Ice Cream From Around the World

1. Mochi- Japan

(Image/ Source: cnn.com)Mochi is having a mainstream moment right now, but it wasn’t always this way. These little ice cream balls have mainly been popular in Japan, and consist of Mochi (a chewy, sticky rice-based cake) that is wrapped around ice cream. While more popular flavors like mango and raspberry are currently doing the rounds, traditional Japanese tastes like red bean and matcha haven’t won many fans so far...

2. Spaghettieis- Germany

(Image/ Source: tastemade.co.uk)Before you ask- no, it’s not a pasta dish! This sneaky dessert may play tricks on your eyes, but it tastes really good. By pressing vanilla ice cream through a spaetzle press, long, spaghetti-like noodles are created. The ice cream is then topped with a sticky strawberry sauce and shaved white chocolate.

3. I Tim Pad- Thailand

(Image/ Source: local-insider.com)Have you ever tried I Tim Pad before? Also known as stir-fried or rolled ice cream, this dessert is made by mixing milk, cream, sugar and other flavoring ingredients together, which are then poured into a shallow pool onto a super chilled ice pan. The mixture then freezes, and is scrapped and rolled into spirals.

4. Dondurma- Turkey

(Image/ Source: youtube.com)As ice creams go, dondurma is pretty wild. It’s made with goat’s milk, which is responsible for its (very) distinct flavor, but it’s more famous for its elastic-like form. It can be stretched and squeezed like dough, and is resistant to melting thanks to its thickening agents. Dondurma is often wrapped around a spit like doner kebab meat, and is generally sliced with a knife rather than scooped!

5. Kulfi- India

(Image/ Source: recipes.timesofindia.com)If you’re a fan of super creamy ice cream, you’re going to love a kulfi! Popular in Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well as India, this dessert is made by cooking sweet condensed milk with nuts and spices. The mixture thickens and caramelizes, and it’s then frozen onto sticks. Popular flavors include rose, pistachio and saffron.

6. Fried ice cream- Mexico, Japan and China

(Image/ Source: taste.com.au)There’s a LOT of debate about where fried ice cream originated from, but it’s now enjoyed across the world- including the USA. A scoop of ice cream is dipped into a generous helping of batter and fried until it’s golden and crispy. The ice cream should still be frozen inside. You can then top your ice cream with whatever you want, but we’d recommend chocolate sauce and sprinkles!

7. Es doger- Indonesia

(Image/ Source: freepik.com)Es doger is much less fattening than most ice creams. This is because it’s made with a coconut milk base instead of cream. However, this also makes it a lot icier! Found all over Indonesia, es dogers come in a huge variety of fruit flavors like durian and mango, and are usually topped with fruit and honey.

8. Halva- Israel

(Image/ Source: myjewishlearning.com)If you haven’t tried halva before, make sure you add it to your list. This sweet, comforting ice cream is made with honey, tahini and nuts, and dates as far back as the 13^th century! Halva is now eaten right across the Middle East, as well as parts of Europe, and is typically enjoyed with lashings of pistachios.

9. Kakigori- Japan

(Image/ Source: japanesecooking101.com)Kakigori is a type of Japanese shaved ice that’s traditionally flavored with syrups, and often topped with sweetened condensed milk. That being said, it’s sometimes topped with mochi too! While it’s not as popular as it used to be, it’s a light, super refreshing dessert that’s perfect after a big meal.

10. Paletas- Mexico

(Image/ Source: thepioneerwoman.com)We might know them better as ice pops, but paletas take the flavors up to a whole new level. They generally come in two styles; fruity and juicy, or creamy and milk-based. Coconut, chocolate and coffee tend to be the most popular choices, as well as flavors like chongos zamoranos, which is a Mexican dessert made with cinnamon, curdled milk and sugar.

11. J-cone- South Korea

(Image/ Source: laweekly.com)Say hello to the J-cone! These eye-catching ice creams are usually shaped like candy canes, with puffed corn shells. The shells are then filled with delicious ice cream. Since they’ve become so popular in South Korea,  these distinctive desserts are starting to get VERY Instagram famous these days- and we can see why!

12. Sorbetes- The Philippines

(Image/ Source: rappler.com)You’d be forgiven for thinking this these are regular sorbets, but they’re actually completely different. Sorbetes are generally made with water buffalo milk, ice, eggs, and flavors that can be anything from ube to cheddar cheese. They’re either served on a cone or sandwiched between two pieces of bread.

13. Hokey pokey- New Zealand

(Image/ Source: icecreamdaily.net)Before you ask- no, it’s nothing to do with the famous dance! Hokey pokey is the Kiwi term for honeycomb toffee, and it’s usually combined with vanilla ice cream to create- you’ve guessed it- hokey pokey ice cream. It’s rich, indulgent, and super popular across the country. And we can definitely see why!

14. Ais kacang- Malaysia

(Image/ Source: enterarena.blogspot.com)Similar to kakigori, ais kacang is a combination of ice and condensed milk. But it differs from its Japanese cousin thanks to its use of red beans, jelly and syrup. In fact, the name actually loosely translates to “red bean” in Malaysian! This dessert is usually topped with treats like nuts or fruits like mango and durian.

15. Plombir- Russia

(Image/ Source: wikihow.life)Russian might be cold for most of the year, but it doesn’t mean ice cream isn’t popular! Plombir is actually from France, but the dessert became a hit with the USSR back in the day. It’s been a staple in the country ever since, and is made with condensed milk and tons of sugar. Safe to say it’s super sweet and thick.

16. Frozen custard- US

(Image/ Source: matadornetwork.com)We’re pretty overwhelmed with ice cream choices in America, but this is one of the stone-cold classics. Frozen custard is super popular on the boardwalks of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and is made with a milk and egg yolk base, and then frozen. The eggs make it much denser than regular ice cream.

17. Gelato- Italy

(Image/ Source: timeout.com)This Italian classic is probably the king of ice cream across the world. It’s much smoother and softer than regular ice cream- mainly because it has less air and ice crystals. The gelato mixture is turned slowly so it’s soft and rich, but actually contains a lot less fat than normal ice cream. It’s a win-win!

18. Helado de Paila – Ecuador

(Image/ Source: destinosenecuador.com)Found across northern Ecuador, this frozen dessert is made from fresh fruit, sugar, and water (or cream) and mixed together in a shallow pan. It’s then placed in a tub of crushed ice and salt and stirred until it thickens. Popular flavors include orange and soursop, which tastes a bit like fruit salad.

19. Akutaq- Alaska, US

(Image/ Source: tasteatlas.com)If you’ve already heard of akutaq, you’ll understand why it’s not the most popular ice cream in the world… Natives usually make it with lashings of animal fat- usually moose or caribou. However, it’s sometimes made with meat too. The fat or meat is whipped with local berries and sweeteners like root of Indian potato or wild carrot.

20. Sorbet- Italy and the Middle East

(Image/ Source: bbc.co.uk)Who doesn’t love a sorbet? This icy delight has been eaten in Italy and the Middle East for centuries, and has steadily become more popular across the world. Less fattening than gelato, this frozen dessert is made from sugar-sweetened water with added flavoring. These flavorings typically consist of fruit juice, fruit purée, liqueur or honey.

21. American ice cream- US

(Image/ Source: eater.com)Sometimes known as New York or Philadelphia ice cream, this super smooth dessert is probably one of the most popular (and indulgent) ice creams around. It’s made with milk cream and sugar, but no eggs, so it’s thick but easy to shape. A cone, raspberry sauce and sprinkles are highly recommended accompaniments.

22. Faloodeh- Iran

(Image/ Source: recipesherin.com)Iran has a unique take on the humble sorbet- and it’s pretty impressive, to say the least. This traditional dish generally consists of thin noodles made from starch in a half-frozen syrup containing sugar and rose water. It’s then garnished with slices of lime and crushed pistachios to make a true showstopper of a dessert.

23. Semifreddo- Italy

(Image/ Source: food52.com)Another Italian classic. This delicious frozen custard can be found all over Italy, and dates back to the 19^th century. Meaning “half frozen”, this ice cream and gelato combo has a light, mousse-like consistency, which has much more air in than standard ice cream. It’s usually served in slices like a cake.

24. Snow cream- Taiwan

(Image/ Source: southernliving.com)This East Asian dessert is popular across multiple countries, but Taiwan is it’s home. Another shaved ice and condensed milk combo, snow cream is usually served with a variety of fruit like mango, and topped with tasty treats like chocolate. You can even pop some cream and sprinkles on top if you fancy it.

25. Granita- Italy

(Image/ Source: goodfoodstories.com)Who doesn’t love a cool, refreshing granita? While they’re pretty similar to sorbets in terms of ingredients, the textures are poles apart. Sorbets are always smooth churned, while granita purees are scraped repeatedly during the freezing process, which loosens their structure until they form stiffy icy flakes.

26. Ice cream mooncake- China

(Image/ Source: pinterest.com)Mooncakes are a firm favorite in China. So much so, they’re now starting to be made with ice cream fillings too! The crusts are usually made from chocolate, with a tasty ice cream filling. But there’s an added twist- when you bite into an ice cream mooncake, you’ll find an “egg yolk” center- another ice cream that’s colored with syrup.

27. FanIce- Ghana

(Image/ Source: youtube.com)This ice cream is styled like frozen yogurt, so it’s a fair bit lighter than your average ice cream. It’s typically sold by street vendors, as well as a few men on bikes along the highway! It can also be bought in huge tubs in the supermarket. Oh, and it happens to be one of the best ice creams in the world too.

28. Booza- Syria

(Image/ Source: fortune.com)Similar to a Turkish dondurma, this popular Syrian dessert is also made with lashings of salep, which means it’s resistant to melting. However, this ice cream differs from the dondurma as it’s also made with mastic, which is also known as orchid flour. This gives the ice cream a distinctive chewy texture.

29. Lao derm- Laos

(Image/ Source: zap.la)This ice cream is a real combination of textures. Found in diners and restaurants across the country, Lao derm is made from coconut milk and sticky rice, and served with a HUGE variety of topics. Think mango, caramel, toffee, nuts, kiwi- whatever takes your fancy. Oh, and they throw in a few ice cubes to keep the ice cream cooler for longer.

30. Kaimaki- Greece

(Image/ Source: keeptalkinggreece.com)Kaimaki is a unique combo of sheep's milk ice cream and resin of the mastic tree (mastiha), which gives it a slightly bitter flavor. Its texture is similar to dondurma in some respects, as the orchid-root powder salepi gives it a LOT of elasticity. We recommend enjoying this ice cream on a beautiful Greek island if at all possible!