Since their beginning, Ben & Jerry’s has made a habit of introducing limited batch flavors throughout the year. As Cannoli is phased out after its retirement in April, Pina Colada should start showing up in its place. The coconut ice cream with pineapple chunks is a play on the tropical cocktail and will be available during the summer months of May through August. After first hearing of Pina Colada’s imminent release when I was in Vermont this past April, I had originally been a bit disappointed with the lack of creativity contained in this one. Ben & Jerry’s has built their reputation on ridiculous ingredient combinations and Pina Colada just seemed like a cop out. Now though, with June just around the corner, coconut and pineapple sound like a nice way to ring in this recent string of warmer weather we've had here.
The 220 calories per serving isn’t quite as low as some of their frozen yogurt options, but should still keep you looking slim and trim for bathing suit season. After scooping some of the dense coconut ice cream out of the pint, the super premium consistency is immediately evident. Ben & Jerry’s coconut ice cream is much sweeter than others and closely resembles the coconut taste found in the actual adult beverage. This sugary base is just rich enough to keep your taste buds satisfied and the coconut pulp left behind at the finish of each bite provides enough texture to make up for the lack of any swirls. To play the part of the pineapple juice and garnish, they’ve tossed in pineapple chunks: the appropriate counterpart to the coconut ice cream.
The pineapple pieces aren’t big by any means, nor are they that frequent, but they still manage to add taste and texture to a flavor that would otherwise be lacking. They fail to freeze solid like some fruit mix-ins and release the taste of sweet pineapple juice as they break down inside the pulp-filled, coconut ice cream. The result is a near spot-on representation of a Pina Colada in ice cream; without the alcohol of course. Although this probably won’t be a repeat purchase for me, if you’re a fan of this particular beach beverage or just feel like ushering in summertime with ice cream, this might be worth trying.
Where I Found It: Super Wal-Mart
Grade: C
