As I've stated before, you can tell a lot about a company by tasting their version of vanilla ice cream. But since I've taken the backwards route and already sampled selections with their vanilla involved, I already know theirs is top-notch. Showcased in flavors like Hubig's Apple Pie, Peach Melba and Satsuma Dreamsicle, I'm looking forward to further appreciating Vanilla Bean all on it's lonesome.
Sometimes classics tend to get overlooked, but New Orleans Ice Cream Company ensured I wouldn't exclude their versatile base by including this in my last shipment. With such small room for error in the competitive vanilla category, utilizing the finest and freshest natural ingredients should help their cause. Although it claims to be simply delicious, it's still not something I would have normally purchased, but after taking off the top, I'm glad it's in my hands now.
In the world of ice cream there are few things better than removing the lid to ice cream cascading over the top of the carton. On the other hand, there's nothing worse than lifting off the cover and seeing empty space. Optimizing ice cream per square inch, this luscious first layer domes above the pint walls. The perfect shade of white is only interrupted by sizable flecks of black vanilla bean.
Balance is an underrated trait in an ice cream. The right ratios of flavors and ingredients can make or break an ice cream and New Orleans Ice Cream Company gets every detail right with their Vanilla Bean. Combining the perfect amount of sweet and subtle, the ideal blend of vanilla bean to cream and the model amount of vanilla extract creates one of the most complex vanillas available. Not only did they hit their target with taste, but they've also found the optimal balance in consistency.
They've found the fine line of equilibrium between fluffy and dense. Vanilla Bean feels light on the tongue, but hangs around like a super-premium ice cream, despite only being 200 calories per serving. This is the supreme canvas for showcasing some of New Orleans Ice Cream Company's mix-ins, but it's so good that in some cases, like Peach Melba, the fruit is less valuable than the Vanilla Bean ice cream it replaced.
Where I Found It: Ice Cream Source
Grade: B
