January 4, 2022 January 2, 2022 Sean Reviews
Mystery flavor Doritos in plain silver bags marked only with test numbers. Mystery flavor Mtn Dew VooDEW that creeps around for Halloween. That one time Oreo made a mystery flavor that turned out to be Fruity Pebbles with a chocolate cookie. These are some of the many notable mysteries in junk food history, and to kick off the new year, we have a game-changing mystery on our hands — mystery ice cream.
Never, in all my years of scooping, have I heard of a mystery flavor ice cream. For 2022, Turkey Hill invites customers to grab this 48-ounce container of its finest frozen dairy dessert, scan the QR code (or visit www.turkeyhill.com/mysteryflavor), and try their hand at solving the creamy puzzle for a chance to win free Turkey Hill ice cream for life. If you want to go down this rabbit hole yourself, it's time to turn away because detective Sean has arrived, and it's spoiler season.
Technically this isn't ice cream. Due to its lower milk fat content, it's considered frozen dairy dessert, but I'll refer to it as ice cream in this review because that's how most people view it. Since it's lower fat and far lighter than anything with any premium tag attached, the texture is a bit airy and fluffy. Although fluffed out, it has a decently lush mouthfeel, with a smooth creaminess that intensifies the more it tempers. Sometimes frozen dairy desserts have a wateriness and lack any depth of flavor, but that's not the case here, and I'm pleasantly surprised.
So what IS the flavor?
It's a bit of a letdown. It's a white base with a blueberry swirl, and that's it. When I say "white base," I mean that it's kind of hard to nail down because it's not jumping out with anything notable. Again, it has a pretty decent mouthfeel that reminds me of something richer than it is, like cream cheese or even cheesecake, but it isn't too tangy. It's also not floral like a proper vanilla bean, so the base flavor lacks character beyond its surprising texture.
The swirl is just okay. Slightly tart with a fruit-meets-candy blueberry taste that reminds me a bit of Pop-Tarts without going fully processed. My issue with the swirl isn't in the taste though, it's in the quantity and texture. There isn't nearly enough of it, both in terms of density and actual thickness, to bring any real textural character to the decent but un-exciting base. There are some denser pockets towards the middle of the container, but in those thicker slabs, a more noticeable iciness comes through, a common problem with fruity swirls that take away from the smoothness.
So the answer to the mystery is — blueberry? Maybe blueberry cheesecake? Blueberries and cream? Having only one swirl is a massive missed opportunity from Turkey Hill to make something more complex and fun. Add in a graham cracker swirl and a slightly more complex base and this could be a fantastic low cal Blueberry Cheesecake. Amplify the vanilla and add in a regular crust or streusel swirl and it's an excellent Blueberry Pie a La Mode. But as it stands? It's a really fun idea that falls flat to deliver on the excitement it promised via the cool and mysterious magnifying glass on the carton.
DISCLOSURE: I received a free product sample from Turkey Hill. Doing so did not influence my review.
Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 48 ounces
Purchased at: Received from Turkey Hill
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup, 90g) 150 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 21 grams of total sugars, and 3 grams of protein.
Ice Cream Mystery Flavor Turkey Hill
15 thoughts to "REVIEW: Turkey Hill Mystery Flavor Frozen Dairy Dessert"
I bet it's one of the existing flavors that it's not popular and decided to relabel as mystery flavor.
The problem with this theory is the complete lack of a blueberry flavor to relabel.
LaurieK says:
They actually used to have a blueberry flavored ice cream a few years back, as I have purchased it before (I must be one of the few out there who liked it)…so, it's possible they are using up a surplus lol.
That said, I probably would enjoy this flavor, although it's disappointing that they didn't amp it up to a blueberry cheesecake profile…they might have won some more people over if they had made it more interesting.
Twix says:
It really does seem odd that they created a simple blueberries and cream flavor with which would be evident on the label itself. Not much of a mystery unless we are missing something.
Leela says:
I don't understand the mystery flavor appeal. I want to know what i'm going to eat.
Tamme says:
After initially reading this post, I was honestly reflecting on the fact that I simply don't get the appeal to this trend. I'm not buying something that I've no clue WTH it tastes like.
Agreed also. Ever since the Mystery Pop Tart flavor fail, I have taken the approach of reading the reviews first to get an assessment of what a product tastes like before buying.
ruffy says:
If it's a candy bar or something intended to be consumed in a single serving, it's just a fun gimmick that I don't mind too much… but I can't imagine signing up for a half-gallon of "frozen dairy dessert" without knowing what it is!
Leela, your comment got a good laugh out of me. I'm always afraid the mystery flavor is going to be banana something and I'll hate it.
It's a contest to name the flavor for free ice cream for life.
Exactly! Unless they're giving it away for free. Why should i pay money for something that i have no clue if i'll like it? Especially a large container like that. Maybe if it's a really, really cheap sample size.
richard Ginn says:
You had me at mystery flavor then you fully lost me at Frozen Dairy Desert…. A full on pass from me.
I wonder how they deal with food allergies. I mean there must be someone out there who has an allergy to blueberries (or whatever else the flavor could be) and is going to get sick eating it.
Tal says:
The full nutrition facts and ingredients are online/on the packaging (which makes the whole thing somewhat of a giveaway) but necessary to avoid said issues lol. I couldn't help but smile when I heard about it on the news though, a little Willy Wonka-esque and way to bring a little fun into our day.
I bought it on a whim this past weekend. I love ice cream. I adore custard. Give me a good gelato any day. And I have a ridiculous affinity for a fruity sherbet. So sure, why not? I tried it and…
WTH did I just eat? It was frozen and vaguely dairy-based. The blueberry swirl wasn't that great, and the base was gummy. It would work to calm an irritated tummy, perhaps. Yes, I might use it as a frozen milquetoast. But I don't think I'm going to try Turkey Hill "ice cream" again, ever.
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