11 Strange-But-Real Ice Cream Flavors in Shanghai (Summer 2019)

With the nickname “Modu”(Magic City), Shanghai is probably the most friendly city for culinary experiments in China.

Adventurous new products emerge every single day and attract millions of curious customers, who are willing to pay a high price for a just try.

Now there are some eye-catching ice-creams that cause a sensation this summer!

1.Egg & Soya Sauce Ice-cream

Seems like a combination that results in nausea, but it’s actually really good!

Hot spring egg, or Onsen tamago, is originally prepared in hot spring water to create silky egg whites and custard-like yolk. It’s now put in this Hokkaido Milk ice-cream along with Japanese soya sauce!

There is something more: sprinkled potato chips and even at bottom Bird’s nest soup (Yan Wo, created by swiftlets using solidified saliva, particularly prized in Chinese culture due to the rarity).

(Address: Nanjing west rd.1618, Cremaice)

2.Brownie Canned Ice-cream

Garnished with nuts, the fluffy brownie cake has a subtle taste of wine. Underneath, you can find a can full of black chocolate & milk ice-cream.

(Address: Yuyuan rd.68, Happy Kartel)

3.King-size Ice-cream

With an Egg tart, Kitkat chocolate and even a mini cone, this giant milk ice-cream is 3 times the size of a normal one.

(Address: Xizangzhong rd. 268, Lian nuan chu cha)

4.Wasabi Matcha Ice-cream

Since wasabi and matcha are both green, this ice-cream can easily fool your friend with a spicy surprise. However, the wasabi tastes quite moderate, even kind of refreshing. You might also want some salmon with it.

As for the bamboo, it’s not really edible unless you are a panda. But why not take it home as a souvenir? :)

(Address: Yongkang rd.46, Tea funny)

5.Dried Red Pepper Ice-cream

Mixed with berries, the spicy taste is neutralized. Also, the blue plate is edible!

FYI, dried red pepper is the spiciest in China. It’s well known for being put in the hotpot. Only a few Chinese people dare to eat it directly, as it can easily make a man with 6-pack cry. If you do the challenge as an expat, you will surely earn some respect.

(Address: People’s square, Initial)

6.Kiwano Seaweed Ice-cream

Kiwano, looking like an orange horned melon, is originally from Africa. Many say it looks like Thanos, the supervillain in Marvel.

The Kiwano gelato tastes like a combination of cucumber and lemon. Beneath is a seaweed gelato with crispy rice.

(Address: Fumin rd.185)

7.Liquor Gold Ice-cream

Wuliangye is a Chinese top liquor made from proso millet, maize, glutinous rice, long-grain rice, and wheat. The formula was at least created in the Ming dynasty. The highest grade of Wuliangye retails for CN¥26,800 (US$3,375).

Don’t worry. The Ice-cream is totally affordable(US$3). The 52% Liquor has only been added few drops, however, you can easily spot the tasty alcohol out of chocolate ice-cream. A tip, don’t drive afterwards!

(Address: Renmin square subway station, Liulijing)

8.Sichuan Pepper Ice-cream

If you like spicy, you should try your limit in Sichuan, where you find all kinds of spices. Among those, this Sichuan Pepper(Hua Jiao) is the most special one, which makes your tongue tingly, or numbing.

Here, Sichuan pepper is crushed into powder and served as the topping. Beneath are two gelatos, pineapple and Cantaloupe.

(Address: Shanxi north rd. 600–9)

9.Crayfish Ice-cream

The most popular for midnight in China is definitely spicy crayfish, other than barbecue. In Beijing, there’s a long street called Gui Jie(Ghost Street) near the forbidden city only serving crayfish. Maybe that’s another reason why Chinese people are mostly slim, crawfish is high in protein and low in fat!

Sweet, milky, salty and spicy at the same time, you can also eat spicy crayfish meat in this ice-cream. This one is pretty hardcore, but why not trying?

(Address: Daxue rd.151)

10.Pine Mushroom Ice-cream

In China, Pine Mushroom(“Matsutake”, king of Fungi) is in the same league as caviar and truffles, which is renowned for its intense aroma and pine-like flavor. You can taste the strongness as well as the small matsutake pieces in this ice-cream.

A sensory adventure often referred to as “spicy”, “intense”, or “like cinnamon”. Although some would prefer the terms “foul” or “pungent”!

(Address: Nanjing East rd.829)

11.Spaghetti Ice-cream

Influenced by western, this trend is taking off in Shanghai. You can choose up to 27 flavors and 2 types of spaghetti(Linguine or Pappardelle). The one below is the raspberry taste.

(Address: Maoming North rd.217–6)

Pictures source: shanghai petty-bourgeois gourmand(wechat)