Haagen-Daz Pomegranate Swirl Gelato

[2014-2015] Oh Haagen-Dazs Gelato, we'll miss you so. Ok, we won't really miss you that much, and you aren't completely gone, but if you stare at the freezer aisle a lot, you've probably notice that the HD gelato offerings are a lot smaller than they use to be. Technically tiramisu, dark chocolate chip, black cherry and caramel have survived the 2016 culling, but I would be fairly shocked if they make it in to 2017. Anyway, to commemorate the culling, I give you the cull-ee....

Haagen-Daz Pomegranate Swirl Gelato

pomegranate gelato swirled with vanilla gelato

The plastic seal makes it hard to take an opening shot, so here's one just below the surface. Looks like a raspberry swirl ice cream doesn't it? Now don't forget that I thought their pomegranate ice cream bars were pretty amazing, so the bar is set high here. Let's dig in.

Ooops, I let it melt a little too much while I was writing that opening.... mmmmm, pomegranate puddle. Tastes like a top notch black raspberry flavor to me. There's a bit more bite and complexity since it is pomegranate, and a bit more of a fruity after taste, but still cool and different none the less.

I think the problem with a flavor like this is that it sounds fringe. Yet again I was at the store and overheard someone go "where's the vanilla?" which was then followed up "well, how about french vanilla then?". I have heard this conversation one too many times and it's why pomegranate has such an uphill battle. The "healthy" people who are used to it in their juices and yogurts aren't necessarily the same crowd that picks up a pint of high octane Haagen-Dazs. That's just the way things go. Oh well, more for me... we'll if they still made it anyway.

As you go, it does taste more like pomegranate and less like black raspberry, but that's fine. Just like the ice cream bars, the flavor of the pomegranate has this great way of washing over your taste buds. Oh, that reminds me, flavor is pretty much the same from bite to bite, it doesn't vary much.

So yeah, this one is was cool. I had this odd craving for a fruity flavor tonight and it nailed it. My only complaint is that it tastes a little.... thick I guess. I think I remember the ice cream version just being a little lighter on the taste buds, still a nice time though.

On Second Scoop: All I really want to say is man do I feel stupid for not trying this one sooner. It's just such a vibrant flavor, sweet but in a tart juice kind of way. It really is a unique flavor you just don't get very often. Well done HD, I'm sad this one had to go (but maybe it can come back as an ice cream?)

Verdict?  excellent
Buy Again?  if only I could