Gen Z shun conventional ice cream flavours in favour of quirky alternate options
Just 26% of adults – aged up to 27 – are fans of mint choc chip, while 38% scream for strawberry and a mere 13% hanker after rum and raisin. But the scoop from research involving 2,000 ice cream lovers is that the younger lot are more likely to dip their spoons into new and wacky flavours than their elders.
Rhubarb tickles the fancy of 15%, and biscuit-inspired scoops like Jaffa Cake tempt 19% of these adventurous taste buds. Yet for Gen Xers, it’s good ol’ plain vanilla that takes the cone with a whopping 68% favouring it.
This tasty study was whipped up by QVC, dishing out the Ninja Creami Deluxe ice cream maker on its site. Kate James, from the online shopping haven, dished out: “It’s interesting to see that older adults are still sticking to the tried-and-tested flavours they grew up with but younger people are more willing to experiment.”
“We also know ice cream making at home has been a growing trend with Google searches doubling since last year – let’s see what flavours they can come up with.”
Other quirky licks the post-1996 crowd are eager to try include marshmallow (16%) and even popcorn (9%). The Gen Z gang are also the ones most likely to jump on the bandwagon of trendy nosh like charcoal ice cream, more than any other age bracket.
And while a scant 4%t of Gen X – those born between 1965 and 1980 – reckon they’re ‘very adventurous’ in their foodie exploits, a bold 23% of Gen Z reckon they’ve got the guts.
(Image: PinPep)
According to a survey, 45% of people across all age groups believe that ‘anything’ can be turned into an ice cream flavour these days. However, a third (34%) admit they’ve become less adventurous with their food choices over time. Nine out of ten confess they’ll occasionally try something new, only to regret it and wish they’d stuck with a tried-and-true favourite.
Over half (52%) of respondents enjoy ice cream throughout the year, not just in the summer months, according to figures from OnePoll.com. The most popular time to indulge in the frozen treat is in the afternoon (40%), while nearly a third (29%) believe any time is a good time for ice cream.
The preferred location to enjoy this dessert is on the sofa in front of the TV (40%), followed by the garden (24%), with most people using a dessert spoon.
The Ninja Creami Deluxe, which can make everything from frozen yoghurts and ice creams to frappes and slushies, has even inspired the creation of an ‘ice cream bike’ that will travel around London this Friday and Saturday, serving up the flavours Londoners are most eager to try.
QVC’s Kate James commented: “Everyone loves a classic such as vanilla ice cream. Now they can make that at home as well as other flavours and iced drinks this summer. Although, as our research has shown half of us will be eating it all year round.”
The top twenty ice cream flavours Brits are most keen to try are:
- Rhubarb
- Biscuits (i.e. Jammy Dodger, Jaffa Cake)
- Blackcurrant
- Marshmallow
- Classic desserts (i.e. sticky toffee pudding, apple crumble)
- Hazelnut
- Cherry
- Peanut butter
- Dark choc and chili
- Popcorn
- Mango
- Honeycomb
- Classic sweets (i.e. Refreshers, Parma Violet, Drumstick)
- White chocolate
- Chocolate brownie
- Pecan
- Ginger
- Toffee
- Coconut
- Caramel
