People these days are getting creative with ice cream flavors, using unexpected ingredients like olive oil and even vinegar. This new trend of umami ice cream is exciting and shows how willing people are to try unique desserts.
What is umami ice cream exactly?
Umami is one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, and is best described as a deep, rich savoriness that lingers on your palate. Umami ice cream takes savory flavors and combines them with a creamy base, adding just the right amount of sweetness to balance the saltiness.
Why this trend is taking off right now
Umami adds depth to food and has been recognized by chefs and food experts for decades, if not centuries.
As excitement for umami grew online, a variety of flavorful ingredients that bring this taste quickly followed. Experts predict that the popularity of umami flavors will rise by 28% by 2029, indicating this trend is here to stay.
One reason umami is being added to sweet dishes is that younger generations are growing bored of simple flavors. They’re looking for food that surprises them and offers a mix of tastes in each bite.
Savory-sweet combinations, like thyme or balsamic vinegar in ice cream, provide the kind of eating experience that intrigues people.
Umami ice cream flavors worth trying
Here are some of the best umami ice cream flavors you should check out for that nice kick of savory-sweet:
Olive oil ice cream
Have you ever thought about putting olive oil on your vanilla ice cream? This unexpected combination is becoming a favorite for many people. Once you try it, you might not want to eat your ice cream any other way! The olive oil adds a delicious, fruity flavor with a hint of spice, pairing beautifully with the creamy ice cream. Also, sprinkling a little sea salt on top takes the taste to a whole new level.
Salted butter-dipped soft serve
Dominique Ansel, a well-known pastry chef, opened a shop called Papa D’Amour in New York in 2025. His Hokkaido milk soft serve, dipped in warm French salted butter, quickly gained fame on social media. The warm butter creates a thin shell around the ice cream and hides a fun mochi surprise at the bottom of the cone. It’s indulgent and definitely a treat you have to see, and taste, to believe!
Balsamic vinegar on ice cream
You might not have seen someone pouring balsamic vinegar over their ice cream before. But it’s trending all over the internet right now. Believe it or not, it’s a delicious combination. The rich, sweet flavor of good balsamic vinegar adds a fruity, slightly tangy note that enhances vanilla’s flavor. Give it a try, you might be surprised by how good it is.
Goat cheese and thyme ice cream
Lick Honest Ice Creams, a popular Austin ice cream shop, offers a special flavor people can’t stop talking about: goat cheese, thyme, and honey. The tang of the cheese balances the honey’s sweetness, and the thyme adds a unique herbal note that makes the whole scoop taste sweet and savory all at once.
Spiced ice cream
Frankie and Jo’s is famous for their delicious plant-based ice creams, which offer some of the most unique flavors in Seattle. One of their best ones is chaat masala ice cream, inspired by Indian spices. Other popular choices include salty caramel ash and tom kha, a coconut ice cream infused with lime leaf, lemongrass, and a hint of Thai chili. If you’re looking to try something different and adventurous, this is the place to go!
Why this matters
For a long time, ice cream and desserts were mostly sweet and simple. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for unique flavors, including savory ones like umami. This trend started on social media but is quickly spreading to ice cream shops, grocery stores, and popular restaurants across the United States.
So, the next time you pass by an ice cream shop, consider trying something out of the ordinary.
Leave a Reply