With summer coming up, everyone will need a refreshing and tasty dessert for the hot days. As always ice cream is a great option, specifically mint chocolate chip ice cream. Mint chocolate chip ice cream is hated by many, but in reality, it is the superior ice cream flavor, especially during summer.

Mint chocolate chip is the most refreshing ice cream, even more so than a sorbet. This is because of menthol, the main ingredient in mint flavoring. You may notice that after eating something minty your mouth feels cold. This is because menthol activates a protein called TRPM8 that tricks our brain into thinking that our nerves are cold when they are not. Regular sorbet does not have this same effect on our bodies and sorbet also does not have that creamy texture that we all associate with ice cream. Mint chocolate chip ice cream tricks your mind into feeling cooler while still having that iconic ice cream texture.

Mint chocolate chip ice cream is one of a kind, there is no other ice cream flavor (other than peppermint) that is similar to the marvelous flavor of mint and sweet chocolate chips. On the other hand, most other ice creams are all made using very similar flavors. Mint chocolate chip ice cream is also more complex than other ice creams; the bitterness and sweetness of the chocolate, which comes in waves, adds multiple layers of flavors. The cooling effect of mint chocolate chip ice cream is another thing that makes it unique.

Another reason why mint chocolate chip ice cream is superior is because of the odd but surprisingly delicious flavor combination. Chocolate and mint may seem like an odd, combination but they work in tandem perfectly. The chocolate chips balance out the cooling effect of the mint with their sweet, rich flavor. While eating the ice cream you get bursts of chocolate flavor in the middle of fresh mint. The chocolate chips also provide the perfect contrast in textures. The crunchiness of the chips makes the ice cream even more enjoyable to eat. The flavors of mint and chocolate create the most perfect and refreshing ice cream flavor that still has traditionally sweet chocolate components. Some outstanding brands of mint chocolate chip ice cream are Thrifty’s mint N chip, Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip and Edy’s slow churned mint chocolate chip which can be bought at Rite Aid, CVS, and Albertsons. 

“I love mint chocolate chip ice cream because it is so much more complex than chocolate and vanilla. It is so refreshing and has an amazing flavor,”  said freshman River Fernandez.

The people who say that mint chip ice cream tastes like toothpaste, must never have tried good mint chocolate chip ice cream. Mint chocolate chip ice cream is not the same as toothpaste, the only thing they have in common is a refreshing minty taste. However, our sensory cortex organization is the reason why some people may dislike mint chip ice cream. Since we do not swallow toothpaste, our brain automatically tells us that anything with a similar flavor should not be consumed. This may be enough to convince certain people to not try mint chocolate chip ice cream, but I assure you that if you can push past this fact you will not regret it. The texture of mint chocolate chip ice cream is different enough from toothpaste to still make it an enjoyable and deliciously minty treat.     

Overall, mint chocolate chip ice cream is the superior ice cream flavor, especially if you want something refreshing, but sweet at the same time. Although some people say that mint chocolate chip ice cream tastes like toothpaste, the flavor of mint chocolate chip ice cream is better and has some key differences. Hopefully, everyone reading is now craving some mint chip ice cream!