What’s better than ice cream?
It’s creamy happiness, and the best part is, there are so many different ice creams to try out. And not in the sense of rocky road or mint chocolate chip, but actually different. Different textures, traditions, it’s pure creativity around the globe.
The standard vanilla tub is delicious, but we’re going way past that today.
Grab a spoon and get your taste buds ready to travel the world.
7 Countries, 7 Ice Creams
Time for the good stuff!
Italy – Gelato
Ah, Italians. The masters of creamy dreams.
Their gelato isn’t a fancy term for ice cream; it’s actually made with more milk, and it’s denser and softer. The flavors are more intense than what you’re used to, and it’s served a teensy bit warmer. That might sound odd, but the warmth gives it a silky texture, plus the tastes like real pistachio, deep chocolate, sweet stracciatella, and rich caramel come through more.
If you’re anywhere in Italy and find a gelateria, don’t walk – run towards it.
Turkey – Dondurma
Imagine a desert, but with a side of drama.
That’s what dondurma is. Don’t make the mistake of eating it quickly because, well… You actually can’t. It’s famous for being thick, elastic, and chewy thanks to an ingredient called salep. That’s flour made from wild orchid roots. Talk about fancy, right?
The real fun is in serving. Vendors use paddles with these long handles that stretch and fold the ice cream in all kinds of ways before you finally get your cone.
It’s a symbol of Turkish hospitality and fun, and everything around dondurma is an experience.
Japan – Mochi Ice Cream
Forget what you know about ice cream and get ready for the tiny, adorable packages of perfection that are mochi ice cream. Imagine your favorite ice cream, but in a ball and then wrapped in the soft, slightly sweet, chewy rice dough.
You’ll find a lot of unique flavors, too, like matcha green tea and sweet red bean.
The magic part is the contrast between the soft mochi and the cold, creamy center. This is a real treat, and it reflectsJapan’s love for precise textures and innovations.
You can find this all over the world now, but nothing beats one freshly made in Japan.
USA – Classic American Ice Cream
This one is rich and oh-so-creamy.
From creative businesses that use locally-sourced ingredients and have their own unique natural flavors, such as Lapp Valley Creamery and Ben&Jerry, this is a comfort and fun taste for oh so many Americans. The choices are incredible, from soft-serve swirls at a roadside stand to super fancy ones loaded with cookie dough and chunks of brownies.
If you had to describe American ice cream in one word, it would be indulgence.
Greece – Kaimaki
Kaimaki has a distinct type of flavor, and you won’t find it anywhere else because of its secret ingredient – mastic.
It’s a resin from a tree that grows on the island of Chios. Mastic gives kaimaki a unique flavor that’s a little floral and a little earthy. It’s crazy refreshing, and the texture is dense, smooth, and velvety. Honestly, it’s a dream, and people often sprinkle crushed pistachios on top.
This isn’t one of your new, trendy desserts. It’s actually centuries-old and traditional.
You could say that eating kaimaki is like tasting a piece of Greek history.
Thailand – Rolled Ice Cream
If you get ice cream in Thailand, you also get a show.
The vendor pours a sweet, creamy liquid into a freezing cold metal pan. Then, they chop in fresh fruits and/or candies, whatever you want, and then scrape the entire thing into delicate rolls. It’s 100% fresh because it’s made to order, and the texture is very smooth and light.
It started on the streets of Bangkok, but now you can find it in many places around the globe.
India – Kulfi
Imagine your traditional Western ice cream.
Now imagine what its patient cousin, full of flavor, would look like, and you get kulfi. It’s made by slowly simmering milk down, which is a process that lasts for hours. Once it’s rich and creamy, flavors like cardamom, saffron, rose, or pistachios are added.
Since it’s so dense, you’ll usually find it rolled into sticks, and it melts a lot slower than regular ice cream.
You want ice cream now, don’t you? Who could blame you after this delicious trip around the globe?
Maybe someday, if you win the lottery, you can take a vacation around the world and try as many ice creams as you can.
Ice cream is more than a dessert. Every country you visit will add a bit of its history to it, so you’ll get a unique treat every time. Nothing wrong with your local ice cream shop, but perhaps now you can see it as just one of the options you have.
In any case, happy tasting, and we hope your travels are always delicious!