6 Stories That Will Make You Scream—For Ice Cream

In the heat of summer there’s nothing sweeter than a frozen treat. Communities all over the world seem to have their own specialties, from the mysterious Blue Moon of the American Midwest to the elaborate ice cream replicas of art and architecture that have become common at China’s top tourist attractions. For National Ice Cream Month, Gastro Obscura takes a deep dive into the delicious stories behind each scoop.

The Enduring Midwestern Mystery of Blue Moon Ice Cream

by Luke Fater

Blue Moon ice cream is a must-have at any scoop shop in parts of the Midwest United States. Its otherworldly blue hue is unmistakable—and its flavor is indescribable. Is it almond? Raspberry? Lemon? Froot Loops? Beaver musk additive? Join writer Luke Fater in his quest to discover the truth behind the beloved dessert.

Every Landmark in China Now Makes Gorgeous Themed Ice Cream

by Anne Ewbank, Senior Associate Editor, Gastro Obscura

In China, most cultural sites now offer sweet, if short-lived souvenirs: customized frozen treats. Everything from the Yellow Crane Tower of Wuhan to the delicate, once-a-year flowers of Kunming’s famous jacaranda trees has a corresponding ice-cream bar in flavors ranging from strawberry to chocolate, and tiramisu to peony. Tourists eagerly snap up the bars from gift-shop freezer cases to show off on social media, often with the actual historic site in the background.

To Defy the United States, Fidel Castro Built the World’s Greatest Ice Cream Parlor

by Alex Mayyasi

Fidel Castro was obsessed with ice cream. So, in 1962, when the United States cut Cuba off from the American dairy market (along with every other U.S. export), Castro found himself the leader of a milk-free island that was too warm for dairy cows. Undaunted, he demanded the construction of the greatest ice cream parlor the world had ever seen. Visitors to Havana can still eat there today.

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream Is a Sweet Education on African Liberation

by Mary Fawzy

At Tapi Tapi, his shop in Cape Town, Tapiwa Guzha is creating novel ice cream flavors that celebrate classic African foods: desserts crafted from Mazoe Orange, a local and beloved fruit juice concentrate; Maputi, a popular snack of popped maize kernels; and masawu, a local fruit also known as jujube dates.

Japan Is Combating Rural Decline With a National Network of Ice Cream

by Michael Colbert

“Soft cream” is the Japanese answer to soft serve. Creamier and thicker than its American counterpart, it is popular throughout the country, and many towns showcase local identity through unique flavors. A roadtripper can discover blue honeysuckle soft cream in Sarufutsu, lavender and rose in Furano and Biei, and melon in Yubari, home to the country’s famous crown melons.

Eat Like an Apollo 11 Astronaut With This Celestial Dessert

by Anne Ewbank, Senior Associate Editor, Gastro Obscura

In August 1969, Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles played host to a star-studded White House state dinner honoring the United States’ “Moonmen”—astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin Jr., and Michael Collins. To celebrate the nation’s achievement, President Richard Nixon requested an ice cream dessert “no one had ever seen,” so pastry chef Ernest Mueller created the elaborate Clair de Lune.

Plus:

Around the World in 14 Unique and Historic Ice-Cream Shops

by Sam O’Brien, Senior Editor, Gastro Obscura

Beyond their delicious offerings, ice cream parlors, soda fountains, and street carts often provide a window into local history and culture. Here are 14 shops and street stalls where the stories and the flavors are anything but vanilla. (Though there’s vanilla in there, too, if you’re a fan.)

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