Cool Hunting

If CH had an ice cream truck, we'd stock it with superlative frozen confections like the following. Made with premium ingredients and boasting unique flavors (like pomegranate and saffron) and inventive flavor combos (such as cucumber and chili), these win over soft-serve any day.

Sheer Bliss is a new pioneer in the super premium ice cream segment, recognizable in the supermarket by their reusable tin cans that keep their luxurious contents cooler than their paper counterparts. Their recently available Pomegranate Bar is a force of nature with its well balanced taste and texture. Pomegranate ice cream (the Pom influence keeps growing and growing) is perfectly complimented by the crisp, not-too-thick and not-too-thin dark chocolate shell.

Looking for something a little lighter? Palapa Azul's paletas (frozen fruit bars) reign supreme at CH HQ. Our favorite is the cooling, soothing/spicy Cucumber Chili bar, a unique blend that delivers an unbeatable combination on a hot day. (Their Sweet Corn ice cream is another favorite.)

Godiva recently introduced their two most popular ice cream flavors—Belgian Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Raspberry—as milk and dark chocolate-covered bars, respectively (below, left).

Dogs love ice cream too but the sugar (in the natural stuff) and the chemicals (in the artificial) aren't the best for them. 1000 Licks is a new company that makes three flavors of frozen-yogurt based treats (Peanut Butter and Banana, Peanut Butter, and Pumpkin Cinnamon) made exclusively for dogs with all natural ingredients (below, right).

A modern take on Kulfi (traditional frozen treats that were made in clay pots and frozen with ice from the Himalayas by the Mughal Emperors), Kool Freeze's Kulfi Bars include Indian flavors, like rose, chikoo (like pears and brown sugar), saffron, and pistachio (rumored to be an aphrodisiac).

Made in small batches using organic cream, sugar, and chocolate, Julie's Organic dark chocolate-dipped ice cream bars come in vanilla and chocolate and they've made-over the classic ice cream sandwich into an organic delight.

Updating classic Drumsticks (which, by the way, are newly available in mint and peanut butter fudge flavors) with their own famously extreme flavors and a waffle cone, Ben and Jerry's new cones come in cookie dough and Cherry Garcia. Also new to the market, the Vermonters have also turned their Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, and Cherry Garcia flavors into milkshakes that come in individual servings.

Also on CH: Laloos Goat Milk Ice Cream, eCreamery Custom Made Ice Cream, Capogiro Gelato Artisans