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Far-out Flavors

Here’s the scoop on some of the craziest ice cream flavors in the U.S.

By Jessica McKenna-Ratjen
From the Special Collections Issue

Learning Objective: Students will determine the value of bills and coins related to the prices of different ice cream flavors. 

Lexile: 920L; 740L

The average American eats more than 10 pounds of ice cream each year! You might like your scoop with fresh bits of strawberry or chunks of chocolate. But what about the flavors of flowers, pine trees, or blue cheese? Read on to discover how some of the wildest ice creams in the country are made. Which of these oddly delicious desserts would you try?

The average American eats more than 10 pounds of ice cream each year! You might like to eat ice cream with fresh strawberries or chocolate chunks. But what about ice cream that tastes like flowers or pine trees? What about ice cream made with blue cheese? Read on to find out how these wild flavors are made. Which of them would you try?

Courtesy of Leela Cyd Ross/Salt and Straw

Pear & Blue Cheese

Salt & Straw
Where to Find It: Portland, OR

Oregon’s state fruit is the pear. That’s why this flavor is always on the menu at Salt & Straw in Portland, Oregon. Italian gelato machines churn out the ice cream base, which makes the dessert extra creamy and rich. Then ice cream makers swirl in 5 pounds of candied pears and 1 pound of crumbled blue cheese. The result? A treat that’s mostly fruity with a pop of tangy, salty cheese.

Salt & Straw
Where to Find It: Portland, OR

Oregon’s state fruit is the pear. That’s why this flavor is always on the menu at Salt & Straw in Portland, Oregon. Italian gelato machines mix the ice cream base. The machines make the dessert extra creamy and rich. Then ice cream makers add 5 pounds of candied pears. They also mix in 1 pound of crumbled blue cheese. The result? A treat that’s mostly fruity with a pop of tangy, salty cheese.

Shutterstock.com

Geranium

Grassroots Ice Cream
Where to Find It: Granby, CT

You might have seen geraniums in local gardens or flower shops. But did you know some types of these vibrant flowers are edible? For this ice cream, concentrated geranium flavor is added to 2.5 gallons of cream and churned into a sweet floral treat. The flowery flavor is a hit at Grassroots Ice Cream—it always sells out!

Grassroots Ice Cream
Where to Find It: Granby, CT

You might have seen geraniums in local gardens. You might have smelled them in flower shops. But did you know that you can eat some types of these colorful flowers? For this ice cream, concentrated geranium flavor is added to 2.5 gallons of cream. Then it’s churned into a sweet floral treat. The flavor is popular at Grassroots Ice Cream. It always sells out!

Shutterstock.com

Pizza

Max & Mina’s 
Where to Find It: New York, NY

What’s better than pizza and ice cream? How about both combined! For this flavor, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese are soaked for 25 hours in tubs of tomato sauce to form the ice cream’s base. Then 5 pounds of sweet cookie dough gets mixed into each 5-gallon batch. “The response is phenomenal,” owner Bruce Becker says, “but it’s not for everybody. Some kids love it, some don’t.”

Max & Mina’s 
Where to Find It: New York, NY

What’s better than pizza and ice cream? How about a mix of both! For this flavor, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese are soaked in tubs of tomato sauce. After 25 hours, the mixture becomes the ice cream’s base. Then 5 pounds of sweet cookie dough gets mixed into each 5-gallon batch. “The response is phenomenal,” owner Bruce Becker says, “but it’s not for everybody. Some kids love it. Some don’t.”

Design Pics Inc/Alamy Stock Photo (girl eating ice cream); Shutterstock.com (all other photos)

Pine Forest

Creole Creamery 
Where to Find It: New Orleans, LA

There’s nothing like the scent of pine around the holidays. But what about the flavor? Every December, Creole Creamery makes pine forest ice cream. It’s made with a green, syrupy pine tree flavoring mixed with candied pecans and chopped figs. The pine gives the treat a woodsy taste. But the flavor is so strong, only 3 to 4 drops of syrup get added to each 10-gallon batch!

Creole Creamery 
Where to Find It: New Orleans, LA

There’s nothing like the scent of pine around the holidays. But what about the flavor? Creole Creamery makes pine forest ice cream every December. The pine taste comes from a green, syrupy pine tree flavoring. The ice cream also includes candied pecans and chopped figs. The pine gives the treat a woodsy taste. But the flavor is strong! Only 3 to 4 drops of syrup get added to each 10-gallon batch.

Now You Try It

A single scoop of ice cream costs $4.75 at Salt & Straw Portland. What is one combination of bills and coins you could use to pay the exact amount for this ice cream?

A single scoop of ice cream costs $4.75 at Salt & Straw Portland. What is one combination of bills and coins you could use to pay the exact amount for this ice cream?

One scoop of geranium ice cream costs $3.50. What’s the smallest combination of bills and coins you could use to pay the exact amount?

One scoop of geranium ice cream costs $3.50. What’s the smallest combination of bills and coins you could use to pay the exact amount?

At Max & Mina’s, you can order a milkshake for $7.75. You have a $5 bill, two quarters, ten nickels, and a dime. Do you have enough money for a shake?

At Max & Mina’s, you can order a milkshake for $7.75. You have a $5 bill, two quarters, ten nickels, and a dime. Do you have enough money for a shake?

At Creole Creamery, you can buy 2 scoops of ice cream for $5.75. You have three $1 bills, ten quarters, two dimes, and six pennies. Do you have enough money for 2 scoops? Explain.

At Creole Creamery, you can buy 2 scoops of ice cream for $5.75. You have three $1 bills, ten quarters, two dimes, and six pennies. Do you have enough money for 2 scoops? Explain.

video (1)
Activities (3)
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Activities (3)
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

1. SPARK ENGAGEMENT.

Play the video “Inside an Ice Cream Factory.” Then, before or after reading the article, spark a discussion based on the following questions:

  • What is the most interesting ice cream flavor you’ve ever tasted? How do you think it was made?  
  • How do you think the prices of items at an ice cream shop are determined? 

2. INTRODUCE THE MATH CONCEPT AND VOCABULARY.

  • Distribute mixed bags of coins (real or manipulatives) to students in pairs or small groups.   
  • What are the most common coins used in U.S. currency? (penny, nickel, dime, quarter
  • Which of these coins has the largest value? (quarter; 25 cents) Smallest value? (penny; 1 cent
  • How many pennies make up a dollar? (100) How many nickels? (20) How many quarters? (4
  • How many different ways can you make $0.30 with your coins? Select volunteers to show or explain their different combinations. 

3. WORK THROUGH THE “WHAT TO DO” BOX.

Have students turn to page 5 of the article. Read through the “What to Do” box as a class. Then ask: 

  • Which coin has a value of  10 cents? (dime
  • Can we write the denominations of money in more than one way? Explain. (Yes, you can write them in many ways. Answers will vary, but students should note the placement of the dollar sign, decimal point, and cent symbol.)  
  • What are 2 ways you can write 41 cents using symbols? ($0.41 and 41¢
  • Which bills and coins would you add to $6.41 to get to $7.51? (Answers will vary.)

4. REINFORCE WITH MATH PRACTICE. 

Have students complete problems  1 through 4 on pages 4 and 5. 

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