Teaberry ice cream
{{Short description|Ice cream flavor}}
Teaberry ice cream is an ice cream flavor made with the eastern teaberry fruit. A regional flavor of the US state of Pennsylvania, it has a taste similar to wintergreen and is often pink in color.
History
The teaberry flavor comes from that of a small, red berry from the plant of the same name which is native to northeastern North America. In addition to being used in ice cream and other treats, it historically flavored chewing gum of the brand Clark's Teaberry, which originated in Pittsburgh during the 1900s.{{cite web |last1=Grossinger |first1=Zoe |title=Why this bright pink ice cream is the most-searched flavor in PA |url=https://billypenn.com/2019/07/10/why-is-teaberry-ice-cream-the-most-searched-flavor-in-pennsylvania/ |website=Billy Penn |access-date=September 27, 2024 |date=July 20, 2013 |archive-date=November 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127013337/https://billypenn.com/2019/07/10/why-is-teaberry-ice-cream-the-most-searched-flavor-in-pennsylvania/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Riddle |first1=Holly |title=Once Popular Ice Cream Flavors You Hardly Ever See Anymore |url=https://www.thetakeout.com/1658483/popular-ice-cream-flavors-hardly-see-anymore/ |website=The Takeout |access-date=September 27, 2024 |date=September 8, 2024 |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923092601/https://www.thetakeout.com/1658483/popular-ice-cream-flavors-hardly-see-anymore/ |url-status=live }} The popularity of the flavor peaked in the 1960s, but has since waned. Today, the availability of teaberry ice cream is almost limited only to Pennsylvania,{{cite web |last1=Maslovara |first1=Vedran |title=The Ice Cream Flavor You Can (Almost) Only Find In Pennsylvania |url=https://www.mashed.com/807715/the-ice-cream-flavor-you-can-almost-only-find-in-pennsylvania/ |website=Mashed |access-date=September 27, 2024 |date=March 23, 2022 |archive-date=May 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501050347/https://www.mashed.com/807715/the-ice-cream-flavor-you-can-almost-only-find-in-pennsylvania/ |url-status=live }} where it remains popular{{cite web |title=It's-Its, Hoodsies and more: Regional ice cream favorites |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/its-its-hoodsies-and-more-regional-ice-cream-favorites/4/ |website=CBS |access-date=27 September 2024 |date=July 20, 2013 |archive-date=15 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415103025/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/its-its-hoodsies-and-more-regional-ice-cream-favorites/4/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Sheehan |first1=Jennifer |title=Love it or hate it, teaberry ice cream is a Pennsylvania classic |url=https://www.mcall.com/2019/06/25/love-it-or-hate-it-teaberry-ice-cream-is-a-pennsylvania-classic/ |access-date=September 27, 2024 |newspaper=The Morning Call |date=June 25, 2019}} and can be found in many local independent creameries. Several commercial ice cream brands also sell this flavor, including the Hershey Creamery Company, Turkey Hill and Yuengling.
Teaberry ice cream has a strong minty taste, akin to wintergreen. Some have likened this ice cream to Pepto-Bismol, with respect to both its pink hue and taste.