Here’s the scoop on where to find the best store-bought vanilla flavoured ice cream

Some ice cream brands boast about being made with real cream and butter, while others promise to be the creamiest of the lot, but one thing is for sure, store-bought vanilla-flavoured ice cream is an undeniable guilty pleasure and freezer staple in most households!

Smooth and sweet creamy vanilla flavoured ice cream will forever be the most versatile treat and it always manages to satisfy that sweet spot, but sadly, not all store-bought ice creams are made equal! On occasion, we’ve all been disappointed by our choices in store-bought ice cream.

The only thing more versatile than a good old vanilla ice cream is the iconic 2–litre containers they come in! From the height of organisational “fashun”, to the go-to vessels when it comes to handing leftovers out to guests – no South African household would be complete without having an ice cream tub container in the Tupperware cupboard!

Maintaining the cold chain from manufacturer to wholesale is also something that’s important when it comes to consumer satisfaction with any store-bought ice cream. When ice cream is allowed to defrost or melt and is then plunged back into a freezer, this can affect the texture and the overall mouthfeel of the ice cream – turning creamy smooth ice cream into a granular icy concoction!

But the real question is: how much do we expect from a humble tub of store-bought vanilla ice cream? We definitely expect store-bought ice cream to be creamy (especially if the packaging promises this), smooth, sweet with a delicate vanilla hue, and relatively cost-effective. And are we, as consumers, willing to seemingly break the bank to enjoy a “higher” quality store-bought vanilla ice cream?

READ: We tasted 5 store-bought malva puddings – here’s the one you should buy for your Heritage Day celebrations

We Taste Tested 6 different types of store-bought vanilla-flavoured ice cream (packaged in 2-litre tubs) to determine which is the best in terms of creaminess, smoothness, and of course, flavour. We also compared prices for each, to determine whether “higher” quality store-bought vanilla ice cream is worth the flashy price tag.

See the results below:

Woolworths Vanilla Flavoured Dairy Ice Cream scored 4.5/5

The packaging was spot on, this ice cream was super rich and creamy. Samplers described this ice cream as luxurious and velvety. The ice cream was beautifully smooth, with a good vanilla flavour that did not taste artificial in any way. It’s no wonder this sample scored 4.5/5 – the winning sample of the day!

At R95.99, this a more expensive option but totally worth it if you love a rich luxurious vanilla-flavoured store-bought ice cream.

Aylesbury Royalty Vanilla Flavoured Dairy Ice Cream scored 4/5

Samplers who prefer a creamy rich ice cream were not disappointed with this one! This sample, the second highest scoring on the day, tasted rich and creamy. In fact, it was almost buttery!

At R99.99, this buttery, rich ice cream is also more of a luxury option.

Pick n Pay Swirlz Vanilla flavoured Ice Cream scored 3.5/5

An ice cream that evoked several fond childhood memories, many samplers picked this ice cream as one they remember from when they were young! Samplers also noted the sample was a lighter-style ice cream, wonderfully sweet but not too rich!

Coming in at R47.99 it is a more affordable ice cream, and suitable for those who prefer a lighter ice cream.

Ola Rich n Creamy Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream scored 3.2/5

A good everyday ice cream to keep in the freezer, one sampler noted. The vanilla flavour was somewhat lacking, but overall it was sweet, smooth and creamy. The sample also scooped well.

At R69.99 per 1.8–litre tub, Ola Rich n Creamy is a great creamy smooth ice cream to keep as a freezer staple.

Dairymaid Country Fresh Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream scored 3/5

One sampler noted that this sample was definitely Country Fresh, an ice cream they grew up eating and the brand they always buy in store – they weren’t wrong! The sample was unfortunately icy, which could be from the cold chain being broken at some point, which negatively affected the score overall. The notes on flavour were that the sample was sweet just as ice cream should be!

At R74.99, the nostalgic brand continues to comfort South Africans across the nation.

Spoonfulls Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream scored 3.5

This was unfortunately very icy and quite artificial tasting, samplers noted. It was also the sweetest ice cream of the batch. It was less on the rich and creamy side, and more suitable to palates that prefer a sweet, lighter-style vanilla-flavoured ice cream.

At R64.99, Spoonfulls is a good option for those who prefer affordable lighter-style ice creams.

The rules of Food24 Tastes:

– All tasters tasted and scored all samples.

– The samples were tested without packaging and were not easily identifiable.

– The samples were not labelled and were tasted in random order.

– This article is not sponsored in any way, and Food24 was not paid to come to any particular result.

Our taste tests are always unbiased and intended for your entertainment. You may, however, have come to this article through various paid-for advertising.