[New for Fall 2022] So Van Leeuwan is back with *seven* more flavors (with 4 being exclusive to Walmart). This is round 3 of there 2022 blitz and I gotta ask: "does anyone still care at this point?" The flavors are the ones you see below plus Tapatio Mexican Hot Chocolate, Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole, Wildberry Layer Cake, Hazelnut Fudge Cookie, and Honeycomb (press release here). If you are like me, you may have thought they did honeycomb already, but this one is neither round 1's Hot Honey or round 2's Honey Cornbread.
Van Leeuwan Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Ice Cream
Van Leeuwan Strawberry Ice Cream
I was not expecting that
I take my first bite and this cinnamon caramel is kind of amazing. I know it's unlikely it will last, but these first bites are really great. Wow that swirl is good.
And then reality sets in. The swirls fade away and the overly dry bits come out to play. Thankfully the base pumpkin ice cream is tasty (though a bit icy) and the swirl is still adding a bit of sweetness and flavoring to my scoops.
I just don't get why the bits are always so dry.... it's kind of why I picked up the strawberry flavor too. I want to know what van leeuwan tastes like without anything else in the way.
Unfortunately Strawberry is flavorful but icy.... ugggg.
On Second Scoop: Well, it went better than expected. It's still icy but not as bad. lots of flavor. not typical flavor either, its complex with many aspects. really hooks you in because it really does taste like a pumpkin cinnamon roll. you should probably try it.
History note: this pumpkin cinnamon roll is not to be confused with the vegan version that launched in fall 2020, though having tried this one, I kind of regret not trying that other one now!
Verdict? lots of flavor
Buy Again? if the next batch isn't so icy!
Buy Again? if the next batch isn't so icy!
Honestly never expected strawberry too be a limited flavor,pumpkin cinnamon sounds like a must buy icy icecream is the worst lol
ReplyDeleteThis lol. I scrolled up and was like ? strawberry is a limited, thought he just grabbed a base flavor to compare.
DeleteVLW is the most disappointing 'quality brand I've had in awhile. I tried the Mike a year before WM got them and while the textures (ice cream) were always good, the flavors were boring. WM has decreased the price but it is still the same ice cream, minimal mixing and just nothing else redeeming.
But I also don't know if I can call VLW quality anymore. Having moved to a more expensive city, quality brands now hi around 7.5 minimum ouch.
Let me quell your curiosity on the vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll with somewhat disappointing news that it too was icy as heck. I mean, I could hear the ice crystals crunching as I had to chew the ice cream! BUT, because the flavor was SO so delicious and I am averse to wasting food, I finished the pint without regret. Plus, VL comped me with a free pint voucher for the quality-control gaffe here.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way about wasting food. When I come across an icy pint, I always just turn it into a milkshake or smoothie. It seems to reduce the iciness when it's made this way.
ReplyDeleteThree of these flavors are also sold by Whole Foods and/or Target. And the strawberry doesn't say limited edition.
ReplyDeleteOk, technically all 7 aren't exclusive now that I re-read the press release (so I will fix the post on that count), but technically they do call strawberry new.... though they also call it a fan favorite... but it literally says "LIMITED EDITION" on the pint, so not sure what the problem is there.
ReplyDeletefull press release is here if you need to see it for yourself
https://www.prweb.com/releases/2022/9/prweb18882498.htm
I think they are Walmart limited edition … but several are permanent flavors to the company.
ReplyDeleteFrom what it seems, they seem to cycle through flavors. Maybe for FOMO. Like, that one blueberry cake I got earlier in the year but it recently came back.
ReplyDeleteSo strawberry isn't "once it's gone it's gone" but more "it will be stocked at limited times.
I may be wrong, of course.
Limited edition has always been a mixed bag. There are plenty of seasonal limited edition flavors in the world as well as plenty of one and done limited edition flavors (from companies like Ben & Jerry's).
ReplyDelete