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Invite friends over for a tasting party to sample several flavors from a local dairy Top your favorite all-natural flavor with organic berries for the ultimate summer indulgence Vosges recommends its spicy-sweet Naga blend of coconut, turmeric, ginger, cumin, clove, and chili as a palate-cleanser between courses Organic ice creams ensure that kids get the most nutrition out of their favorite summer treat |
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Double-dipped, fudge-laden, sprinkle-strewn, cone-held fun: ice cream is what warm weather is all about. And when you take that first chilly bite of butter pecan or rocky road, your first thought isn’t likely to be whether this delicious treat is cow-friendly. Still, it’s possible to satisfy both your sweet tooth and your green leanings. A few organic dairies are making this summer’s offerings sweeter than ever with old-favorite flavors and exotic new tastes that are good for you and the environment, to boot.
But what is the difference between certified organic ice cream and plain old parlor fare? According to the USDA, dairy items labeled “organic” must adhere to a few basic standards. Certified organic dairy items must be procured from cows that have been fed organic feed for at least one year; not been treated with synthetic growth or other hormones; kept in pens with adequate stomping room; and given periodic traipsing privileges outdoors in the sunshine.
Is it better for you? That depends. All milk and dairy products sold in the United States, organic or not, must comply with strict safety requirements, such as pasteurization, and contain the same nutrients, like vitamin D and calcium. However, there is undeniably an argument to be made for eating foods that haven’t been mucked with. After all, whatever extra hormones or chemicals the cow ingests wind up in what you’re eating. And eating organically lets you feel good about how the cows were treated while making your lovely milk. Keep in mind that if your pint doesn’t say “certified organic,” it’s not. Words like “all natural” give no guarantee of earth-friendly ingredients.
We took on the arduous job of tasting certified-organic ice creams to get you the real scoop.
Green & Black’s Organic | London, U.K.
Dig in: a truly decadent treat
We thoroughly appreciated Green & Black’s incredibly smooth texture, akin to whipped heavy cream. The white chocolate flavor from this British treatery was a standout: sweet without being cloying, and the smattering of crushed strawberries is a much better alternative to the usual frozen pieces you find in other brands (and much easier on your teeth). $4.99 per pint. Available at Target, Whole Foods, and other retailers nationwide.
Julie’s Organic | Eugene, Oregon
Reminds us of: our childhood favorites, all grown up
From the Oregon Ice Cream folks, Julie’s offers both regular ice cream and low-fat frozen yogurt (for the latter, try the cinnamon apple—pie ŕ la mode in a pint). We happily dug into the mocha java, with its big coffee flavor, fudgy swirls, and thick, creamy texture. For those who miss the days of ice-cream bars, there’s a line of vanilla and chocolate sandwiches, whose smaller size, square shape, and scalloped edges will please kids and big folks alike. $5.49 per pint. Available at retailers nationwide.
Ronnybrook | Ancramdale, New York
Serve with: a big bowl—no cone necessary
Based in the Hudson River Valley, Ronnybrook can only be purchased in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, which is too bad, because the outrageously silken, flavor-packed ice creams will make you want to throw your scale out the window of a moving car. Standard flavors were anything but basic: the butter pecan exploded on the palate like a roll of butterscotch Life Savers layered with caramel and cream, and the pistachio, with its pockets of the namesake nut, tasted like a decadent Italian pastry. $4 per pint. Available at New York City Greenmarkets and select Whole Foods in New York.
Straus Family Creamery | Marshall, California
Best for: a kiddie birthday crowd-pleaser
Located in northern California, Straus has been family-owned since 1941, and went full-on organic in 1993, the first farm west of the Mississippi to do so. Currently, it makes five basic, kid-pleasing flavors. The Dutch chocolate was our favorite for its good cocoa taste and consistent creamy texture. Other flavors, like the coffee, seemed a little too sweet, with the sugar quickly overpowering the java (but kids seem to like it). $5.95 per pint. Available through www.diamondorganics.com or retailers west of the Mississippi.
Vosges-Haut Chocolat Organic Ice Cream | Chicago, Illinois
Try it as: a fancy dinner-party finale
If we could use ice cream as a teaching tool for global flavors and cultures, Vosges would get an A+. We particularly fell for grown-up flavors like Naga, a cheery yellow curry-coconut mix that goes down like a frozen lassi, and Red Fire, a mouthful of dark Belgian chocolate and cinnamon that leaves a pleasantly mild afterburn of ancho and chipotle chilies. The creamy texture, too, gets high marks. $6.99 per pint. Available at www.vosgeschocolate.com and retailers nationwide
Amy Zavatto is based in New York and writes about food, spirits, wine, and travel for Imbibe, New York magazine, The Ritz-Carlton magazine, Plenty, Gotham, Food & Wine, and Frommer’s.
Photography Credits:
1. Carl Tremblay
2. Linda Burgess
3. Courtesy Vosges Haut-Chocolat
4. Jo Kirchherr
5. Michelle Quance
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