Ice cream has been America’s beloved frozen treat for over a century, but not every flavor has stood the test of time. While vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry remain the classic favorites, countless creative concoctions have disappeared from our freezers. Here are 10 ice cream flavors that were once popular but have largely vanished from today’s ice cream parlors. Look out for some familiar flavors your grandparents might have loved as a child.
10. Teaberry
Made from the extract of wintergreen-flavored teaberries, this pink-tinted ice cream offered a cooling, minty flavor that was both refreshing and unique. Popular in the Northeast, where teaberries grew naturally, this flavor is the alternative to the basic mint chocolate chip flavor. If you’re from Pennsylvania, check out some ice cream shops near you, as this flavor might be available.
9. Tutti Frutti
Not to be confused with modern fruity flavors, the original tutti frutti was a complex medley of candied fruits, nuts, and sometimes even brandy-soaked ingredients folded into a rich custard base. The flavor reveals different combinations of preserved cherries, citron, and exotic fruits that most Americans rarely encounter elsewhere. It became popular during the mid-20th century, but eventually, it lost its popularity when they were pulled down from ice cream shops and grocery stores.
8. Chestnut
Chestnuts used to chill in the open freezer during the early 20th century. Popular in both America and Europe, the flavor captured the nutty, slightly sweet essence of roasted chestnuts. This autumn-inspired flavor was particularly beloved during the holidays, offering a warming taste that paired with apple pie and other seasonal desserts.
7. Cucumber
One of the most unexpectedly refreshing frozen treats of the Victorian era, cucumber ice cream was prized for its cooling properties during hot summers. It was made with fresh cucumber juice that’s enhanced with a hint of mint. They were popular at garden parties and afternoon socials, although they might be a bizarre flavor for modern palates.
6. Artichoke
Believe it or not, there used to be an artichoke-flavored ice cream during the late 1800s. It was found in upscale European-influenced establishments. They were made with the tender hearts of artichokes that were pureed in a custard form.
5. The Choco Taco
This treat found its popularity in 1984. While it isn’t actually a flavor, it’s a kind of ice cream that features vanilla flavor inside a chocolate-lined waffle cone shaped like a taco shell. It was invented by ice cream truck driver Alan Drazen from Philadelphia and has become a cult favorite since then. However, it was discontinued in 2022.
4. Violet Ice Cream
Victorian-era ice cream makers weren’t shy about floral flavors. This led to the violet cream being a favorite among the upper classes. It is made with real violet extract; this offers a subtle soap-like flavor that modern palates might find surprising. It was popular during the 1900s.
3. Tiger Tail
No, this isn’t an actual tail of a tiger, but rather, a combined flavor. It features an orange-flavored ice cream swirled with black licorice ribbons with a tiger pattern. It was popular during the 1950s through the 1980s. The Tiger Tail is still occasionally found in some Canadian ice cream shops if you want to try.
2. Peach Melba
Named after the famous Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, this elegant ice cream flavor was inspired by the classic dessert created by Chef Auguste Escoffier in the 1890s. Peach Melba ice cream featured vanilla ice cream swirled with peach puree and raspberry sauce. It became popular in upscale ice cream parlors from the early 1900s through the 1960s.
1. Hokey Pokey
Before cookies and cream dominated the mix-in game, New Zealand’s Hokey Pokey was a favorite. This flavor combined vanilla ice cream with chunks of honeycomb toffee. The honeycomb pieces would dissolve slightly over the vanilla ice cream. You can still find the Hokey Pokey flavor from ice cream shops in New Zealand.