With each new season comes the excitement of seeing which flavor pairings brands manage to conjure. And truthfully, after Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams delivered a notable summer showing a couple of weeks ago, I hadn’t anticipated another flavor rollout for several more weeks. Yet, true to Jeni’s tradition, they’re keeping us on our toes by introducing three fresh flavors now available in pints and at scoop shops nationwide.
Strawberry Pretzel Pie
The ice cream isn’t terrible, but it doesn’t jump out as a standout either. For the most part, it comes across as a sweet, creamy scoop with a subtle icy strawberry jam note. The jam’s texture feels a touch off, and there isn’t a generous portion of it. As for the pretzel element, it provides a salty pop, but the texture doesn’t quite thrill. It was enjoyable enough to finish the scoop, yet among the current lineup at Jeni’s, I’m unlikely to order this one again.
Campfire S’mores
I expected this flavor to be my favorite of the trio, since s’mores is my go-to summer treat (besides fruit). It was undeniably delicious. The balance was solid, it contained real graham cracker chunks, and there were ribbons of bittersweet fudge swirled through the toasted-sugar ice cream. The base itself was rich as well, delivering a deep flavor that goes beyond a plain vanilla base, as many s’mores ice creams do. I understand the idea behind a toasted sugar base to mimic the caramelized edges of a fire-roasted marshmallow, but it didn’t fully achieve the satisfying marshmallow punch for me. If there had been an extra ribbon of marshmallow creme—like Ben & Jerry’s S’mores flavor—to really drive home the marshmallow flavor, I think it could have become my new number-one. Here’s to next year!
Hibiscus Chili Punch
What can you say about an ice cream that seems to have everything? Some might call it a sorbet, yet it feels indulgent enough to rival a dairy-based option. And despite its sorbet designation, it retains the luscious creaminess you’d expect from a dairy-based scoop. Texture aside, this stands as the single best flavor at Jeni’s right now. You don’t need to be a spice aficionado to appreciate a flavor that’s simply outstanding. The hibiscus isn’t an overpowering floral note as I feared; it comes across more like a very light berry-forward profile. The color is a charming pink, the taste is fresh and balanced, and the texture is spot-on. It doesn’t get better than this, folks.
