Yes, we did the Ben & Jerry’s factory tour. When in Vermont…
Our $3, 20-minute tour started in front of these two boards: their economic mission and a wall of flavors.
We watched a short video detailing the history of the company, which is no longer owned by Ben and Jerry, and proceeded to an area from where we could view the factory (no photos allowed, lest we be spies.) They make two flavors a day. As we watched, the pints just kept rolling by. I wasn’t that impressed by the tour, but I suppose I got my money’s worth when we proceeded into the “FlavoRoom” for…
That day’s sample was sweet cream and cookies, and boy was it good. I suppose the distance between production and the sample room is short enough to make this ice cream some of the best Ben & Jerry’s I’ve ever had. At the end of the tour we passed by this board. In case you’re curious, here are the top ten flavors according to supermarket pint sales.
The sample merely whetted our appetites, so we got in line to buy some cones at the scoop shop that is built into the side of the factory. I was disappointed that they didn’t have my favorite B&J flavor (mint chocolate cookie), but it forced me to branch out and try something new.
Clockwise from top left: Dave’s Phish food, my dad’s chocolate chip cookie dough, my mom’s mint chocolate chunk, and my oatmeal cookie chunk. Delicious.
Obligatory tourist shot outside the factory. My parents do not look pleased. After this photo was taken we visited the flavor graveyard on the way to the car. The graveyard contains headstones with old flavors on them and a pithy explanation of why the flavor didn’t make it. Some examples:
NYCulinarian 