Are you up for the Nielsen-Massey Ice Cream Challenge?

Since 1984, Americans have been celebrating National Ice Cream Month – thirty-one amazing days to celebrate one of the greatest things about summer. How did we get so lucky? If you’re a big fan of the cool, creamy treat like us, we’ve got something for you – the Nielsen-Massey Ice Cream Challenge! Follow along for the scoop on how to host this challenge with your friends or family.

Step 1: Make Creamy, Delicious Homemade Ice Cream

Our Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream recipe is the perfect vessel to taste the unique qualities in our single-origin vanillas. The simple combination of cream and sugar allows the rich flavor notes to shine through.

To prepare for the Ice Cream Challenge, make up to five batches of vanilla ice cream, using a different Nielsen-Massey single-origin vanilla in each. We recommend creating one batch without vanilla so your guests can fully appreciate the flavor boost our pure vanillas provide. Be sure to label and store each batch in a different container, so you know the true origin within.

Step 2: Select Your Favorite Nielsen-Massey Vanilla

Nielsen-Massey is the only brand to craft five, single-origin vanilla extracts and the flavor notes in each origin are vastly different. These distinct variances are a result of the specific growing regions where we source our vanilla beans as well as the species of vanilla orchid. Everything from naturally occurring elements like climate and soil to manual harvesting and cultivation practices can impact the complexity of these flavor notes. Use the cheat sheet below as a guide during the challenge.

• Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla: The flavor profile is full, sweet and mellow with velvety after-tones. Your guests will taste a more robust, complex vanilla flavor in this ice cream. We suggest using our Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste for the added flair of vanilla bean specks.
• Mexican Vanilla: Adding our Mexican Pure Vanilla Extract will leave your guests tasting a mix of sweet and woody notes, with just a hint of spice. Not to be alarmed, the spicy-sweet character we’re describing is similar to clove or nutmeg.
• Tahitian Vanilla: Tahitian vanilla is an ideal origin for ice cream as the complex flavors are sensitive to heat. Try our Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract to delight your guests with the fruity and floral twist this origin brings, with a flavor that is often described as cherry-like.
• Ugandan Vanilla: Try adding our Ugandan Pure Vanilla Extract to create an ice cream flavor that is bold and creamy-sweet with notes of chocolate. A scoop of ice cream made with Ugandan vanilla will have your guests delighted with the smooth taste.
• Indonesian Vanilla: By adding our Indonesian Pure Vanilla Extract to your ice cream, your guests will experience a strong, upfront flavor, followed by woody and smoky notes.

Step 3: Start the Challenge

This Ice Cream Challenge is a perfect excuse to host an ice cream social. Just gather your foodie friends or family and follow the challenge instructions below.

Then, set out each batch of vanilla ice cream, hiding the origin, and give each guest enough spoons to taste each variety.

Have guests taste the ice cream and write their guesses on a sheet of paper. We suggest providing the tasting notes above so they can match what they taste to our single-origin vanillas.

When everyone is finished tasting, determine who had the most correct guesses and award the winner with their own bottle of Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract and their favorite pint of vanilla ice cream!

Now that you’ve got the scoop on the Nielsen-Massey Ice Cream Challenge, who will you put to the test?  Share your ice cream fun with us on Instagram!

#NielsenMasseyInspires

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