Spy Finds is a daily series that unveils the coolest, under-the-radar products that you haven’t heard of until now. Each product is curated by our editors who want to help you discover cool finds you didn’t know you needed.
Ice cream is usually a mindless purchase. Want sweet treat, see flavor, open grocery freezer door, grab carton, go home. It’s all just the same stuff more or less, right?
Anyone who still thought that way when we received a box of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at the office was very, very quickly cured of that thought. Jeni’s is nothing like the countless other frozen pints you see in stores. No matter which of the 29 flavors you reach for, you’re going to quickly find yourself making those involuntary “yummy” sounds. (We’re deeply in love with the Brown Butter Almond Brittle, but you really can’t make a bad decision here.)
Honestly, we’re not exactly sure what it is about Jeni’s that sets it so far and above the rest of the very crowded frozen dairy field. Maybe it’s the sea salt, cane sugar or cocoa powder you find? Or perhaps it’s just the lack of corn syrup, synthetic flavorings and dyes that most other ice cream brands use? Or it could be the fact that Jeni’s doesn’t use the numerous stabilizers and emulsifiers to create its ice cream, taking a longer and more natural approach to building texture and flavor. Whatever it is, we were sold from the first spoonful to the last, and the time between the two was very, very short.
Of course, as SPY learned recently, Jeni’s Ice Cream also makes a great gift. The company makes it really easy to order and ship ice cream gift boxes filled with seasonal flavors, best-sellers or a custom mix of pints.
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As we said, there are currently 29 flavors of Jeni’s to savor, from your everyday tastes like Milkiest Chocolate, Cookies in Cream and Honey Vanilla Bean, to the more off-the-beaten-path delights like Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, Churro and Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach Jam. Four of them are dairy-free, and those most definitely taste better than anything you’ll find on the lactose-free shelf.
Jeni’s is a Certified B Corporation endorsed by the international nonprofit B Lab as a company that meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Using Direct Trade and Fair Trade ingredients, employing a diverse team of people, working with women- and minority-owned businesses — Jeni’s corporate culture is as appealing as its products.
Once you dig into a pint of Jeni’s, the last thing you’re going to want to do is share it. This kind of rich yet light, smooth yet flavorful, sweet yet not overwhelming taste is going to make you greedy. But you can be a pal and have your Jeni’s too by signing up someone for the Pint Club. Every three months, Pint Club members receive four flavors of Jeni’s shipped to their doorstep. And yes, of course, you can sign yourself up, too.
There are now 44 Jeni’s Scoop Shops across the country, and Jeni’s is showing up in more and more grocery stores every day. Or you can order directly from Jeni’s, where you’ll also find branded swag, salted caramel sauce, and more. No more mindless reaching for mediocre ice cream.