After having reviewed some of Blue Bell's seasonal selections already, specifically Christmas Cookies and Pumpkin Pecan Spice, I was able to track down a carton of Peppermint, leaving only Gingerbread House remaining on my tour through Blue Bell's ice cream interpretation of the holidays. I've recently interrogated an influx of mint flavors, such as Edy's Peppermint, Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie and New Orleans Ice Cream Company's Mint Chocolate Cookie. In the past I haven't been a supporter of mint in ice cream, but the aforementioned flavors have began to convince me otherwise.
Printed on the outside of the oversized container, the above description promises a, "cool, refreshing peppermint ice cream sprinkled with peppermint candy pieces." The 160 calories per serving seems like a small price to pay for the taste and feel of Blue Bell ice cream, especially when it's the holidays and we're talking peppermint. Only slightly heavier than it's low-calorie Edy's Peppermint counterpart, Blue Bell's version shares the same light pink hue, along with pieces of peppermint candy tossed about.
Although the denseness of every Blue Bell offering is the exact same, the soft, fluffy feel of the pastel colored base is something I've grown to appreciate. Much like Edy's, Blue Bell has a knack for finding the fine line between super-premium ice creams and the low-fat options that utilize frozen dairy dessert. This particular peppermint flavor may look like cotton candy, but the minty smell is undeniable. Taking longer than you'd expect to break down, this well balanced base releases a nice mixture of mint, cream and sugar.
Even more subtle than Edy's Peppermint, Blue Bell's version allows the sugar to do most of the work, only employing a minuscule amount of peppermint for flavor. Much like the description says, the most accurate description for this base is simply, refreshing. The unique cooling effect created by the mint adds to the experience. In addition to one of the best peppermint bases I've bought, Blue Bell has also added in a ton of tiny peppermint pieces. Dyed pale pink and blue, these add an interesting overall texture to the velvety ice cream.
This small shards of candy add a bit of crunch, as well as a little more sweet peppermint to finish off your holiday palate. Although I should have expected it from Blue Bell given their proven record, especially when it comes to seasonal flavors, this combination of mild peppermint ice cream with little pieces of peppermint candy inside has surpassed all the other mint selections currently on the blog.
Where I Found It: Super Wal-Mart
Grade: C
