“The more things change,” the old saying goes, “the more they stay the same.” When it comes to Ice Cream, that’s definitely true. There are classic, permanent ice cream flavour favourites, and there are new ones that pop onto and off of the list from year to year…
There is no more memorable or cherished treat from my childhood than the simple ice cram cone. Not a dish nor a chocolate cookie-bracketed ice cream sandwich. It had to be a cone…
In the beginning…
And when I was a kid, there were only a few flavours to choose from: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and – if you were lucky – Butterscotch Ripple, Maple Walnut and ‘Neapolitan’. The latter, for those too young to have appreciated it in person, is stripes of Vanilla, Chocolate And strawberry together in the same magical scoop…
There were no chain ice cream stores back then. Certainly no purpose-built ice cream parlours with 32 (or more) flavours. You got your cone at the corner store. Or right at the counter at the local dairy.
Later, there was Dairy Queen. But Soft Serve was never the same as the Real Thing. Even though some of the kids did develop a preference for the stuff, especially when dipped in chocolate, which solid-ified immediately on the cold confection to form a crunchy crust.
And did I mention? A real ice cream cone cost a mere 10 cents!
Explosion of flavours
About the time DQ first appeared in our town, there began an explosion of ice cream flavours, with makers trying to out-do the competition in both variety and creativity.
Some of my faves over the years have been Mint Chocolate Chip, Pralines and Cream, Rocky Road, Black Cherry, Coffee and Rum Raisin. But literally everything you can imagine has been tried as an ice cream flavour at one time or another. Even Mustard, Chili Peppers, Dill Pickles, Garlic Seaweed and Wasabi.
Sanity in a list
Thankfully, Stacker compiled a comprehensive ranking of the most-loved ice cream flavours in Amer-ica. The survey was undertaken in 2023, the last year for which figures were available.
How they surveyed
“To see which flavor reigned supreme, the International Dairy Foods Association partnered with Mor-ning Consult to survey over 2,200 American adults on their ice cream preferences,” Stacker explains. “Stacker then analyzed the data […] to rank the 20 most popular ice cream flavors in the US by the of adults who said the flavor was their favorite.”
What they found
The top 3 Ice Cream flavours, as ranked by Stacker, were:
- Vanilla: The #1 favorite, popular for its versatility and classic taste.
- Chocolate: A top-tier, rich, classic choice.
- Strawberry: A highly popular fruit-based flavor.
No surprise, there. The classic trio has come out on top in virtually all ice cream preference studies ever published.
The remainder of the Top Ten ranked as follows:
- Cookies and Cream: A popular combination.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: A top, consistent favorite.
- Butter Pecan: A favorite, nutty, and creamy option.
- Mint Chocolate Chip: A frequently chosen refreshing flavor.
- Caramel: A popular, sweet option.
- Neapolitan: A classic, three-flavor combination.
- Rocky Road: A popular, textured flavor.
Other current (if ephemeral) faves in the Top 20 included:
- Coffee: A favorite for those who enjoy a java kick.
- Peanut Butter: A favorite among fans of rich, nutty flavors.
- Birthday Cake: A popular, sweet, and festive choice.
- Brownie: A rich, indulgent flavor.
- Cookie Dough: A popular, textured favorite. And
- Salted Caramel: A popular, savory-sweet flavor.
My take
According to Morningstar, the global ice cream and frozen dessert market is projected to reach $160 billion in 2026. That’s one big scoop! And if the market stays on tract, it could surpass $329 billion by 2036.
Not bad for something we’ve always considered an ‘affordable luxury’. But the price of ice cream has risen in concert with those of all dairy products since the COVID crisis struck disrupting all aspects of the economy. And all predictions for the future remain foggy.
However… Statistics Canada reported last month that the average price for ice cream in Canada was approximately (C)$6.19. That’s up from (C)$4.19 in 2019 – an increase of 32.5 percent.
However, price doesn’t seem to be too much of a deterrent to treat-craving consumers. Agriculture and AgriFood Canada reports:
- Canadian producers manufactured 170.29 million liters of hard ice cream in 2023, up from 152.12 million liters in 2022.
- Per Capita Consumption: Consumption increased to 4.75 litres per person in 2023, up from 4.51 litres in 2022.
So it appears there’s at least one food category that’s not feeling a sting from the current climate of war, economic disruption and climate change…
~ Maggie J.