Haagen-Dazs: Round 4 for 4

Diahan has enjoyed this feature so much that she went ahead and pushed her luck with Haagen-Dazs. She felt it only right to write to them, telling them about our little experiment.

In return, we have been assigned a case number and coupons are on their way. They were particularly grateful for our "nice compliments" (maybe they didn't really read our blog- as the Rum Raisin post was anything but nice).

With coupons on the way, we'd better make room in the freezer. Here's round 4 for 4:

Hawaiian Lehua Honey and Sweet Cream (Reserve Flavor)

Presentation: Yellow ice cream with honey ribbon

Flavor Intensity: The easiest way to describe this is perhaps in comparison with the other Vanilla Honey Bee (VHB). Whereas VHB was light and sweet, Hawaiian Lehua Honey and Sweet Cream (HLH&SC) offers a richer and darker honey experience. The manufacturer says Lehua honey is rare and has naturally "flowery" overtones. This is true as it tastes as honeysuckle smells. VHB consisted of honey flavored ice cream, but HLH&SC actually keeps the honey in the ribbon. The ice cream portion is practically pure cream - and there is nothing light about it. The concentrated, deep dairy flavor might be a bit too much were it not for the honey ribbon.

Texture: Ice cream is thick and heavy - just like cream. You half expect a filmy aftertaste, but happily it never arrives. The honey ribbon is occasionally grainy - just like real honey gets when it gets old. Not that we think this is old - rather it works to a great effect.

Sweetness: Not very sweet. A very "whole milk" flavor.

Scraping the Bottom: 60 - 80% chance of finishing the container. Definitely not in one sitting.

Overall Rating of 1 - 5: Diahan, 3. Jared, 3. We wouldn't buy it again. Very heavy. Prefer VHB for the honey flavor we like.

Rocky Road

Presentation: Looks like Rocky Road. Marshmallow is dying to get out, though.

Flavor Intensity: Chocolate is very rich - in a premium ice cream kind of way. Not grainy like cheap Rocky Road. Marshmallow is very high quality and very smooth. Nuts are fresh and crisp (though Diahan dislikes that they are not dipped in chocolate a la Breyers). Nothing new here except the quality. If you like Rocky Road, this should be a top contender.

Texture: Perfect.

Sweetness: Marshmallow is the clear feature here - unlike any other Rocky Road ice cream.

Scraping the Bottom?: 80 - 100% chance of finishing the container.

Overall Rating of 1 - 5: Diahan started at 5 but changed to a 4. She feels Rocky Road is too common to merit a 5. Jared, 4.

Caramel Cone

Presentation: Not quite caramel swirls - more like smudges. Plenty of chocolate covered cone pieces (Diahan suggests perhaps too much). Mocha colored ice cream.

Flavor Intensity: The cone pieces are covered in a darker, but not dark chocolate. One can almost identify a burnt toffee flavor (YUM). Or better yet, it tastes like SeaFoam or Violet Crumble. Diahan wants more ice cream and less pieces, though I disagree. The caramel ice cream is well balanced.

Texture: Cone pieces get chewy - like a real chocolate covered waffle cone can get.

Sweetness: Ice cream is definitely on the sweet side, but we debate about wether or not it would be better if it were less sweet. Chocolate covered cone pieces bring a rich balance.

Scraping the Bottom?: 80 - 100% chance of finishing the container. Good for once every few months.

Overall Rating of 1 - 5: Diahan, 3. Jared, 3.5

Guest Review from the Snow family:

caramel cone...our favorite. rich vanilla with broken chunks of waffle cone dipped in dark chocolate and swirled with caramel. 5's all around! It was a go to comfort food at the end of the day yesterday...kids crying,whining all day...I ate the whole thing. oops.

Brazilian Acai Berry Sorbet (Reserve Flavor)

Acai berry appears to be the "it" flavor these days. At least Haggen Dazs isn't playing up any "health benefits."

Presentation: Looks like sorbet - and it is. A deep purple color (Smoke on the Water).

Flavor Intensity: The berry flavor itself is not easily recognizable - which we found amusing. The container says that other berries were included - of which we found the blueberry the strongest. All in all, it is a potent, earthy combination. And for those who care - it has nearly two thirds less calories than the caramel cone flavor.

Texture: Has the consistency of a frozen smoothie. Better yet, it's like a health shake. Grainy. Whatever an acai berry is, it must have quite a few seeds.

Sweetness: Very sweet, but not saccharine. Seeing as sugar and corn syrup are the third and fourth ingredients, it can't be as naturally sweet as you would think.

Scraping the Bottom?: 40 - 60%

Overall Rating of 1 - 5: Diahan 3, Jared 3