alchemy chocolate cheesecake- Photo: Craft and Root Design
Alchemy chocolate cheesecake- Photo: Craft and Root Design

 

VEGAN & DAIRY OPTIONS

Tipsy Scoop

Tipsy Scoop Cake Batter- Photo: Haley D. Williams
Tipsy Scoop Cake Batter- Photo: Haley D. Williams

The Scoop: Melissa Tsvass’ booze-infuzed artisanal frozen delights give “pints” a whole new meaning. Lick up your liquor for a cool twist on summer happy hours with Tipsy Scoop’s adult-only ice creams, made with local and seasonal ingredients that come in creative flavors inspired by classic and fashionable cocktails.*

Kosher-keepers: the latest buzz is that Tipsy is exploring their kosher certification after moving into their own space, so keep an eye out (and so will we!)

A Taste: Cake Batter Vodka Martini, Mango Margarita Sorbet (vegan and dairy-free), Spiked Mint Chocolate Chip and Strawberry Rhubarb Bourbon

Where to Indulge: Order some pints, boozy ice cream sandwiches or cakes online or at buy at various New York retail locations

*Tipsy Scoop ice cream contains 5% alcohol by volume and can only be consumed by those 21 years and over.

Tipsy Scoop Mango, Photo Credit: Haley D. Williams
Tipsy Scoop Mango, Photo Credit: Haley D. Williams

Van Leeuwen

 

Vegan Espresso Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Vegan Espresso Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream

The Scoop: Handmade from scratch using a handful of locally sourced ingredients, each and every scoop celebrating artisan farmers and producers near and far… that’s how they roll. Van Leeuwen has set itself apart from the fleet of favorite food trucks by serving up some of the purest artisan ice creams (both dairy and vegan options) that are “perfected by nature and not science,” according to the Brooklyn-based makers. Now you can enjoy these irresistible and impressively simple flavors anytime you want – check out their whimsical cookbook, The Van Leeuwan Ice Cream Book.

A Taste: Sicilian Pistachio, Vegan Bulgarian Rose with Cherry Jam & Cardamom Cake, and Salted Caramel

Where to Indulge: Food trucks and shops throughout NYC and LA. Track them down here

With permission, Van Leeuwen
With permission, Van Leeuwen

 

CLASSIC DAIRY

Phin and Phebes

 

Phin and Phebes, Photo: Laurel Golio
Phin and Phebes, Photo: Laurel Golio

The Scoop: Small batch ice cream makers Crista Freeman and Jess Edy successfully transformed a wintertime hobby into a seriously delicious sensation. Their carefully concocted ice creams are made with simple, non-GMO, locally sourced ingredients and come in “phun” flavors laced with wholesome goodies, like Banana Whama (banana pudding ice cream with homemade vanilla wafers), Vietnamese Iced Coffee (coffee ice cream with boosts of cardamom and chicory) and many more.

A Taste: Dark Chocolate Salty Caramel, Vanilla Cinnamon, and Coconut Key Lime – each with their own playful stories (check ‘em out on their site.)

Where to Indulge: Nationwide stores including your local Whole Foods, and online here

Phin and Phebes, Photo: Laurel Golio
Phin and Phebes, Photo: Laurel Golio

 

Jeni’s

Jeni's darkest chocolate
Jeni’s darkest chocolate

 

The Scoop: We love everything about Jeni’s, but let’s start with the goods: the quality of the dairy and thoughtful selection of each and every ingredient is what really makes them (ice) cream of the crop. What’s more: they use only the highest quality, fair trade ingredients and work with many women and minority owned businesses to make their creamery roll.

DIY alert: “Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home” is loaded with mouthwatering recipes like Backyard Mint, Salty Caramel, Watermelon Lemon Sorbet, and Sweet Corn and Black Raspberry Ice Cream.

A Taste: They are always whippin’ up new flavors – check out their Ylang Ylang & Fennel, Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet, Salty Caramel, Savannah Buttermint and so many more

Where to Indulge: Check out their Pint Finder for locations from coast to coast or order online

 

La Newyorkina

Paletas de aquacate-Photo credit: Ed Anderson © 2011
Paletas de aquacate-Photo credit: Ed Anderson © 2011

The Scoop: Mexico’s rich (and delicious) culture meets New York’s farm fresh bounty in Fany Gerson’s icy hot, artisan paletas. Think refreshingly sweet seasonal fruit speckled with spicy chili flakes, smooth authentic Oaxacan chocolate, or more adventurous options like aguacate (avocado) and hibiscus-raspberry…you’ll get these Mexican-inspired ice pop flavors and mucho more from La New Yorkina’s tiendita!

A taste: Horchata, Mango-Chile, Peaches and Cream, and Tamarind

Want to make your own? Check out Fany Gerson’s book, Paletas: Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice & Aquas Frescas.

Where to Indulge: Shop online here or various NYC locations

La Newyorkina- Photo credit: Ed Anderson © 2011
La Newyorkina- Photo credit: Ed Anderson © 2011

What’s next? Watch for tantalizing and super easy do-it-yourself recipes for cool treats and dairy-free ice cream toppings next week.

Have a favorite ice cream brand that we should know about? Let us know! We’re always ready to taste more ice cream.

 

7 Comments

    • Julie, we love having readers in CA. and throughout the country. We were sure to fall in love with brands that have nation-wide distribution for the most part. Let us know which you fall for.

  1. Just received a gift from Jeni’s for four deliveries of over the course of the year! So looking forward to tasting some of the best ice cream around. Thanks for the review! Love reading your blog!

Leave a Reply