Ice cream has long held the fascination of food lovers everywhere. It’s a truly nostalgic dessert, and with so many flavors to choose from, there’s always something for everyone. But, in recent years, experimentation with the weirdest ice cream flavors has captured headlines, where a scoop of classic vanilla or chocolate is simply old news. From ketchup to oysters, read on to discover our 10 top weirdest ice cream flavors list. And if you’re keen to find out more about the intriguing world of ice cream, you can learn about everything from the history of this treat to the science behind how it’s made in our everything you ever wanted to know about ice cream guide.
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Savory ice cream has grown in popularity. Often featured on gourmet tasting menus, it’s a strange sensation for the taste buds. But we’re kicking off the list with a flavor that’s popular the world over, though a little less gourmet, ketchup. Heinz launched an easy-to-make at home version of ketchup ice cream a few years ago, and there are many recipes online now if you want to try making this unusual flavor from scratch. Ketchup ice cream even had a headline-making moment in 2022 when it popped up as a flavor in the Savory Scoops event in London, a concept store celebrating fashion designer Anya Hindmarch’s favorite cult food brands. Salty and sweet, it’s certainly one you’ll need to try to be fully converted.
2. Sweet potato
Despite being common in Filipino cuisine, sweet potato ice cream is not so easy to find in Western cuisine and it is far tastier than you might think. You can make this one really easily using sweet potato as the base for the recipe. The structure of the sweet potato helps to hold the ingredients together to create a vegan alternative to ice cream, and it’s an ideal dessert for hosting plant-based eating friends and family. Try topping this ice cream with marshmallows and vanilla syrup for the best pairings.
3. Soy sauce
The proof is in the pudding with this powerhouse of a flavor. Back in 2012, a Tokyo based confectionery company created soy sauce ice cream, and it’s swept the globe since. Salty, umami-rich soy sauce is an unexpected, but pleasing match for the creamy, sweetness of vanilla ice cream. Finish this one with a generous dollop of caramel sauce on top to round off the flavor experience.
4. Lobster
Seafood ice cream? Bear with us. The team over at Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium in Massachusetts and Maine is widely credited with this flavor invention and its location couldn’t be more appropriate. As an area famed for lobster and clams, where better to bring together fresh Atlantic lobster and buttery vanilla ice cream? They even went so far as to include flecks of the lobster in the recipe for an eye-catching scoop. Only one way to find out if it works…
5. Goat's cheese
Whilst this flavor might initially sound quite strange, it’s more popular than you might think! It’s commonly found paired with fruity flavors like blueberries or cherries that bring a well-matched tartness to the creaminess of the goat's cheese. It contains less lactose than traditional ice cream, and is certainly one for the cheese lovers.
6. Wasabi
Wasabi ice cream packs a real punch. If you’re looking for the ultimate palette cleanser for your dinner party at home, then you’ve found it in this tongue tingling little scoop. Both cooling and warming all in one go, it’s a sure talking point for any dinner, from its striking colorful appearance, to the unforgettable flavor. For a sweeter taste, add vanilla bean into the recipe or, for a textural addition, consider incorporating pistachio nuts for a pleasing crunch.
7. Sesame
Black sesame ice cream has certainly found its footing in foodie circles, and you’ll find it on many menus in the more progressive eateries close to you. Nutty and aromatic, and black in color, it’s no wonder this one has earned its place amongst the food pioneers. It offers a real richness in taste that’s reminiscent of dark chocolate. Enjoy alongside a scoop of your favorite in-season berries, to bring a welcome tartness to the creamy, nutty taste of the black sesame.
8. Oyster
Oysters can be divisive at the best of times, so we’re sure oyster ice cream will be even more polarizing yet. Allegedly recorded in a 19th century cookbook, this progressive flavor was then forgotten about until the brave team at Japan’s Namja Town theme park decided to breathe some life back into the recipe. If you like the flavor of oysters, but struggle with the slippery texture, this could be the dessert for you. Likely to be a love it or hate it flavor on the list, either way it certainly ticks the box of one of the weirdest flavors to be found in the ice cream parlor.
9. Spicy sriracha
Spicy dishes have become increasingly popular in foodie culture, from the rise of spicy margaritas, to the hottest pepper eating contest videos online. Mason’s Creamery in Ohio has tapped into this trend, and created a vegan spicy sriracha-flavored scoop. The heat of the pepper is offset by the creaminess of the vanilla base, but you’ll still need to be able to handle the heat to dive into this one.
10. Earl Grey tea
Much like spice, foodies have been getting creative with tea to explore its wide variety of flavors. Even twists on classic cocktails, like an Earl Grey martini, are rapidly growing in popularity as a result. When it comes to ice cream, the floral and citrus flavor notes of this tea infuse naturally with a vanilla ice cream base. There’s an initial bitterness that gives way to that signature ice cream sweetness, making this an undeniably elegant and elevated dessert to end your meal with. If you’re making this one at home, we’d recommend adding fresh lavender to your recipe. The lavender pairs excellently with the flavors of Earl Grey tea, and adds an inviting purple color to your scoop.
