Contents
Brand
Flavor
Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper
Rating
8.5 of 10
Review
Pint Description from S&S Website: A strawberry triple threat. We steal a trick from the Italians, using balsamic and citrusy cubeb black pepper to help coax out the fruit’s acidity and brightness.
We experimented with several ways to keep rich dairy from obscuring the bright quality of fresh strawberries. Our favorite was to reclaim their acidity with a splash of honey balsamic, then blend in earthy, spicy cubeb pepper to play off the fruitiness. We also weave in generous swaths of strawberry jam, which stays supple when frozen and accosts your senses immediately with that concentrated fruit flavor.
This is listed on the Salt & Straw website as a Classic West Coast flavor.
Strawberry Base: The scent of this ice cream reminded me of a summer salad. The base had a strawberry flavor with the acid bite of balsamic vinegar shining through.
It’s very tangy. The acid flavor almost made the strawberry lean citrusy. But that acid balsamic note faded over time, though the tanginess remained for the whole serving.
I didn’t immediately taste much black pepper. But I felt the pepper burn ever so slightly in the back of my throat as an aftertaste. Just the right amount of black pepper was used. Too much could have easily overwhelmed the delicate flavors of this pint.
So it’s a complex, layered flavor. More fruity than dairy. Summery, refreshing. It had a smooth and creamy texture, not icy.
Strawberry Jam Swirl: My serving had a two or three thick strawberry swirls. They had a nice strawberry flavor and a jam-like texture. The swirls weren’t icy, though I let my pint temper, so that might have helped.
The swirl provided some sweetness to the base. I got a couple medium-sized swirls in my serving. There could have been more strawberry jam swirl, though it was thick enough that I could sample some throughout my serving. It added an extra strawberry burst to the base.
Overall: S&S Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper is a gourmet flavor worth savoring. The balsamic vinegar and black pepper work well together to highlight and elevate the strawberry base and strawberry jam swirl.
Even so, I could see someone who is not very adventurous turning their nose up at this pint; it’s not what’s expected, not the typical tame strawberry ice cream. But that’s exactly the kind of flavor I expect from Salt & Straw—thoughtful but adventurous. Ideally, a scoop or two would be accompanied by a slice of pound cake. Recommended.
Score: 8.5/10
Home Delivery
Nationwide Shipping of Salt & Straw
Front blurb
Salt & Straw Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/Black Pepper
Back blurb
None
Calories
- 3 servings per container
- Serving size: 2/3 cup
- Calories per serving: 900
- Calories per container: 300
Ingredients
Milk, Cream, Strawberry Jam (strawberries, sugar, pectin, citric acid, potassium sorbate), Sugar, Strawberries, Honey Balsamic Vinegar (honey vinegar, honey), Tapioca Syrup, Natural Gums (guar gum, carrageenan), Black Pepper.
Allergens: Milk
Purchase Location
Salt & Straw
Price
$12.50.
Books
Need to know how Salt & Straw does it? Get their cookbook: Salt & Straw Ice Cream Cookbook
Related
Psst! You can make ice cream like Salt & Straw at home. Here’s Salt & Straw’s secret ice cream base recipe! (Spoiler: one secret ingredient is dry milk powder!)
