Top minty scoops
An ice cream that costs $7 to $10 per pint is either preposterous or incredibly special. The idea of updating and improving on a classic such as mint chocolate chip, for example, is intriguing.
Back when mint chocolate chip ice cream was invented — in 1973 for the wedding of England’s Princess Anne to Mark Phillips, according to a Mccormick flavorist — it was likely made with classic ice cream ingredients and, perhaps, a touch of artificial color or flavor. Through the years, mainstream offerings leaned even more into the artificial stuff, making cheap green ice cream a kid favorite.
But this is a new food era. We expect better than good. We crave small batch, super premium, all natural, sustainable, fair-trade, grass-fed, nongmo goodness; and judging by the number of premium ice creams on the shelf, people are willing to pay for it. But does the expense make for better tasting ice cream?
Armed with a spoon and a wad of cash, we scooped up every high-end mint chocolate chip ice cream we could find. Some well-known ones were not in stock, but we found more than a dozen brands begging for a taste.
As it turns out, most premium mint chocolate chip ice creams are white, not minty green. And those that are green use natural colors to achieve
that hue. The best are made from topquality dairy, specialty chocolate and mint extract. The worst use poor quality chocolate, too much or too little mint, or are so poorly processed that the texture is all wrong.
Here’s the scoop on the best of the batch — and the sad, gritty ones to avoid. Nutrition details refer to a ½-cup serving.
Jeni’s Splendid Green Mint Chip
One of the few green-colored mint ice creams in the high-end category, this one is dangerously luscious. It raises the bar for mint chocolate chip and dominates the category in every way. It’s creamy, fresh and balanced, with the most delicious dark chocolate flakes. 263 calories, 16.5 g fat, 13.5 g sugar, 4 g protein. $8.99 for a pint at Whole Foods. ★★★★
Three Twins Organic Mint Confetti
Delicate chocolate flakes, a touch of honey and plenty of mint make this light, fluffy, green ice cream taste like a party. 200 calories, 13 g fat, 19 g sugar, 3 g protein. $5.19 for a pint at Lucky. ★★★★
Straus Organic Mint Chocolate Chip
Creamy, rich and so fresh, this velvety mix has lots of chocolate and tastes like it was made with fresh mint rather than extract. 248 calories, 17 g fat, 20 g sugar, 3 g protein. $5.69 at Whole Foods. ★★★
365 Whole Foods Mint Chocolate Chip
This is a good ice cream, but it leaves you wanting more mint and more of the rich chocolate chunks. As it is, the chocolate chunks are so large, they don’t distribute evenly — and they’re so frozen, you can’t taste them until your mouth warms them up. 170 calories, 9 g fat, 16 g sugar, 2 g protein. $3.99. ★★★
Talenti Mediterranean Mint Chocolate Chip Gelato
This tastes like crème de menthe — bold, syrupy mint with a kick — but there are far too few chips. 218 calories, 10.5 g fat, 26 g sugar, 5 g protein. $4.99 at Lucky. ★★
Ben & Jerry’s Mint Chocolate Cookie
Giant chunks of crispy cookie and lots of ground-up chocolate make this a great choice for those who love chocolate, but the mint goes missing. 270 calories, 16 g fat, 23 g sugar, 5 g protein. $5.99 at Whole Foods. ★★
Double Rainbow Mint Chocolate Chip
Dense ice cream with a good sprinkle of chunky chocolate chips make this a fine choice, but the chips are too big and it needs more mint. 320 calories, 18 g fat, 26 g sugar, 4 g protein. $5.99 for a pint at Lucky. ★★
Baskin-robbins Mint Chip
This extra-sweet, mainstream-style ice cream hits the notes for an ice cream splurge, but it falls far short in chocolate and mint. It’s green, but the top flavors are sugar, vanilla and cream. 250 calories, 17 g fat, 21 g sugar, 5 g protein. $4.99 at Lucky. ★★
Alden’s Cookies and Mint
Those who enjoy milk chocolate may fall for this chocolate-forward mix that incorporates slivers of chocolate plus swirls of chocolate fudge. The result is a very sweet, less-than-minty bite. 173 calories, 10 g fat, 17 g sugar, 2 g protein. $4.99 at Sprouts. ★
Van Leeuwen Mint Chip French Ice Cream
Generous handfuls of mint-flavored chocolate can’t quite rescue this mess. The ice cream is icy and plain, and the chocolate is bitter. Even worse, the ground chocolate makes the ice cream gritty. 230 calories, 16 g fat, 17 g sugar, 4 g protein. $7.99 at Whole Foods. ★
Mcconnell’s Peppermint Stick
A name like “Peppermint Stick” might inspire a dash of candy bits — or at least that flavor. Apparently not. Mcconnell’s makes some great ice cream, but this flavor is a bust. It’s bland. 270 calories, 19 g fat, 20 g sugar, 3 g protein. $9.99 at Whole Foods.
Häagen-dazs Mint Chip
Sometimes we wonder if anyone even tastes the ice cream they make. “No” is the clear answer on this one. It tastes like standard ice cream base with a mere hint of the star ingredients. 280 calories, 18 g fat, 22 g sugar, 4 g protein. $4.75 for 14 ounces at Lucky.
Fiorello’s Artisan Mint Chip Gelato
It’s hard to imagine that someone thought this was good. It’s a frozen, sand-textured, chalky mess that demands a second bite — to confirm that it’s hideous in every way. 320 calories, 19 g fat, 23 g sugar, 3 g protein. $8.49 for a pint at Whole Foods. (Negative stars. Not sorry.)