9 Unconventional and Weird Ice Cream Flavors We'd Love to Try

Vanilla ice cream is great, but sometimes your taste buds want more than sweet and simple. Around the world, ice cream parlors have gone wild with delightfully weird ice cream flavors that go far beyond chocolate and vanilla.

These flavors may sound strange at first, but they just might turn your scoop into a story you won't forget.

1. Sweet Potato

It’s not just for pie. Sweet potato ice cream blends creamy texture with earthy sweetness. In Japan and parts of the U.S., this autumn-colored dessert has become a seasonal favorite.

2. Cheese Ice Cream

Cheese and dessert might sound like an odd couple, but cheese ice cream is surprisingly popular in the Philippines. It mixes cheddar or processed cheese into a vanilla base for a salty-sweet combo with bright orange flecks.

3. Black Sesame

This nutty, earthy flavor is common in Japanese and Korean desserts. Black sesame ice cream looks like dark gray swirls and has a deep, roasted taste that surprises first-timers with how good it is.

4. Pear and Blue Cheese

Pear and blue cheese ice cream. Natalya Ugryumova / Shutterstock

This gourmet flavor pairs the tartness of fresh pear with the bold, salty bite of blue cheese. It’s like turning a cheese plate into a frozen treat—strange yet classy.

5. Wasabi

You know it from sushi, but wasabi also makes a punchy ice cream. A small scoop delivers heat and sweetness all at once. Just don’t expect it to go easy on your tongue.

6. Rum Raisin

Rum raisin ice cream. Lena Bukovsky / Shutterstock

While not quite as weird anymore, rum raisin still surprises people new to its rich, boozy sweetness. With caramel undertones and chewy fruit, it’s a flavor that lives in the space between classic and curious.

7. Black Garlic

Black garlic ice cream. ElenaChaykinaPhotography / Shutterstock

Fermented black garlic adds a deep umami flavor to ice cream, turning it into a savory-sweet experiment that some foodies adore. It’s a flavor that tastes like nothing else—rich, mellow, and unforgettable.

8. Matcha and Seaweed

Green tea lovers already know matcha ice cream, but add a sprinkle of seaweed flakes and you’ve got a flavor packed with oceanic umami and grassy bitterness. Not your typical dessert, and definitely a conversation starter.

9. Bacon

Bacon ice cream has shown up everywhere from state fairs to high-end dessert menus. The smoky, salty crunch adds an unexpected layer to creamy vanilla or maple bases.

These offbeat flavors remind us that dessert doesn’t have to play it safe. Sometimes, life’s best scoops are the ones you never thought you’d choose.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.