As I write, there are two flavors of tea ice cream at Van Leeuwen that I love.
Van Leeuwen is an ice cream chain that started in New York City. Now, you can find scoop shops across a large swatch of the United States and in Korea. According to their website, in the U.S. their name is pronounced “Van (like the car) Lou (like the name) Inn (like the hotel).”
Earl Grey Tea Ice Cream
A delightful Earl Grey Tea ice cream (photo above, left) is on their regular menu. Earl Grey tea is traditionally made with a black tea flavored with the oil of a bergamot orange. Nowadays, however, you can find lots of variations and other ingredients added.
I’ve tried many Earl Grey ice creams from different brands and this is my favorite so far! This flavor of Van Leeuwen’s French-style ice cream boasts complex notes. A combination of citrus and floral flavors, along with the tea base, make their Earl Grey Tea ice cream particularly delicious.
Hojicha Spring Special
On their spring specials menu for the last few years, Van Leeuwen features a delicious Hojicha ice cream. (See the photo above, right). It contains: “[s]weet cream blended with Japanese roasted green tea.” The hojicha magic comes through beautifully in this tea ice cream. I agree completely with their description on their Instagram. They share: “It’s a little toasty, it’s a little nutty, it’s a little caramel-y.”
The biggest problem I have one I’m getting a scoop of tea ice cream at Van Leeuwen in spring or summer is which flavor to get! It’s my kind of problem.
If you’re a fan of these two teas, two of my recipes on the blog might interest you. You can check out my soft Earl Grey Shortbread recipe or the Hojicha Banana Smoothie recipe. I provide some variations in the cookie recipe–chocolate and/or orange peel can be added. The icy smoothie is a great antidote to the summer heat!
