Friday Night Italian Ice Fight : Luigi vs Lindy

I've kinda had italian ice on the brain since visiting a local italian ice place. Now there are two major italian ice brands around here (well, 3 if you include my boring time with PhillySwirl). Let's get these guys in the ring.

The Contenders

Luigi     vs.     Lindy

Sorry, we don't have a picture of Luigi, so I had to improvise with the bob dob drawing. Luigi is packing "real Italian ice" while Lindy packs "homemade Italian ice". Luigi is a modest 6 fluid ounces and weighs in at 100 calories and 0 BMI. Lindy is the same 6 fluid ounces but has a slightly beefier 110 calories and 20% of your vitamin C to boot.

Right off the bat, you want to give Luigi the advantage. He's lighter on his feet and not weighed down by high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors (or dextrose or soy lecithin or carrageenan). Ok, you get the idea.

Round 1: Packaging

I definitely like the Luigi's packaging better. Luigi has that bright red cherry Italian ice front and center. I see that and I think "where's my spoon?"

Lindy's packaging just seems dated. Granted, I think that's the idea, but it looks like it hasn't changed in about 20 years. The ice looks flat and boring, and it's not even prominent really. I'm thinking it's time for new artwork.

Here are the actual cups. Luigi's is plain and simple and includes a paper lid. Lindy's is busy, but does include an actual tinfoil seal. Actually, the seal up top makes the container look bigger too.

That seal is a nice touch but overall I have to give this round to the more modern Luigi.


Round 2: Appearance

There isn't much to compare since they are so very similar BUT Luigi's looks alot more official. Lindy's just looks messy like something happened to it or it was lazily made.

Luigi quickly wins this round.


Round 3: Taste

Let's get to the final and most important round, it's tasting time! Be forewarned that I have had both of these treats before in the last two weeks, but this is the first time I am trying them side by side.

Luigi's is up first. It's a muted cherry flavor, almost salty. Muted might not even be the right word since it does linger so much. The cherry taste seems fairly "real", but I'm not sure that's what I want in this particular snack.

Lindy's is up now. It's definitely sweeter, more like a treat (no salty taste here). There is a bit of an unnatural/artificial nature to the taste. Not like nasty fake, it's just that you know that this is made to be a sweet snack and not an actual cherry.

How about texture you say? Luigi's is more dense, more like a sorbet. Lindy's is more icy/crunchy and harder to scoop. You don't need to wait for Luigi's to melt, but a few minutes wouldn't hurt Lindy.

Uh oh, we may have a decisive blow about to be thrown here. Luigi's has a lingering aftertaste, and yes, it's  "salty". It certainly doesn't make you want to dive back in for more. Lindy's has a light aftertaste, almost refreshing, leaves you wanting more (wait, is that the opposite of refreshing? can you be refreshing and want more?)

I have a few more bites but it's over for me. Lindy's has taken this round with a knock out. I'm actually eating the Lindy's in hopes of covering up the Luigi's taste.



Post fight wrap up

Luigi fought the good fight, and I know there are plenty of people out there who will prefer his sorbet like texture and more natural flavors, I'm just not one of them. Now we've also recently had Lindy's blue raspberry flavor in the house last week... I would have saved one but my daughter kept calling them cotton candy and helped me polish them off before I snagged a picture, but I think this proves my point. Lindy's is more of a kid friendly, sweeter, freezer pop version of Italian ice.