The Rich Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Flavor That Was Discontinued With Little Notice
There's little that's more disappointing than having your heart set on purchasing your favorite treat, only to realize it's no longer on supermarket shelves. Unfortunately, it's a common occurrence. There is a metaphorical graveyard full of discontinued snacks from the 1990s that many folks have fond memories of, for one. Even in 2024, there have been quite a few foods axed that some people adored. One discontinued fan favorite that some fell in love with for a spell was Häagen-Dazs' black walnut ice cream. Yet, to its fans, this unusual flavor was sadly gone before it hit its stride.
Häagen-Dazs has an overabundance of discontinued ice cream flavors that have caught customers' attention for a short time, only to be yanked from stores to introduce the latest trend. The black walnut flavor was in production from 2005 to 2009. While some folks couldn't get enough of its unique taste, the ice cream never took off with the general public. It was seemingly here one day and suddenly gone the next, with little explanation as to why. One reason may be that some found the namesake ingredients of black walnuts to be slightly off-putting.
Are black walnuts even good in ice cream?
While adding walnuts to ice cream isn't anything out of the ordinary, black walnuts aren't the conventional type. The kind of walnuts most folks toss into their Duncan Hines brownie mix and other sweet treats is actually the English walnut. Also known as Persian walnuts because they were historically grown in the Middle East, these nuts have a mild earthy taste that lends a welcome flavor contrast to many candies and other goodies.
Black walnuts, also known as California black walnuts, have a more potent profile. While some people greatly appreciated the distinct bold flavor they imparted to Häagen-Dazs' now-discontinued ice cream, others were decidedly not fans. To unenthused customers, the forceful, earthy taste opposed the sweet, creamy ice cream rather than complemented it. After a four-year run, Häagen-Dazs ended the black walnut line and moved on to other flavors folks might find more appealing.
If you happen to be a fan of the short-lived treat, there are some other black walnut flavors available today produced by other companies. A few of these producers include Blue Bell Creameries, Braum's, Prairie Farms, and Mayfield Creamery. Check your local grocery store to see if they carry any of these brands and, if they don't, you may still be able to order them online. The treat may not be Häagen-Dazs, but because its black walnut ice cream was years ago, these brands are what you will have to settle for.