Vanilla Reigns Supreme; Chocolate Flavors Dominate in Top Five Ice Cream Favorites Among Americans (2024)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Audra Kruse: 202-431-1113, akruse@idfa.org
Peggy Armstrong: 202-841-5827, parmstrong@idfa.org

International Dairy Foods Association releases survey results for National Ice Cream Month

(Washington, D.C. – July 1, 2017) While vanilla ice cream continues to reign supreme as America’s favorite, chocolate-filled flavors dominate the top five bestselling ice cream flavors according to a recent survey of ice cream makers and retailers across the United States. The survey was conducted by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) among its members who make and market ice cream as well as members of the National Ice Cream Retailers Association, which includes operators of ice cream parlors in the United States.

IDFA released the results to launch its celebration of National Ice Cream Month, which runs throughout the month of July.

According to the survey, America’s top five flavors are: vanilla, chocolate, Cookies N’ Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

“Vanilla has long been the best-selling ice cream flavor not only because it is creamy and delicious, but also because of its ability to enhance so many other desserts and treats,” said Cary Frye, IDFA vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs and nationally respected expert on ice cream and frozen desserts. “It tastes great topped by whipped cream and fudge sauce in a sundae, with root beer in a float or atop a warm slice of apple pie.”

When asked to name their most daring and creative flavors, the respondents listed less traditional options including Lemon Poppyseed Muffin, Black Sesame and a bourbon- and caffeine-spiked concoction called Exhausted Parent.

Survey results also confirmed that many ice cream makers and retailers have family-owned businesses, have been in operation for more than 50 years and primarily market their products locally and regionally.

Ice Cream Across America

From neighborhood scoop shops to national brands, the ice cream industry in the United States contributes more than $39.0 billion to the national economy and creates more than 188,000 jobs nationally.

The Great Lakes region of the United States in particular, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, is a hot spot for the chilled treat. For respondents who market their products regionally, the area earned the top spot for the most successful and the most served market.

Respondents also ranked the Southwest, Plains and the Mideast regions as their next most successful markets, helping to answer the often-asked question: “Which region consumes the most ice cream?”

À La Mode

When asked about ingredients added to ice cream, the majority of those surveyed said that pecans are the most popular nut or nut flavoring, while strawberries are the most popular fruit added to their frozen treats.

Waffle cones and sugar cones were voted as equally popular containers with consumers, while ice cream sandwiches came out on top as America’s favorite novelty product. Respondents voted the ice cream sandwich as their best-selling novelty over ice cream cups, pops, cones and bars respectively.

Celebrating National Ice Cream Month

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90 percent of the nation's population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."

IDFA encourages retailers, scoop shops and consumers to celebrate National Ice Cream Day, which is Sunday, July 16, 2017. For a summer treat, grab a cone, make a sundae or scoop a dish!

# # #

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C, represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of nearly 525 companies within a $125-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's nearly 200 dairy processing members operate more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States.

Vanilla Reigns Supreme; Chocolate Flavors Dominate in Top Five Ice Cream Favorites Among Americans (2024)

FAQs

What are the Top 5 ice cream flavors 2022? ›

Ice cream makers and scoop shops reported different top flavors: Cookies n' cream was the No. 1 flavor according to this group, followed by vanilla, chocolate, mint chocolate chip and strawberry. the list of top five flavors. The survey also unveiled consumer buying preferences when it comes to the frozen treat.

Which ice cream flavor is more popular vanilla or chocolate? ›

The poll shows that if you're looking to please a crowd, most Americans like vanilla ice cream (59%) and half like chocolate ice cream (51%), with about one in 10 calling each of these flavors their favorite.

What is the number 1 flavor of ice cream? ›

In general, Americans tend to prefer chocolate ice cream — 24 states picked a flavor with chocolate as the base as their favorite.

What is BTS Favourite ice cream flavour? ›

The eldest member of BTS, the Worldwide Handsome, loves chocolate ice cream very much. The other favorite ice cream flavors Jin will never say no to are classic vanilla, coffee, mocha, and strawberry.

What is the 3 flavor ice cream? ›

Neapolitan ice cream is a staple of the freezer aisle. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry are served together — but not mixed or swirled, no, instead, these three flavors are presented in three perfect sections without any packaging dividing them.

What is the number 1 selling ice cream flavor in America? ›

Chocolate ice cream

It's not much of a surprise that chocolate ranks as America's number one ice cream flavor.

What are the 12 types of ice cream? ›

  • 12 Types of Ice Cream You Should Know and Sample. editor@purewow.com (PureWow) ...
  • Gelato. Unlike American ice cream, gelato—a frozen dessert from Italy—is made with whole milk rather than cream and contains no eggs. ...
  • Kulfi. ...
  • Sherbet. ...
  • Sorbet. ...
  • Frozen Yogurt. ...
  • Soft Serve. ...
  • Philadelphia Ice Cream.
8 Feb 2022

What is India's Favourite ice cream? ›

Vanilla is India's favourite & most popular flavour of Ice cream.

What is the number 1 ice cream brand? ›

Ben & Jerry's was the top ranked ice cream brand of the United States with about 911 million U.S. dollars worth of sales for the 52 weeks ended September 4, 2022.

What are the 3 most popular ice cream flavors? ›

Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are three of the most popular ice cream flavors so it only makes sense to combine them in this creamy mash-up known as Neapolitan ice cream.

Why do people like vanilla ice cream? ›

There is no flavour in the world quite like vanilla. Rich, creamy, warm and thoroughly intoxicating, everything about it is indulgent, but at the same time comforting and reminiscent of home.

What flavors do Americans like? ›

These Are the 8 Most American Flavors
  1. Vanilla. According to Lohman, “Vanilla is here thanks to a 12-year-old slave who figured out a botanical secret no one else knew.” The man's name was Edmond Albius. ...
  2. Black Pepper. ...
  3. Chili Powder. ...
  4. Curry Powder. ...
  5. Garlic. ...
  6. Soy Sauce. ...
  7. MSG. ...
  8. Sriracha.
5 Jun 2019

What were the first 3 flavors of ice cream? ›

More than likely, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry became the standard because they were the most popular flavors in the United States at the time of introduction. It is the first type of ice cream to combine three flavors.

What is the number 1 flavor in the world? ›

Like all fruits, vanilla begins with a flower: A single flower that opens up on only one day every year, and if you fail to pollinate it, that's it. No vanilla bean.

What are the 7 different varieties of ice cream? ›

7 Types of Ice Cream & What Makes Them Unique
  • Custard Base.
  • Philadelphia Style.
  • Frozen Yogurt.
  • Gelato.
  • Sorbet.
  • Sherbet.
  • Ice Cream from Around the World.
9 May 2021

What is the world's best ice cream? ›

So go ahead and renew your passport, hop a flight, pick a flavor, and treat yourself!
  1. 1) Fenocchio, Nice, France. ...
  2. 2) Bar Gelateria Ercole, Pizzo, Italy. ...
  3. 3) Vipiteno Gelateria, Sao Paulo, Brazil. ...
  4. 4) Antico Caffè Spinnato, Palermo, Italy. ...
  5. 5) Big Gay Ice Cream, New York City. ...
  6. 6) Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, Seattle.
18 May 2013

What is BTS favorite cartoon? ›

Jin (BTS) – Mario.

What is BTS Favourite fruit? ›

However, a BTS favourite fruit that recently gained so much attention among ARMYs is the tangerine.

What is BTS Favourite sweet? ›

Churros. Even though Churros are not Korean, they are BTS' favourite dessert of all time. The members are often seen enjoying Churros while touring for their concerts.

What ice cream is green? ›

Pistachio ice cream or pistachio nut ice cream is an ice cream flavor made with pistachio nuts or flavoring. It is often distinctively green in color. Pistachio is also a flavor of sorbet and gelato.

Why do they call it 31 flavors? ›

Baskin-Robbins "31®" was created to represent a different ice cream flavor for each day of the month. The "31 Flavors" concept was introduced into marketing efforts in 1953.

What is the mystery flavor ice? ›

Turkey Hill revealed that the mystery flavor is Blueberry Pancake, combining breakfast and dessert “to create a taste so delicious you'll scoop up seconds every time.” March 15, 2022.

Which ice cream Flavour is best in India? ›

Ask anyone, Kulfi is one of the best ice cream flavours in India. Yes, you read it correctly! Gulab-Jamun flavoured ice cream is a unique one, everyone should at least try it once.

What is America's favorite dessert? ›

Ice cream is America's favorite dessert and is a key driver of the frozen food category.

What is the 4th flavor of ice cream? ›

According to Numbuh 5, the Fourth Flavor was a flavor of ice cream created by the Dessert Monks that existed along with the three original flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
...
The Fourth Flavor
TypeIce cream flavor
Used ByDessert Monks
AppearancesOperation: F.L.A.V.O.R. Operation: Z.E.R.O. (mentioned)

What is fruit ice cream called? ›

This frozen delight contains just fruit and sugar—no dairy. It's often churned in an ice cream maker, which makes it scoopable but not creamy. Restaurants use sorbet as a palette cleanser during multi-course meals because its intense fruit flavor is extra refreshing.

Which is the No 1 ice cream in India? ›

Amul is the first choice of so many ice cream lovers in India. Amul brand, owned by Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), was established in 1946 in Anand, Gujarat.

Who is the king of ice cream in India? ›

Founder Prabhakar 'Pabba Maam' Kamath Leaves Behind a Sweet Legacy. Mangaluru: “I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ideal Ice Cream”- and that's 100% true!

Which ice cream is real? ›

Real ice cream is made from 100% dairy – milk, and products made from milk (including cream, skim milk powder, and whey powder). Frozen desserts are made with vegetable oils, like palm, kernel, or coconut oil.

Is Blue Bunny real ice cream? ›

And no matter the flavor, all of our ice cream begins with fresh milk." Blue Bunny ice cream is still produced locally in Le Mars. "We source our fresh milk from trusted, neighboring dairy farms, which lets ice cream lovers also count on us for farm-to-freezer ice cream," Baumgartner adds.

Which country is famous for ice cream? ›

Gelato, Italy

Gelato is a culinary symbol of Italy.

What is the rarest ice cream flavors? ›

Weirdest Ice Cream Flavors
  • Honey Jalapeno Pickle Ice Cream.
  • Lobster Ice Cream.
  • Smoked Salmon Ice Cream.
  • Curry Flavored Ice Cream.
  • Fish-and-Chip-Flavored Ice Cream.
  • Oyster Ice Cream.
  • Pickled Mango Ice Cream.
  • Pizza Ice Cream.
23 Sept 2022

Is vanilla attractive? ›

Hirsch also told Glamour in the previously-mentioned article that many men in his study found vanilla to be an attractive scent. It's sweet, but not too sweet and goes well with a lot of things, so it's versatile and not overpowering.

Why do humans like vanilla? ›

So what makes us love vanilla so much? The aroma compound that we know and love is vanillin. Vanillin gives off that floral, sweet, creamy scent we go nuts for. Vanilla is one of those flavors that is pretty much universally loved or accepted.

What does liking vanilla say about you? ›

Vanilla lovers are impulsive.

Vanilla is one of the simplest of ice cream flavors, but its fans are actually likely to be colorful, impulsive, idealistic risk-takers who “rely more on intuition than logic,” according to studies conducted by neurologist Dr.

What 5 flavors can humans taste? ›

Every basic taste—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami—is a message that tells us something about what we put into our mouth, so we can decide whether it should be eaten.

What 5 Flavours can we taste? ›

We have receptors for five kinds of tastes:
  • sweet.
  • sour.
  • salty.
  • bitter.
  • savory.
15 May 2020

Which flavour is most popular? ›

Vanilla is arguably the world's most popular flavour and is derived from mature pods of the orchid Vanilla planifolia.

What is the best selling ice cream flavor in the US? ›

Vanilla is a classic ice cream flavor that seems plain in appearance but offers the perfect canvas to dress up your dessert to suit your fancy. In fact, it's one of the most popular flavors for a reason.

What are the 3 main ice cream flavors? ›

Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are three of the most popular ice cream flavors so it only makes sense to combine them in this creamy mash-up known as Neapolitan ice cream. It consists of those three iconic flavors served side by side in the same container.

What is the best flavor ice cream in the world? ›

We promise we didn't plan this one… it's vanilla! After looking into the top searched ice cream flavors worldwide, we found this classic to be #1 in almost every country. Our favorite recipe is our very own Vanilla Ice Cream, which uses the classic flavor of Pure Vanilla Extract.

What is the most popular flavor in the world? ›

Vanilla is arguably the world's most popular flavour and is derived from mature pods of the orchid Vanilla planifolia.

Which ice cream flavour is best in India? ›

Ask anyone, Kulfi is one of the best ice cream flavours in India. Yes, you read it correctly! Gulab-Jamun flavoured ice cream is a unique one, everyone should at least try it once.

What are some rare ice cream flavors? ›

Weirdest Ice Cream Flavors
  • Honey Jalapeno Pickle Ice Cream.
  • Lobster Ice Cream.
  • Smoked Salmon Ice Cream.
  • Curry Flavored Ice Cream.
  • Fish-and-Chip-Flavored Ice Cream.
  • Oyster Ice Cream.
  • Pickled Mango Ice Cream.
  • Pizza Ice Cream.
23 Sept 2022

What ice cream is purple? ›

If you're not big into sweets but crave a cold treat from time to time, this is totally the flavor for you. Ube ice cream is a craze everywhere right now, at least partly because its bright purple color is very photogenic.

Is pink a flavor of ice cream? ›

Pink. There are many delicious pink-flavored ice creams. Pink is a color that can naturally be achieved simply by adding various types of food into ice cream.

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