Why cant i find blue bell natural vanilla bean ice cream

We have embarked on a taste test tour of supermarket foods. We nibble, we score, and we share the results to help you avoid the paralysis of Brand Choice Overload. Today's topic: vanilla ice cream.

Here's a shocker: This taste test was AWESOME. Partly because an unusually large number of staffers showed up to participate (wonder why?); partly because ice cream is something you can eat a ton of and still love. Also a shocker (and we're not being sarcastic this time): When tested against each other, some vanilla ice creams start tasting "fishy" or "like alcohol." At least that's what some of our staffers said--and they taste a lot of dishes, every day. (Although not quite like this.)

For this week's Supermarket Standoff, we sampled ten versions of vanilla ice cream. While we nibbled and scored, dietician Marissa Lippert broke down the nutrition labels. See her top picks and ours after the jump.

Our Favorites for Flavor

#1 Blue Bell Natural Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Nutrition: One serving (87g) = 180 calories, 9g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 35mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 21g carbs, 21g sugar, 4g protein
Ingredients: Milk, Cream, Sugar, Skim Milk, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Natural Vanilla Beans, Natural Vegetable Gums (Guar, Carob Bean)
Cost: $2.39 for one pint in most states
Note: Blue Bell is only available for purchase in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and in some parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, and Wyoming. We included it in this taste test because it is such a cult favorite--and it did turn out to be our favorite, as well. If you do not live in one of these states, then you can get it shipped from Blue Bell for $129 for 4 half-gallons.
Blind Tasting Notes: "Wow!" Vanilla-y!"; "Perfection"; "I like seeing the vanilla flecks"

#2 Stonyfield Organic Gotta Have Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutrition: One serving (1/2 cup) = 250 calories, 16g total fat, 10g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 60mg cholesterol, 45g sodium, 21g total carbs, 20g sugars, 3g protein
Ingredients: Organic Cream, Organic Whole Milk, Naturally Milled Organic Sugar, Organic Vanilla Flavor, Organic Carob Bean Gum, Organic Guar Gum
Cost: $2.99 for a pint at Fairway Market in New York City
Blind Tasting Notes: "Nice dense texture"; "Creamy, but muted vanilla flavor"; "Rich, but not sticky sweet"; "Kind of floral?"

#3 Haagen-Dazs All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutrition: One serving (102g) = 250 calories, 17g total fat, 10g saturated fat, 0.5 trans fat, 105mg cholesterol, 50mg sodium, 20g carbs, 19g sugar, 5g protein
Ingredients: Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Eggs, Yolks, Vanilla Extract
Cost: $7.89 for 28 ounces at Fairway Market in New York City
Blind Tasting Notes: "Caramel flavor, but icy texture"; "Basic ice cream parlor vanilla"; "A bit watery"; "Not bad, not the best"

Nutritionist Marissa Lippert's Picks
I absolutely love ice cream. I look for those made with the simplest, freshest and best quality ingredients--after all, ice cream really is just milk, eggs, cream, sugar and fresh add-ins or flavors (vanilla bean, mint, strawberries etc.). In my opinion, the better the flavor, the more satisfying a scoop is. And if you're concerned about calories, I'd still recommend to reach for the full-fat really good stuff. You'll likely eat less of it because it's got a richer flavor.

The brands below all fall into the same bucket, pretty much. Nice basic ingredients. Breyer's is even naturally lower in calories and fat coming (130 calories and 7 grams of fat per 1/2 cup scoop) and Haagen-Dazs Five is also a bit lower on the calories and fat. Stonyfield gets some points for using organic dairy products. Compared to conventional products, organic dairy tends to be higher in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid, a healthy polyunsaturated fat), which may help lower cholesterol and fight against cancer.

Be it peach cobbler or blueberry galettes in the summer, an apple pie in the winter, or an anytime birthday cake, vanilla ice cream is the go-to flavor you'll always reach for. And who are we kidding? No excuse even needed for a scoop.

Whether you're dressing it up with fresh cut strawberries, sprinkles, or smashed Oreos (my family's favorite) or keeping it pure, you can't go wrong with a generous helping of the original ice cream flavor.

Vanilla is often thought of as "boring," but I'm declaring that this under-appreciated flavor is anything but basic, and I'm here to prove it. The debate over the superior ice cream (vanilla or chocolate) typically draws some heated opinions, revealing fierce loyalties. Rarely does someone hesitate when asked if they prefer vanilla or chocolate—as if this preference is somehow wired in our DNA.

There are many nuances to the vanilla flavor, and as with anything, everyone has their own opinions (and brands they will ride-or-die for), so some of these results might surprise you—especially for many of you Southerners who claim Blue Bell as the cream of the crop.

How We Tested

Ten of our editors did a blind taste test of nine different store-bought vanilla ice creams to determine which brands are the fan favorites. I pre-scooped the ice cream to ensure no one bias their answers after seeing the container. With the playing field leveled, they tasted and recorded their comments about each brand, ranked each 1 to 5, and picked an overall favorite.

Vanilla Ice Cream Brands We Tried

• Breyer's Extra Creamy Vanilla
• Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean
• Edy's Slow Churned Vanilla
• Ben & Jerry's Vanilla
• Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla
• Walmart Great Value Vanilla
• Mayfield Vanilla Bean
• Publix Premium Vanilla
• Talenti Organic Oak-Aged Vanilla Gelato

The Contenders

Talenti Organic Oak-Aged Vanilla Gelato

This pint boasts of bourbon vanilla and hints of oak that left some of our tasters with herbal, fall-flavor, and almost spicy notes on their palate. This option was marked as a favorite by one tester but ranked last compared to the other vanillas. In my humble opinion, this Talenti didn't get a fair trial due to its' uniqueness of flavor—perhaps less classified as a vanilla.

Edy's Slow Churned Vanilla

Edy's was chosen as a top favorite by two editors but ranked second to last overall. Many testers claimed the vanilla flavor did not taste authentic or that it was too creamy and fluffy for their liking; however, one taster remarked, "It is a good vanilla for not a vanilla person."

Mayfield Vanilla Bean

"This one tastes like what I grew up eating," claimed the taster who boasted Mayfield Vanilla as their favorite. It is fluffy and studded with vanilla specks making it attractive upon first glance; yet it lacks the pure vanilla flavor resulting in a neutral option.

Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla

Ah, the ever-faithful Blue Bell. Where would we be without you? The true fans were put to the test in this blind tasting. As it turns out, the beloved Southern brand wasn't most treasured by anyone, ranking sixth overall. "I know this is Blue Bell from the color, and honestly it's not my favorite," elaborated one editor. Most testers noted it tasted classic with good vanilla flavor and color (but almost too yellow), while one commented, "It is very creamy leaning towards a custard flavor."

Walmart Great Value Vanilla

Almost tying for fourth (and preferred for one editor), the Walmart brand was affirmed to be good on a pie due to its mild flavor and thicker texture. One taster claimed, "It tastes like the base of cookies & cream," which sounds good to me! It's a great option for those who don't like their vanilla too sweet, but still want a creamy texture.

Ben & Jerry's Vanilla

Visually, this ice cream is the purest white, extra creamy, and still touts visible vanilla bean flecks. Coming in fourth, Ben & Jerry's earned remarks that had a more savory than sweet flavor and reminded tasters of soft serve (in a good way). "It tastes like a good summer afternoon," wrote one. This classic done right would be great in a float, topping a slice of pie, or all on its own.

Breyer's Extra Creamy Vanilla

Breyer's is about as classic as it gets. It earned high marks as third (and most popular for one tester), although it didn't secure the title of the favorite vanilla. Testers rated this as a good creaminess with a subtle and standard vanilla that has less vanilla flavor than the Breyer's Natural Vanilla but one they'd eat all day. Also, to be noted, the Breyer's stayed a good consistency while other brands started to melt, making it a great choice if the tub will be sitting out for a while.

Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean

Testers ranked Häagen-Dazs second overall with two editors claiming it as their favorite. One tested noted, "The yellowish, creamier color makes it seem more natural," while another claimed though it has good vanilla flavor, it is not strong enough. The consistency is smooth and tastes old-fashioned.

Drumroll, Please... Our Favorite

Publix Premium Vanilla

Many testers we're shocked when I revealed the Publix Premium Vanilla was ranked as a favorite by half of the crew. With visible flecks of vanilla, "It is the perfect complement to any cake," one editor noted while another claimed, "Spot on vanilla flavor with the perfect texture." Not to mention, for a half-gallon tub, it's quite a good deal.

If this taste test taught me one thing, it's that vanilla is anything but boring. I rediscovered the complexity of vanilla—each of the samples had subtle differences making them distinct and unique. There truly is a vanilla for every occasion.

Does Blue Bell sell a vanilla bean ice cream?

Why is Walmart out of Blue Bell Ice Cream?

Why did they stop selling Blue Bell Ice Cream?

Does Blue Bell make vanilla bean?