# Kill off one flavor in Neapolitan ice cream **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [July 26, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615 "2022-07-26T20:35:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/1 "2022-07-26T20:35:33Z")
Originally Neapolitan ice cream was red, white and green-- cherry, vanilla, pistachio-- to match the colors of the Italian flag. America came along and decided that wasn’t right, and remade it with strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. Now, due to cost- cutting measures, America has decided it has to cut down on one of the flavors. The decision has been handed to us to decide which of the three flavors gets axed. Should we: _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/1))_ ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/2 "2022-07-26T20:39:46Z")
I like chocolate, but chocolate ice cream has never done it for me. Especially the cheap kind of chocolate in typical neapolitan, which is like eating soil. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/3 "2022-07-26T20:41:51Z")
The strawberry flavor is way off, kill it. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/4 "2022-07-26T20:44:54Z")
> [@chela](#): > > The strawberry flavor is way off, kill it Agreed. I love strawberries, and I love a good strawberry ice cream. Whatever is in Neapolitan ain’t strawberry. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/5 "2022-07-26T20:45:27Z")
I voted to kill off vanilla, but I wouldn’t miss strawberry either if it died. I’m like Homer Simpson when he noticed that two containers of Neapolitan ice cream were still full of vanilla and strawberry, but the chocolate had all been eaten. “Marge, we need some more chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream!” ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/6 "2022-07-26T20:54:45Z")
My brother and I called it “Napoleon” since we did not know what a “Neapolitan” was at the time. I guess it kinda fits with the origin of the name. Axe the strawberry - it is so fake anyway. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/7 "2022-07-26T20:56:40Z")
Death to chocolate! ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/8 "2022-07-26T21:04:04Z")
I’ll leave off voting for the moment, because my answer would depend on the following: Is this your traditional store brand level Neapolitan, or are we postulating a Neapolitan made with something other than the lowest level efforts? Because, as multiple posters pointed out, the store stuff is made with the lowest quality ingredients - the chocolate hints at chocolate, the strawberry is pink but carries barely a hint of ‘strawberry’ flavor, and the vanilla is normally so denuded of any actual vanilla extract that it is more plain/sweet cream than vanilla. In that format, I don’t want it at all, but if I had to pick which of the flavors I’d eat _least_, it would probably be the ‘strawberry’. If made with actual effort though, I love a strawberry and chocolate combo, and a strawberry vanilla combo is also amazing, but chocolate and vanilla are more a contrast than a compliment, so I’d probably drop either the vanilla or chocolate depending on mood. Which is why, _gasp_ there are plenty of chocolate strawberry and vanilla strawberry ice cream varieties out there. TBH, what they call ‘strawberry’ ice cream in the NPLT is mostly vanilla/plain ice cream with a hint of artificial strawberry flavor and food coloring. The OG NPLT makes more sense in having three really distinct flavors that the American adaptation. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/9 "2022-07-26T21:07:41Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Agreed. I love strawberries, and I love a good strawberry ice cream. Whatever is in Neapolitan ain’t strawberry. I like strawberry as a flavor perfectly fine, but it doesn’t go with chocolate, whereas vanilla and chocolate make a delightful pair. But then, I’ve never been a fan of fruit and chocolate together- I always hated it when I picked a chocolate from a sampler box and got a fruit creme. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/10 "2022-07-26T21:13:54Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Originally Neapolitan ice cream was red, white and green-- cherry, vanilla, pistachio-- to match the colors of the Italian flag. So that explains why my Neapolitan ice cream and my [orange sherbet/vanilla ice cream](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Vatican_City#/media/File%3AFlag_of_the_Vatican_City.svg) finally signed the Lateran Treaty. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/11 "2022-07-26T21:21:34Z")
I love strawberry ice cream, but if I’m going to have two flavors together, I’d rather it be vanilla and chocolate than either of those with strawberry. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/12 "2022-07-26T21:23:51Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I like strawberry as a flavor perfectly fine, but it doesn’t go with chocolate, whereas vanilla and chocolate make a delightful pair. But then, I’ve never been a fan of fruit and chocolate together- I always hated it when I picked a chocolate from a sampler box and got a fruit creme. Blech. You and me, both! My wife loves to bake birthday cakes but I had to tell her she can do the whole chocolate layer cake with raspberry filling for others - please never make that for my birthday. Chocolate covered fruit ruins them both. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/13 "2022-07-26T21:29:48Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I like strawberry as a flavor perfectly fine, but it doesn’t go with chocolate… Maybe there exists a fruit where “chocolate covered \_\_\_\_\_” is not delicious, but I haven’t found it yet. And to any pedants who want to argue bUt ToMAtoEs aRe fRuiT, I sentence you to a lifetime of nothing but tomato ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/14 "2022-07-26T21:34:27Z")
I was about to say…chocolate covered fruit is marvelous bordering on wonderful. Chocolate dipped strawberries work a lot better than flowers in the Amorous Arts. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/15 "2022-07-26T21:36:06Z")
Oh, so that is what you call **[Fürst-Pückler-Eis](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BCrst-P%C3%BCckler-Eis)** (frz. _demi-glace à la Pückler_). Your language will never cease to amaze me. BTW: I’d drop all three flavours and get myself a proper ice cream. There are three good ice cream parlors in my immediate vicinity, should you ever come to Berlin I’ll be happy to advice. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/16 "2022-07-26T21:36:46Z")
I haven’t had Neapolitan in a long time but I voted to get rid of vanilla, the most vanilla of ice cream flavors. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/17 "2022-07-26T21:39:31Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Chocolate covered fruit ruins them both. Yep, I’m with snowthx on this. Chocolate is delicious. Fruit is delicious. Chocolate and fruit flavors together clash and ruin each other. The only combo I don’t mind so much is chocolate and cherries together, but it’s still not a flavor combo I’d seek out. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/18 "2022-07-26T21:41:07Z")
I was today years old when I found out the American version sucks. Anyway I’ll go with the minority and axe the chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/19 "2022-07-26T21:46:40Z")
The strawberry is leftover Pepto Bismol – pitch it! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615/20 "2022-07-26T21:52:31Z")
I said remove vanilla because this leaves the two worst flavors and that should accelerate the death of this worthless box of ice cream. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kill-off-one-flavor-in-neapolitan-ice-cream/968615.md?page=2)