July is national ice cream month. Actually, ice cream is something that should be celebrated every day of the year, but it’s nice that they “officially” recognize ice cream as one of the best things ever invented.

There are thousands of flavors of ice cream, but the most popular flavors in America are: chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, chocolate chip, cookies and cream, French vanilla and cherry. And, believe it or not, the most popular flavor of all is plain ol’ vanilla. However, if you’re not the vanilla type, there are some flavors out there to tickle the most adventurous ice cream lover. 

In New York, you can get corn on the cob ice cream (It’s a summer favorite). You can also get ice cream flavored like horseradish, garlic, and pizza. Maybe I’m not adventurous enough, but I think I’d prefer the real thing . . . as in real garlic, real pizza and real horseradish . . . instead of ice cream flavored like them. Plus, I don’t even like horseradish.

In Delaware, there is a place where you can get your ice cream hot – very hot. It offers, “Devil’s Breath Carolina Reaper Pepper” and “Ghost Pepper” ice creams. Don’t think because they’re in ice cream those hot peppers have calmed down much, you have to sign a waiver to order either one.

In San Francisco, there is a place where you can order a flavor called “Secret Breakfast.” It’s made with bourbon and corn flakes, and it sells out every single day.

You’d think that Maine wouldn’t be much in the ice cream market. After all, they are known for their lobster. But, someone up there invented “Lobster” ice cream, a butter-based treat with bits of lobster in every bite. 

If you get up to Alaska, be careful. They have Eskimo ice cream, but it’s not quite what we are used to. It’ s got lots of fresh berries in it, but the base is made of reindeer, caribou, or whale fat.

But, probably the best place for flat-out weird ice cream flavors is Japan. They have flavors called “Cow Tongue,” “Salt,” “Octopus,” and “Squid”. If you’re not quite ready to go that crazy, order a dish of “Fried Oyster” ice cream. It’s just a scoop of vanilla, but it’s got two fried oysters stuck in it. 

So, there you go. If you’re an intrepid ice cream lover, you might do a little traveling and try something really wild. But, if you’re more traditional, you might stick with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or butter pecan. Either way, the important thing is to eat ice cream. It’s one of the best things ever invented.