Scream for ice cream
Kiwis love their ice cream, especially during the warmer months.
From masala with red chillies and coconut, to kūmara caramel walnut crush (tasted at July’s national ice cream and gelato awards), to classics such as vanilla, and hokey pokey, ice cream is one of our favourite must-haves.
About 233 New Zealand-made ice creams and gelatos, made from cow’s milk, coconut, cauliflower, and rice milk, were judged. Lemon & Berries, Salted Caramel & White Chocolate, Ginger & Turmeric, Biscotti, Chocolate Hazelnut, Rum & Raisin, and Vietnamese Iced Coffee are among the medal-winning delights. Sixty gold, 66 silver, and 44 bronze medals were awarded.
Meanwhile a British study of Google searches for ice cream has revealed every country’s favourite flavours, from much-loved vanilla, or chocolate, to more unusual flavours such as Ube (a purple yam), and guava.
Vanilla ranks as the world’s top flavour, taking the top spot in 46 countries, the layered neapolitan flavour follows in second (29 countries), and chocolate is in third (22 countries).
New Zealand and Fiji are the only two countries in the world to have hokey pokey as their favourite flavour. New Zealand’s second preferred flavour is neapolitan, followed by vanilla, strawberry, and cookies and cream.
