New Orleans Ice Cream Company
New Orleans Ice Cream Co. recently introduced its Ultra Premium ice cream flavors, and they are a hit.
From vanilla bean to Mardi Gras pie, this local company works hard not only to serve the best ice cream money can buy, but also to link each flavor to Southern culture and a history lesson. Check out this guide to some of our favorites from New Orleans Ice Cream Company.
Bananas Foster
A Bananas Foster is unique for its delicious blend of banana, caramel, nutmeg, and rum, as well as for its origin in New Orleans. This historically famous
dessert, though, takes some work to make at home. That is why New Orleans Ice
Cream Co.'s Bananas Foster flavor is perfect: you can enjoy the taste of New
Orleans' history anytime and anywhere. Because tasting a Bananas Foster is a
history lesson in itself, a fit activity for the flavor might be museum-hopping
in the Quarter. Learn about New Orleans' boundless history from your eyes to
your taste buds.
Café Au Lait & Beignets
The Café Au Lait & Beignets flavor recreates one of the
most iconic New Orleans food pairings: café au lait and powdered-sugar-covered
beignets. This ice cream offers a balanced blend of cold-brewed coffee and scalded milk, mixed with real beignet pieces and finished with a sugary swirl. The
bitter notes match perfectly with the sweetness of the beignets. A stroll
through the French Quarter would put the cherry on top of this ice cream, allowing
you to experience exactly what the flavor is trying to capture. Stop by Café Du
Monde and listen to the live jazz nearby to witness New Orleans in its prime
just as you've tasted it.
Chocolate City
Named after former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin, who referred to New
Orleans as a "chocolate city," this flavor turns political controversy into a
satirical blend of dark chocolate ice cream and white chocolate chips. The
sweet, creamy white chips balance the darker chocolate base and add texture while also incorporating a profound aspect of New Orleans' history and
culture. To fully appreciate the flavor of the name and the story behind it, visit Tremé for a night of live jazz in one of the oldest historically Black neighborhoods in the United States and a center of jazz culture.
Ponchatoula Strawberry
Ponchatoula Strawberry is popular for its rich and creamy
ice cream base mixed with high-quality strawberries straight from Ponchatoula,
the strawberry capital of the world. The creamy texture creates a well-balanced
texture with the strawberry chunks mixed in. The flavor allows you to enjoy
Louisiana's freshest berries even when they are not in season. Capturing the same
fresh, sunny, local-agriculture vibe that makes Louisiana strawberry season
special, this flavor is great for a trip to the farmers' market to compare your
fresh pint of strawberries to the other delicious berries hand-picked and sold there.
Rouses Gentilly Berry Cake
Do you really live in New Orleans if you've never tasted a
Rouses Gentilly Cake before? If not, do not worry; you can sample the taste of this famous cake with New Orleans Ice Cream Co.'s Gentilly Cake flavor, combining
all the flavors of the local favorite cake. Mixed with a sweet cream base, fresh
berries, soft cake chunks, and a hint of almond frosting, the flavor evokes the feel of enjoying a slice of Gentilly Cake with ice cream on the side.
As a large crowd of locals has strong nostalgic associations with the flavor combination, this flavor reminds them of their celebrations, where a
Gentilly Cake was the star of the show. Celebrating a special occasion with
family and friends, letting the ice cream carry the same festive, shareable
feel as the cake.
Cookies & Cream
This flavor's smooth ice cream base is broken up by
chocolate cookie chunks and crumbs, creating a satisfying texture in every
bite. The combination of creamy ice cream and crunchy cookie chunks is
reportedly the flavor's biggest strength. The flavor is unique in its balance;
the vanilla cream base softens the bitterness of the chocolate cookies,
creating a rich flavor without being overwhelming. Unlike flavors tied
to a specific local tradition, such as Café au Lait & Beignets or Bananas
Foster, Cookies & Cream has a playful, nostalgic, crowd-pleasing quality.
It fits the kind of carefree New Orleans day spent exploring attractions such as the Audubon Zoo or Aquarium and enjoying the city without a formal agenda.
Coffee & Chicory
New Orleans coffee with chicory is a historic, bold, and
woody blend, commonly served since the 19th century and originally developed by the French, who added chicory to ground coffee to extend supplies. The beverage has developed a distinct flavor in New Orleans, with unique nutty and slightly bittersweet notes that complement the roasted coffee. The ice cream flavor is just that: a fresh coffee flavor with a New Orleans twist, making the ice cream smooth and earthy. To really enjoy this ice cream, take a ride
on the St. Charles Streetcar on a quiet morning. This flavor is not about
festivities or for a French Quarter extravaganza—it is about everyday New
Orleans tradition and local character.
Creole Cream Cheese
Creole cream cheese, a local specialty, is often described as a cross between cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream and was historically served for breakfast with cream and sugar. The ice cream perfectly encapsulates this sweet-tart
balance with its sweet flavor cut with a gentle tanginess. New Orleans'
culinary excellence is portrayed through this ice cream's unique flavor with a
smooth and dense texture. A leisurely morning stroll through City Park matches
well with this ice cream, reflecting the quiet excellence of New Orleans
culture.
Creole Cream Cheese & Strawberry
While similar to the original Creole Cream Cheese flavor,
this ice cream has a swirl of strawberry coulis, adding a fresh sweetness to
the richness and mild tang of Creole cream cheese. The ice cream delivers a
creamy texture and a flavor reminiscent of strawberry cheesecake,
only in scoopable form. The flavor has a fresh, springtime quality that evokes
local produce and leisurely weekends—perfect for a day trip to Ponchatoula to
see the berries at New Orleans Ice Cream Co.
Creole Cream Cheese & Blueberry
Also similar to the other Creole cream cheese flavors, this ice cream combines the kick of the original Creole cream cheese with the sweet and slightly floral taste of blueberries. The cheesecake-like flavor is challenged by the fruitiness, which keeps the dessert from feeling too heavy. The blueberry coulis also adds a very mild tartness, which pairs excellently with the notes of cream cheese. Taking a swamp tour through the Louisiana wetlands is a great match for this flavor. The calm waters and lush greenery fit the peacefulness of the outdoors that comes to mind with blueberries' fresh and earthy character.
Vanilla Bean
To New Orleans Ice Cream Co., vanilla is not just a boring,
base flavor; it celebrates the depth of real vanilla, creating a high-quality
vanilla ice cream with a creamy base and natural vanilla notes. With no
mix-ins, the smoothness of this ice cream highlights the quality of its cream.
The flavor is a true Vanilla Bean, creating a luxurious and satisfying
experience for the taste buds. After enjoying some vanilla bean ice cream,
spend an evening at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden to emulate
the vanilla bean flavor. Walking through a sculpture garden requires
recognizing the small details and craftsmanship in the art, just as appreciating the art of vanilla bean ice cream does.
Mint Chocolate Cookie
The refreshing mint flavor of the mint chocolate cookie ice cream makes each bite feel lighter. With chocolate cookie pieces, the ice cream is a satisfying blend of refreshing mint and deep cocoa with a delightful crunch. The balanced sweetness prevents the chocolate
from becoming too heavy while also introducing the familiar love for mint
chocolate cookies. A ghost tour through the French Quarter at night fits this
flavor's refreshing chill and cool mystery. The mint chocolate cookie ice cream
feels like a nighttime in New Orleans—rich in history and cold
with mystery.
Sweet Potato Pie
This ice cream flavor transforms a classic Southern dessert
into a creamy frozen treat while keeping the comforting flavors people
associate with homemade pie. The flavor captures the nostalgic taste of a
freshly baked holiday dessert, combining the sweet, creamy, familiar Southern
flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. Sweet potatoes have a natural richness that enhances the ice cream's cozy, bakery-like taste. This flavor feels like
tasting a homemade treat in grandma's kitchen, so after sampling it, try taking a Louisiana cooking class to experience the same traditional, local flavors of sweet potato pie.
Mardi Gras Pie
The Mardi Gras pie flavor connects to the city's biggest
cultural celebration, where community, music, and food all come together. The
variety of flavors in this ice cream highlights the colorful and joyful
celebration. This creamy flavor is layered with different flavors, featuring a
gooey marshmallow base with chocolate flakes and graham cracker pieces. Some
say it tastes similarly to a Moon Pie, one of the famous throws in a Mardi
Gras parade. This ice cream brings the festivity of Mardi Gras to your spoon, even months after the celebration. To continue this nostalgia and
playful energy, try making your own Mardi Gras mask or costume. Crafts like
these embody the same energy as the ice cream—a dramatic and
whimsical flavor meant to stand out.
Praline Crunch
A classic Louisiana confection, pralines turn any snack into a buttery sweet treat. Mixed into the ice cream, the praline chunks bring a caramel-like sweetness with warm, nutty notes, making it taste like a homemade Southern candy. Pralines are one of New Orleans' signature sweets, bringing a cozy feeling to the base of pecans and brown sugar. Enjoy your Praline Crunch ice cream on the City Park Train to combine the old-fashioned sweetness of the flavor and the relaxed, nostalgic train ride.
