Peppermint ice cream seems to be a reoccurring theme on this blog as of late. The holiday season has introduced numerous nominees for review, but considering Graeter's impressive pedigree, I always expect a little more from their French pot process. While I've interrogated an extensive lineup of mint-infused flavors like Edy's Peppermint, as well as fudge-infused gelato like Peppermint Bark from Talenti, none of my prior experiences have come from a super-premium pint like the one above. Sporting a bright red lid and lightly shaded snowflakes, Peppermint Stick joins their Pumpkin and Cinnamon seasonals to round out their limited-edition lineup for 2012.
At 290 calories per serving, this is considerably more dense than any of the other peppermint options I've had, but doesn't stray too far from the nutrition facts of other Graeter's flavors. The lightly colored ice cream is only broken up by the seemingly-melted pieces of peppermint candy that push through the top layer. Considering this is much thicker than the other limited-edition flavors I've had, gathering the pale pink ice cream is nearly impossible until allowed to thaw out for a while. After eventually gathering some of the base and taking my first bite, the consistency is something that just can't be comprehended until you actually try some for yourself. The thick, slow-melting mixture of natural peppermint oil and French pot ice cream has the same cooling sensation of others, but lingers around for much longer. Graeter's manages to balance the sweetness and unique taste and tendencies of mint in a near-perfect fashion.
The area surrounding the peppermint pieces, much like I found in Front Porch's Dandy Peppermint Candy, contains a liquid-like sauce of intense peppermint flavoring that plays perfectly alongside the peppermint ice cream. And because there are so many slivers of peppermint stick, that translates into an ample amount of this neon pink swirl. Once the ice cream and peppermint liquid melt away, they leave behind the last remnants of what used to be an entire peppermint stick. These small slices, which add a slight crunchy texture, effectively rounds out Graeter's rendition of peppermint ice cream. Having tried a handful of ice creams based around the striped candy, it'd be nearly impossible to top Peppermint Stick.
Where I Found It: The Fresh Market
Grade: B
