Vanilla, as basic as it sounds, is one of the most popular ice cream flavors around the world. It is versatile because apart from eating it plain, it is also used in a lot of other recipes like shakes and sundaes.
Choosing between so many brands can be hard. Which is why Team Mishry stepped in and conducted a taste test of 6 popular brands of vanilla ice cream cups to find the tastiest and creamiest one.
After two rounds of tastings we found Vadilal ice cream to be one of the best vanilla ice cream cup brands in India. It is the creamiest, tastiest ice cream with the best vanilla flavor. We also recommend Amul Vanilla Ice Cream.
Related reading – Best Choco Bar in India
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison of Vanilla Ice Cream Cup Brands
A comparative analysis of all the brands we tested for their price, quantity, shelf life and ratings.
| Brands | Price | Net Quantity | Shelf life | Energy (per 100 grams) | Mishry Rating (out of 5) |
| Vadilal (Top Pick) | Rs 20/- | 120 ml | 12 months | 101.3 Kcal | 4 |
| Amul (Recommended) | Rs 10/- | 65 ml | 12 months | 219 Kcal | 3.8 |
| Mother Dairy | Rs 20/- | 90 ml | 9 months | 217 Kcal | 3.5 |
| Havmor | Rs 20/- | 120 ml | 12 months | 201.3 Kcal | 3.3 |
| Kwality Walls | Rs 15/- | 90 ml | 12 months | 102 Kcal (per serve) | 3.1 |
| Cream Bell | Rs 20/- | 70 ml | 12 months | 191.2 Kcal | 2.6 |
Our Review Factors
What are we looking for? We were looking for the tastiest and creamiest vanilla flavored ice cream cup.
To select the best vanilla ice cream cup brands in India we gauged it on the following –
1. Flavor
Vanillin is the chemical responsible for the distinct flavor that is best described as sweet and floral. The issue is that pure vanilla is expensive, but replicating that flavor is cheap. Which is why there are so many artificial vanilla flavorings and overdiluted extracts in the market.
It is commercially sold as an extract but some gourmet recipes make use of whole vanilla beans as well. Although none of the brands we tested use vanilla beans or extract, we were looking for a fresh, tasty vanilla ice cream. Does it taste artificial or does it have a natural flavor? During our taste test did we find the vanilla flavor to be intense or vague and mild?
We also checked for sweetness and aroma as well. When it comes to vanilla, the aroma plays a big role.
All our contenders contain artificial vanilla flavorings. So what is that and how is it made? Artificial vanilla is made of artificially-derived vanillin which can be synthesized in a lab (it can be a by-product of the wood pulp industry as well).
2. Main Ingredients + Label
Although our criteria while choosing the brands wasn’t if it’s a frozen dessert or an ice cream, it did play a role in our end results. Our idea was to pick all available brands of vanilla flavored ice cream cups and compare them.
What’s the difference between frozen desserts and ice creams? The difference lies in the type of fat used to make them. According to FSSAI, an ice cream can only be labeled as an ‘ice cream’ when it is made using milk or dairy fat. Something that has vegetable fat as a primary ingredient cannot be labeled as an ice cream and should call itself a frozen dessert. This shouldn’t be hidden, but needs to be mentioned upfront on the pack by the brand.
We looked for three primary things – use of milk solids or vegetable fat, sweeteners, and the type of vanilla flavoring used.
Two brands out of 6 were labeled as French Vanilla. What is it and what’s the difference? French Vanilla doesn’t mean that a different type of vanilla is used, it implies the method of making ice cream. The French use egg yolks to make a custard base for the ice cream, which gives it a yellow-ish color and a richer, creamier texture. All our contenders are vegetarian and eggless, so if a brand calls itself French Vanilla, it’s just a marketing gimmick.
3. Texture
When we say texture, we mean mouthfeel and creaminess. It should not feel icy or grainy. Ideally, the texture should be smooth and creamy.
Ice cream can re-freeze and change texture, so we made sure to consume it one go and not re-freeze it. Refreezing melted ice cream can form large ice crystals which alter the texture of the ice cream.
4. Other Factors
The following are contributing factors, and not something that could make or break the entire experience.
Price
Are the ice cream cups priced competitively? If priced significantly higher/lower – why?
Packaging
Does it come with a spoon? Plastic or paper cup? Is the cup sturdy or flimsy?
Shelf life
Owing to the fact that these are dairy based products – what is the shelf life of the ice creams?
Vanilla Ice Cream Cup Brands – Our Review Process
Our samples were bought from local ice cream carts on the same day. They were brought to the review lab in an ice cooler with gel ice packs so that the samples do not melt enroute.
How did we review this? This spanned over two days. We conducted a simple taste test for our team where each taster was given a cup of ice cream of all brands and they simultaneously wrote notes one by one under the set parameters. To avoid any biases, this was done blind. That is, the tasters did not know which ice cream brand they were tasting. We later revealed the brands behind the numbered cups.
This was conducted again with a different set of tasters to confirm our findings.
Vanilla Ice Cream Cup Brands – Detailed Review
Following are the details of our tasting notes, their pros and cons and why our winners deserve the spot –
1. Vadilal – Mishry Top Pick
Vadilal won during our review because of three primary things. This is not overly sweet (balanced sweetness), it has a rich vanilla flavor and the texture is creamy and smooth.
During our tasting, all our reviewers noticed that this isn’t icy or grainy. As we were tasting this, the melted parts were milky & creamy. It doesn’t feel dense or heavy on the palate, but isn’t watery either. The vanilla flavor and aroma is the best in this one.
Product inspection – This comes in a plastic cup with a plastic lid. The ingredients include milk solids, sugar, emulsifiers, stabilizers and artificial vanilla flavoring substances. The energy per 100 grams is 101.3 Kcal and added sugar content is 8.1 gm.
- Creamy, smooth texture of the ice cream.
- Best overall taste. Intensity of vanilla flavor is the best.
- Balanced sweetness.
- Made using milk solids. No vegetable fat!
- Priced competitively
- Packaging is sturdy.
- No added colors.
If vanilla flavored ice cream is what you need, the one by Vadilal is the best.
2. Amul – Also Recommended
Amul’s Vanilla Royal Real Milk Ice Cream is also recommended for the rich, creamy texture and the milky, vanilla flavor. But, this is too sweet for our liking. It was like eating a solidified milkshake.
The rich texture and vanilla flavor is excellent, just like our winner, but it was listed at the 2nd position due to the sweetness level. When we checked for calories and added sugar, this has double the quantity of sugar and calories in comparison to Vadilal without any significant difference in the list of ingredients, texture or taste.
Product inspection – This comes in a paper cup with a paper lid. Ingredients include milk solids, sugar, emulsifiers and stabilizers. It contains added flavor (artificial flavoring substances – vanilla). The energy content per 100 grams is 219 Kcal and added sugar is 16 gm.
- The creamy, smooth texture of the ice cream is perfect.
- Very rich vanilla flavor.
- Made using milk solids.
- It is priced competitively.
- No added colors.
Sweetness levels are higher than average and may feel overwhelming for some.
If you like sweeter ice creams with a defined vanilla flavor and creamy texture, Amul is the brand of choice.
3. Mother Dairy
Although the vanilla ice cream by Mother Dairy is rich and creamy and has balanced sweetness, it did not win due to its ingredient list. The vanilla flavor and aroma are spot on. No complaints there.
Unlike our winners, Mother Dairy uses permitted natural color and water which does bring the texture and mouthfeel of the ice cream a step below our Top Picks.
Product inspection – This comes in a plastic cup with a paper lid. Ingredients include water, milk solids, sugar, emulsifiers and stabilizers. It contains added flavor and permitted natural color. The energy content per 100 grams is 217 Kcal and added sugar is 15.5 gm.
4. Havmor
Havmor’s Vanilla Ice Cream did not win because of the overpowering vanilla flavor and higher-than average sweetness. All our tasters felt that this is very creamy (even creamier than Vadilal, our winner), but the vanilla is so accentuated that it becomes unbearable after a few bites. Even after having water, the aftertaste is very strong and it forms a light coating on our palate which is undesirable.
Product inspection – This comes in a tall plastic cup with a plastic lid that can be screwed back on. Ingredients include water, milk solids, sugar, emulsifiers and stabilizers. It contains artificial vanilla flavor. The energy content per 100 grams is 201.3 Kcal and added sugar is 15.6 gm.
5. Kwality Walls (Frozen Dessert)
Kwality Walls doesn’t call itself an ice cream. As it is made using palm oil along with milk fats, it is labeled as frozen dessert. We liked the vanilla flavor and aroma. This is sweet, but less than Cream Bell.
It did not win because of two prime reasons. There are too many air pockets in between which make it more fluffy than creamy. Secondly due to the choice of ingredients.
Product information – This comes in a plastic cup and a paper lid. Ingredients include water, sugar, palm oil, milk solids, liquid glucose, veg protein soy, emulsifiers and stabilizers. It contains 10.2% of edible vegetable oil and edible veg protein products. It also contains synthetic food color and added flavor. The energy content per serve is 102 Kcal and added sugar is 10.8 gm.
6. Cream Bell (Frozen Dessert)
Major reasons why Cream Bell did not win was due to its low creaminess, off-putting vanilla flavor and overbearing sweetness. Considering this is labeled as ‘French Vanilla’ (no eggs used), it should have been creamier and richer. But that’s not the case. This is a frozen dessert and labeled as one.
Moreover the pack when received was leaking and the flavor of the packaging had entered the ice cream too.
All our tasters rated this similarly.
Product information – This comes in a plastic cup with a paper lid. The ingredients include water, sugar, milk solids, edible vegetable oil, refined palm oil, maltodextrin, stabilizers and emulsifiers. 100 grams of this frozen dessert provides 191.2 Kcal of energy and 8.7 grams of added sugar.
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
Why did we choose Vadilal as our Top Pick? What makes Amul a close second?
Our Top Pick is the creamiest ice cream with the best vanilla flavor.
There is no difference between the texture or taste of the ice creams, but Amul is sweeter than Vadilal, which is why it is also recommended.
They use milk solids and sugar as primary ingredients (no vegetable fat used). They are packed and priced similarly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on best vanilla ice cream cup brands.
1. Is it safe to buy ice creams online?
Yes! Make sure you purchase from a vendor/portal that delivers in an ice box or at least adds an ice pack to maintain the temperature of the ice cream.
2. Will the taste of the ice cream be retained when it reaches its destination?
Unless the ice cream is melted and refrozen and/or spilled and mixed with other ingredients, the flavor will not change.
3. Do these ice creams contain added colors?
Yes, two brands use additional colors. Our winners do not use any colors.
4. Do these ice creams have additional sweeteners?
Yes. All of them contain added sugar.
5. How to maintain these ice creams after unpacking?
It is best to consume these cups in one go. Refreezing them will change the texture of the ice cream.
Final Verdict
Vadilal is our Top Pick, with Amul coming in a close second (Also recommended). Both of them are tasty, creamy and have a lovely vanilla flavor. They do not use vegetable fat and are primarily made using milk solids. Each taster scored both these brands similarly. Amul is our second preference only because the sweetness levels are higher than average.
Which is your favorite ice cream flavor? Let us know down below.
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.
