Sweet Science - Olive Oil

Olive Oil - Olive Oil Ice Cream

 

For today's review, I am returning to the Twin-Cities-based Sweet Science Ice Cream for a review of their Olive Oil flavor (instagram link here).  I bought it at the Golden Fig on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul.  This is a limited release of an old flavor.  Way back when I first started trying Sweet Science, they would often put a graphic of a "periodic table" which included all of the "chemical symbols" of their flavors.  They have since updated this table, but back then I remember the "OO" symbol stood out and being intrigued as to what Olive Oil ice cream might taste like.  Well, I finally get to try this flavor.  Checking my archives, I have since had olive-oil flavors from McConnell's (with almonds) and two flavored olive oil flavors from Pumphouse (here and here).  This is just olive oil.  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, the ice cream has an off-white color with a greenish yellow tinge.  This is consistent with olive oil.  Digging in, the ice cream is very dense (not a lot of air).  As I eat the spoonful, it still has a creamy texture to it.  I taste notes of olive oil flavor but it is not too strong.  The main flavors are milk and cream.  This is pretty good.  I am wondering if the olive oil is changing the texture in a way similar to how butter can?  Maybe, but I could be trying too hard to make the connection.  This is a homogeneous flavor with no mix-ins.

This is a solid implementation of a simple olive oil flavor from Sweet Science.  It is mostly a plain ice cream but there is just enough olive oil flavor in there so that you can tell it is there.  I can see why other brands add other flavors into the mix (a twist of citrus or perhaps almonds).  But, if you are curious and this flavor is available, certainly give it a try.

Sweet Science - Vegan Banana Fudge Peanut

Vegan Banana Fudge Peanut - Vegan Banana-Cashew Ice Cream with Vegan Fudge Swirl and Crunchy Peanuts

The Twin Cities-based Sweet Science Ice Cream has a new vegan flavor for the spring called Vegan Banana Fudge Peanut.  Here, Sweet Science's cashew-based non-dairy base is flavored with banana and a fudge swirl and crunchy peanuts are added as mix-ins.  Looks good.  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, I see all of the ingredients right off the bat.  The banana base has the same color as banana bread, there are some peanuts visible right away and I see some generous dollops of the fudge swirl on top as well.  Digging in, the banana base has a dense texture.  I can tell that it is not as 'creamy' as a dairy base, but it still has a good texture and is not at all icy.  The flavor is an earthy banana-bread type of banana flavor as opposed to the sweeter banana-pudding type of flavor.  Then the fudge swirls are thick and very chocolatey -- quite delicious.  Also, it is always fun to have large peanut pieces (mostly halves) as an ice cream mix-in.  Very crunchy.

This is a very well done non-dairy banana fudge flavor from Sweet Science.  The generous fudge swirls are the star of the show here.  I think I still prefer a dairy banana, but this is still quite good.  Check it out if you are at Sweet Science and interested in a non-dairy option.

Sweet Science - Stout Chocolate Cookie

Stout Chocolate Cookie - Stout Milk Chocolate Ice Cream with Crunchy Chocolate Cookies

Today's flavor from the Twin Cities-based Sweet Science Ice Cream is called Stout Chocolate Cookie.  Since their scoop shop moved to the other end of town (Edina), I now pick up my pints at the Golden Fig market on Grand in Saint Paul.  Other grocery stores stock Sweet Science, but I think the Golden Fig as been designated as the store which will always stock the most recent limited-batch flavors on the Saint Paul-side of the metro.  Stout Chocolate cookie uses a stout-and-chocolate base with chocolate cookie pieces as the mix-ins.  Stout blends surprisingly well with chocolate and I have seen it several times before including once from Sweet Science with different mix-ins, but also from Ample Hills and Häagen-Dazs.  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, I see the expected brown color of the stout chocolate base as well as many small pieces of chocolate cookies.  The chocolate cookie pieces are almost "chip-sized".  Digging in, the stout chocolate base is delicious!  It's just as I remember in their previous pint.  I never would have guessed that stout beer would go well with chocolate, but it absolutely does.  If you are not a fan of beer (or even stout) it is still worth sampling this flavor.  The flavor is mostly chocolate but how the stout accents is quite interesting and delicious.  The small chocolate cookie pieces add some crunchiness (and extra chocolate) into the mix.

This is a very good stout chocolate flavor from Sweet Science.  Those who have loved their previous stout chocolate flavors will surely love this one, too.  The chocolate cookie mix-ins are small and crunchy.  Texturally this pint is about halfway between a "stout chocolate chocolate chip" and a "stout cookies and cream".  Enjoy.

Sweet Science - Milk and Cookies

Milk and Cookies - Vanilla Ice Cream with Soft-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies and Dough

The local Sweet Science brand recently snuck a new flavor on to its menu in November called Milk and Cookies.  The Golden Fig on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul stocks the collection of flavors near me and when I went down there to pick up the November flavors, I saw this flavor that I did not recognize and I scooped it up.  When I got home, I saw this instagram post explaining it's addition.  It says it will be around for a few months.  It has a light vanilla base with chocolate chip cookie and chocolate chip cookie dough mix-ins.  I like these types of ice cream.  Cookie mix-ins often imply Oreo (or Oreo-like) cookies and it's fun when chocolate chip cookies are used instead.  Then some cookie dough is used as well.  Looks interesting!

Removing the lid, the vanilla base has the expected off-white color and several of the mix-ins are visible right away.  The vanilla base is quite tasty and soon I encounter the cookie mix-ins.  These are chunks are about the size of sugar cubes.  Each chunk delivers quite a bit of chocolate chip cookie flavor.  It was not always obvious as I ate the ice cream which chunks were cookies and which were cookie dough.  I like my cookies a little dough-y, so this is not a complaint.  It's all quite good, but there is a lot of plain vanilla in between the mix-ins.  I was not always able to get mix-ins into each spoonful.

This is a good implementation of a vanilla & chocolate chip cookie flavor from Sweet Science.  Checking my archives, the gold standard for this type of flavor is still McConnell's but I also like Ben & Jerry's.  Milkjam also had a non-dairy version of this flavor during the state fair.  If I had a quibble with the Sweet Science flavor, it was the large sections of vanilla in my pint.  I did like the large chunks, though.  Perhaps if they crushed a small fraction of the chunks into smaller pieces so that every spoonful would at least have some cookies in it.  This is a rare complaint from me for Sweet Science as I usually find their flavors amazing.  Maybe I got an odd batch.  It's still good, though.  If you are at their scoop shop and in the mood for cookies, then check it out.

Sweet Science - Toasted White Chocolate Almond

Toasted White Chocolate Almond - Caramelized White Chocolate flecked throughout a gentle Almond-Vanilla Ice Cream

 

The local Sweet Science brand has one November flavor which I have not tried yet.  That new flavor is called Toasted White Chocolate Almond.  Their email-list says that it is actually an older flavor which they had available at the tastings they used to do before they had any scoop shops, but I haven't had it yet.  The base ice cream is an almond-vanilla and the mix-ins are caramelized white chocolate.  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, the almond vanilla base is very light in color with lots of light brown strips of caramelized white chocolate visible.  Visually, it almost looks like strips of toasted coconut, but of course that is not what it is.  Digging in, the almond flavor in the base is fairly subtle.  I notice it, but it is not overpowering.  The goal of the base here is to serve as a vehicle for the mix-ins.  The 'strips' of caramelized white chocolate are quite interesting.  White chocolate is mainly cocoa butter and sugar so it makes sense that you could caramelize it.  It has a bit of a caramel-like flavor.  It's pretty good.

This is an interesting and well-done ice cream.  Caramelizing white chocolate is a good idea.  I don't know if I like it as much as regular caramel (caramelized sugar) or dulce de leche (caramelized milk) but it has a very similar caramel-like flavor.  The almond-vanilla base is quite good and helps bring the pint all together.  Try this out if you like caramelized thing and are curious.

Sweet Science - Cherry Sorbet

Cherry Sorbet - Morello Cherry Sorbet

 

Twin Cities-based Sweet Science has a new fruit sorbet for the fall called Cherry Sorbet.  Their scoop shop is now in Edina, but I picked up this flavor at the Golden Fig on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul.  Other places such as Whole Foods, Kowalski's and several co-ops also stock Sweet Science, but the Golden Fig does well to keep up with the latest seasonal flavors (which is usually what I am looking for).  Checking the ingredient list, today's sorbet uses Morello cherries which is the darker variety of a sour cherry -- which I recall from a previous review is not all that "sour" in absolute terms (in fact that flavor was quite delicious).  I have had many cherry flavors before (see flavor tag here), but I think this is my first simple cherry sorbet.  The closest I have come is the old Izzy's flavor Pomegranate Pizzazz! which was a cherry-pomegranate sorbet.  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, the sorbet has a beautiful bright red color.  Digging in, the cherry flavor is quite delicious.  The flavor of the Morello cherry is not as dark as a dark cherry but not as bright as a Bing cherry.  A melted version of this would make for a delicious juice.  The texture of the sorbet is quite good.  It is a sorbet, which means there is no dairy or even non-dairy or imitation 'creams' -- it is just fruit juice and ice. Sweet Science does a very good job of churning their sorbets so that they are still easy to scoop and don't get hard or slushy.  The flavor is good, but not overwhelming and I am easily able to eat the entire pint in one sitting.

This is a very delicious cherry sorbet from Sweet Science.  It makes me think that there should be more cherry sorbets.  It's worth checking out if you're in the mood for a fruit sorbet this fall.

 

Sweet Science - Chai Tea

Chai Tea - Masala Chai Tea Ice Cream

 

Sweet Science has new flavors for September and fall (instagram link here).  Half of them I have reviewed in previous years:  Caramel Apple Cider Crisp, S'mores, and Oatmeal Cookie.  Today's flavor is a chai tea flavored with lots of spices (the ingredients list ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg and cloves).  I have had spiced tea ice creams a few times.  Looking in my archives, it looks like the closest flavor to this would probably be Blue Mountain Spice from Izzy's (although I preferred their Norwegian Chai flavor which is similar).  McConnell's also had a limited batch flavor with a similar base called Masala Chai, Dates & Walnuts but it had crunchy mix-ins.  So, it has been a while since I've had a spicy tea flavor and I am looking forward to it.

Removing the like the tea ice cream has the expected tan/beige color.  Digging in, I taste the spices right away.  It's quite delicious!  The tea flavor is quite good and I can tell that there is cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom in the mix, but I don't taste too much of one particular spice.  This is very well blended. The other flavors above are probably in there as well, but they play a more subtle part in the mix.  The texture is quite good.  This is a light and creamy base and very easy to scoop.  This flavor also smells very nice.  It is a homogeneous flavor with no mix-ins.  This is good stuff.

This is an excellent spicy tea implementation from Sweet Science.  You can tell a lot of thought was put into creating an appealing spice blend which accents the tea quite well without being overpowering.  It's a fun pint to smell as well.  Even though this is not a pint which is overloaded with mix-ins the flavor is so well done, I feel like I am getting my money's worth with this one.  Enjoy.

 

 

Sweet Science - Watermelon Lime Sorbet

Watermelon Lime Sorbet - Watermelon Lime Sorbet

 

It has been a while since I have reviewed a pint from Sweet Science, so I was happy to see a new flavor from them which I have not yet tried.  Today's flavor is a Watermelon Lime Sorbet.  A lot has happened since I last reviewed this brand.  First, they no longer have a scoop shop in the Keg & Case Market in Saint Paul.  They have since re-opened in Edina inside the Nolan Mains project near 50th and France.  As a Saint Paul resident, I am a bit bummed because Keg & Case was so convenient, but they are still stocked at places like Kowalski's, Whole Foods and many local co-ops.  Plus, I have have been told that the Golden Fig market on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul (near Avon) has a very good selection that includes the monthly specials.  I bought this pint at Golden Fig.  I have had watermelon sorbet once before from Graeter's (there blended with lemon instead of lime).  It'll be fun to see how this compares.

Removing the lid, the watermelon base has a light pink color -- a bit lighter in color than I expected.  Digging in, the watermelon flavor is very refreshing and delicious.  The flavor is a bit on the mild side, but so is the flavor of a slice of watermelon.  I do notice the lime a bit, but only a twist of it.

This is a very refreshing and delicious watermelon sorbet from Sweet Science.  It is not as strong as that of the Graeter's pint I had a couple of summers ago, but I like the flavor here a bit better.  Watermelon fans and fruit sorbet fans will love having this on a hot summer day.

 

 

Sweet Science - Hazelnut Brownie

Hazelnut Brownie - Hazelnut Cocoa Ice Cream with Chocolate Brownies

 

The third March flavor from Sweet Science Ice Cream of Saint Paul is called Hazelnut Brownie.  The other two flavors I reviewed last week (Black Sesame) and a few years ago (Earl Grey with White Chocolate).  The instagram link for these March flavors is here.  Today's flavor features a hazelnut cocoa base with chocolate brownie mix-ins.  Looks promising.  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, the hazelnut cocoa base has a light brown color and I can see a couple of the brownie mix-ins right away on top.  Digging in, the hazelnut cocoa base is thick, creamy and delicious.  You can taste the hazelnut in the mix which I like.  Some 'hazelnut chocolate' goes heavy on the chocolate so as to simulate the flavor of nutella.  This does not do that.  The brownie mix-ins are excellent.  They are soft, chewy and quite chocolatey.  I have seen Sweet Science do brownies a few times before (here, here and here) and they are always quite good.  I think the brownies stand out a little more in this pint because of the lighter flavor of the base.

This is another excellent brownie-based flavor from Sweet Science.  As noted by my links in the previous paragraph, they have done several brownie-based flavors and all of them are quite good.  What I like about this one is the hazelnut-heavy hazelnut cocoa base which is quite good by itself and provides greater contrast with the delicious brownies.  If brownies are your thing, then check this flavor out.

 

 

Sweet Science - Black Sesame

Black Sesame - Black Sesame Ice Cream

 

Sweet Science of Saint Paul has a couple of three seasonal flavors for March:  Black Sesame and Hazelnut Brownie and Earl Grey with White Chocolate (instagram link here).  I reviewed the Earl Grey flavor back in 2018 but I have not tried the other two yet.  So I picked them up curbside at their Keg & Case Scoop Shop.  Today's flavor is Black Sesame.  They say this is one of their older flavors their last release of it must have been before my time.  I am thrilled to try this flavor though.  Black Sesame has long been one of my 'missing flavors'.  I have seen it available in some scoop shops and from some online brands but somehow I have not reviewed a pint of it yet.  So I am looking forward to this.  

 

Black sesame is one of the varieties of sesame.  The blacker seeds are more commonly grown and used in China and Southeast Asia while the lighter colored seeds are used in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and India.  I found an interesting article contrasting the two sesames here.  Sweet Science mentions on the side of the carton and on the instagram link above that the flavor is like a cross between peanut butter and tahini (ground white sesame).  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, the ice cream has a grey, almost purplish grey color.  Interesting!  Digging in, the flavor is quite nutty.  It's not unlike peanut butter, but it is not as heavy and perhaps a smidge sweeter.  A cross between peanut butter and tahini is not a bad description actually.  It is quite delicious.  It is a homogenous ice cream with no mix-ins.  Like almost all Sweet Science bases, this is smooth, thick and creamy.  It is quite delicious.

This is an excellent implementation of a black sesame flavor from Sweet Science.  If you already like black sesame ice cream, then you'll be glad that you can now get it locally.  If you have not tried it before, then don't fear.  Despite it's unusual color, it is not really that exotic of a flavor.  It is not savory like my recent Everything Bagel pint.  It's just a simple nutty flavor with a slightly different flavor than other nuts.  Check it out.

 

 

 

Sweet Science - Dragon Fruit Lemonade Sorbet

 

The third and final Valentine's Day flavor from the Saint Paul-based Sweet Science Ice Cream is a sorbet.  This is called Dragon Fruit Lemonade Sorbet (instagram link here).  I have not had a dragon fruit flavored pint before.  This should be interesting.  It is always fun to add a new label to the blog sidebar on the right.

Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is the fruit of a cactus which is indigenous to tropical areas of the Americas, but it is now cultivated around the world.  It has been called 'dragon fruit' since at least the 1960s because of it's bright red leathery skin which has scales.  The fruit has a bright reddish purple color with crunchy black seeds.  It was not a common fruit growing up in Minnesota (it is still not common among people I know here) but I found quite a few recipes online which include dragon fruit.  Some examples of those are here and here.

OK, on to the sorbet!  Removing the lid, the color is extremely striking.  On their instagram page (link above), Sweet Science says this might be the most visually arresting flavor they've ever created.  It might be the brightest color I have seen in an ice cream as well.  It looks like the color of a pink highlighter.  Embedded within the sorbet are the seeds.  These are black in color and look like the same shape as sesame seeds but they are much smaller.  They are a bit like kiwifruit seeds.  Digging in, it has a refreshing sweet tropical flavor.  It is delicious!  It is hard to describe the flavor specifically because this is a new fruit from me.  I guess I would say that it not as strong of a flavor as a berry but stronger than a melon.  Kiwifruit is another decent comparison I guess, but this flavor is stronger than kiwifruit.  The lemonade I notice just a bit on the finish.  I think it is there to balance the flavor a bit.  It is a good blend.  This flavor is a sorbet so it has a churned-ice texture by design.  That said, the churning is very well done and it is very easy to scoop.  I do notice the seeds when I am eating.  They provide a little bit of small crunchiness, but I do not notice that the seeds have any flavor by themselves.

This is a very fun new tropical fruit sorbet from Sweet Science.  I do not know when dragon fruit are in season, but this feels like a summery flavor.  It's only March though, but we Minnesotans often like to pretend that it is warmer outside than it really is.  Check it out.

 

Sweet Science - Burnt Honey

Burnt Honey - Burnt Honey Ice Cream

 

Today I return to the Saint Paul-based Sweet Science Ice Cream for the next of their Valentine's Day flavors (instagram link here).  The first flavor I reviewed last week and is called Raspberry Fudge Swirl.  Today's flavor is called Burnt Honey.  This is a new flavor for me.  I have had honey flavors before (although rarely by itself) and I have had a couple of burnt sugar flavors, but not burnt honey.  The burnt sugar analogy is interesting because burnt sugar is one of the [candy stages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_making#Sugar_stages) (along with caramel, taffy, toffee, nougat, fudge).  I wonder if burnt honey is made the same as burnt sugar but starting with honey?  I did find an interesting article on burnt honey.  The flavor can actually be quite bitter!  Caramelizing creates very complex flavors.  Let's see how this tastes!

Opening the pint, the ice cream has a light beige color.  It could pass for a light caramel.  Digging in, the caramelized flavor is quite complex.  It is indeed almost bitter.  I can imagine this might be what the flavor would be like if you burned honey.  Otherwise the texture is smooth and creamy like other Sweet Science bases.  This is a homogeneous flavor with no mix-ins.

This is a very interesting and experimental (at least for me) flavor from Sweet Science.  Caramelized honey has a dark, complex and bitter flavor.  It is definitely not for kids, I could see some adults getting into a flavor like this.  I feel like I am supposed to eat it with something else, but I am not sure what.  I cannot say that I loved this on first try, but it is definitely unique and interesting which scores points with me.  Give it a try if you are curious.

 

Sweet Science - Raspberry Fudge Swirl

Raspberry Fudge Swirl - Sweet Cream with Ribbons of Raspberry Compote and Fudge

 

The Saint Paul-based Sweet Science Ice Cream has three new flavors for Valentine's Day (instagram link here).  They have new flavors almost every month, but sometimes they have seasonal flavors that I have tried in previous years.  The first of these flavors is Raspberry Fudge Swirl.  Raspberry and chocolate is a common flavor combination, but here the mix is a little different.  It has a sweet cream base instead of a raspberry base and there is both a raspberry swirl and a fudge swirl.  Let's check it out.

Removing the lid, the sweet cream base has an off-white yellow color.  There is a lot of marbling of the swirls.  It looks like it is mostly raspberry on top but I see a little brown from the fudge as well.  Digging in, I taste the raspberry right away.  The compote is like a good jam-like spread.  It is slightly tart, but not too much.  The fudge swirls are in there as well, although not as prevalent.  This is quite delicious.

This is a fun and interesting twist on raspberry and chocolate from Sweet Science.  Normally, both the raspberry and chocolate are not provided as swirls.  The raspberry is often a base or the chocolate is often chunks or chips.  It had the feel of one of their pie-a-la-mode or cheesecake flavors like their own Raspberry Cheesecake or Berry Crumble but with a smooth fudge swirl instead of crunchy pieces of crust or crumble.  If that combination appeals to you, then check this out.