Transforming ordinary ingredients into something truly extraordinary: That’s the basic idea behind the concept of alchemy, which Alkemie Ice Cream rightly exemplifies. Utilizing a unique base comprised of cashews, coconut, and agave, this small company is making a big splash in the frozen dessert market, setting itself apart from the competition with quality ingredients, and perhaps just a little bit of magic.
Although still unavailable in much of the country, I went right to the manufacturer as soon as I caught wind of this mystical creation, and all but begged for a taste. Luckily, I needn’t have pleaded so hard, as it turns out the people behind Alkemie are very friendly and easy to communicate with. I had three solid pack pints arrive on my doorstep in no time at all.
If you can make a good Vanilla ice cream, you can make anything, as I firmly believe, so that container is where I plunged my spoon in first. Plentiful flecks of vanilla bean dotted the surface and interior, promising to pack in the flavor, and it did not disappoint. Full-bodied and assertive, this proved that vanilla isn’t always just a backup singer, but quite capable of taking the lead. Incredibly smooth and creamy, this little number is undeniably rich, rivaling any super-premium pick. In fact, it was practically buttery, the way it coated and lingered on my tongue. Some might detect and be bothered by a very slight aftertaste from the base ingredients, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from going back for seconds, thirds, and eventually fourths.
Runner up as America’s favorite ice cream flavor but still number one in many peoples’ opinions, the Dark Chocolate has some pretty high expectations to live up to. Luckily, it not only met, but exceeded any I had. More than merely cocoa-flavored, this dark temptress throws a one-two punch of no-holds barred chocolate intensity, powerful enough to send the most dedicated chocoholics spinning. Though I’m not usually one to go for plain chocolate ice cream if given a choice, this alone could change all of that. Not a hint of coconut nor cashew impedes the flavor here, so all the eater experiences is pure frozen chocolate bliss.
Now thoroughly excited to discover what that final pint held, I could hardly break into the Mint Chocolate Chip fast enough. The powerful aroma of mint wafted up to my nose as soon as I lifted the lid, betraying the otherwise plain-looking, snow white and black-speckled ice cream inside. Its very bright, fresh mint flavor without any grassiness to speak of makes for highly refreshing, well-balanced treat begging to be served in the heat of summer. Generous handfuls of chocolate pieces with just a hint of bitterness cut the sweetness perfectly, and their even distribution but irregular sizes made every bite different and exciting. Deceptively light, this is the kind of dessert I would never tire of.
Smooth-scooping straight out of the freezer, there’s none of the chalkiness or iciness that I’ve come to associate with some commercial vegan ice creams. If Alkemie could just ramp up production, distribution, and perhaps add a few more flavors to their strong but small line up, I think they could really take the market by storm, with or without a little pinch of magic.
[Written for Go Dairy Free]
Oh man…..I need access! I LOVE mint chocolate chip ice cream….but haven’t had any in months. This would be perfect, if I could find it. Thanks for the review :)
T.
PS-you take the most amazing pictures of your food….may I ask what kind of camera you have and what settings you use? (I know…it’s also the person taking the pictures!)
That must be so good! I have used cashews combined with coconut in some raw desserts and it is a killer combination!
Yum! The mint chocolate chip looks amazing! Great review. :)
I always love your reviews. They are very thoughtful and related to your previous posts about bloggers and free products, you can tell that you put time into them. It’s interesting that their base is part cashew and coconut. Makes me very curious.
Ok, how do I get my hands on these to review myself? ;) Mint chocolate chip was always my very favorite ice cream flavor and I’ve yet to find a vegan version that I absolutely love. I want to try Alkemie’s!
Oh, you are such a tease!! Whish we had something comparable here in Germany, but actually every vegan ice cream I have tried so far tastes like cardboard : (
What a great review! Beautiful pics, as always. :D
Your pictures are all so incredible!
The mint chocolate chip sounds amazing! And beautiful pictures, as always.
I think I might have drooled reading the mint chocolate chip description. They all sound good though.
Sounds yum! I hope I find it soon :)
Oh, my, they sound spectacular! And I’m not even a true ice cream fan–but your description of the texture, and those ingredients, is making me wish I lived close to that company.
ohhh i wish i could get my hands on that ice cream, looks lovely!
OMG! They all look so amazing! I love all these beautiful photos and they sound so good especially the mint chocolate chip, Mmmm!!!
What a great review! You’re so amazing, Hannah!
After doing a very intensive taste test with the eyes, I think my favorite is the mint. Now…I must insist you send some my way so I can verify my choice by doing a TTT (Tongue Taste Test). :) Beautiful!
Amazing review! You can tell the time and effort put into it, and we appreciate it!!
Fantastic review. thanks for opening my eyes to this new company!
I am totally a vanilla person, but I could be persuaded with some mint chocolate chip.
Thanks for featuring another dairy free ice cream. I love that they use cashew.
oh wow! us vegans in australia are really limited in our choices of dairy free ice creams. there’s only one soy based dessert available on mass and it doesn’t begin to compare to its dairy counterparts. i really wish we could get the coconut and nut based products i see on other people’s blogs. berry berry jellis
hey hannah… don’t know if you’ve tried trader joe’s “soy creamy” ice cream but it’s become my new favorite. they have 4 flavors – vanilla, chocolate, vanilla + mango, cherry choc chip – and ive only tried the vanilla and vanilla + mango and i def recommend the one with mango. the regular vanilla was a little icy but when blended with a mango sorbet it’s great. thanks for the blog! :)
Wow! Another ice cream to try. Thanks for the *scoop*.
This looks promising. Let us know if/when you see it available to the rest of us. You usually know the dirt before I do. :)
Booja-Booja make an equivalent ice cream that’s available in the UK and Germany, in case anyone was wondering. I’ve tried the coconut flavour and it’s DELICIOUS :).
Link: http://www.boojabooja.com/e_news.htm
(Also – nice blog. Came via ‘IDEAS IN FOOD’, who linked to your white chocolate recipe… YUM!)
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