Sometimes, it’s time to let everything else melt away for a while and focus on something different. As we enter the dog days of summer, we crave something simpler, sweeter, more fun. Something most of us can agree we love: ice cream.
We asked readers to tell us about the best ice cream in Canada – and it turns out, this is a wildly popular topic.
We received hundreds of responses from people eager to describe their favourite flavour (Tiger Tail! Moon Mist! Muskoka Mocha!), go-to local ice cream parlour, or beloved made-in-Canada brand. Our staff jumped at the chance to take part in the conversation too.
These responses – from Vancouver Island, B.C., to Fogo Island, N.L., – were about more than just the feel-good, sun-kissed tastes of summer. Lacing it all together were childhood memories, treasured family rituals, nostalgic tastes of home – and a joyful, fierce pride of place.
We’ve scooped up some of these entries for this unofficial – and definitely not exhaustive – guide to Canada’s most delicious cones, cups and tubs.
This is a big, happy, friendly tent where soft serve, gelato and vegan options are welcome alongside dairy-based, hard ice cream; Pandan alongside Burnt Marshmallow; the homemade, small-batch creamery alongside the grocery-store staple.
If you’re getting hungry, well, you know what to do.
- Idella Sturino and Jacob Dubé
Click on the images below to discover some of Canada’s best ice cream
Editor: Idella Sturino. Interactive editor: Lucina Lo. Visuals editor: Sarah Palmer. Audience Editor: Jacob Dubé.
