# What is Cow Chow ice cream supposed to be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 6, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067 "2026-04-06T15:44:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/1 "2026-04-06T15:44:19Z")
Because I’ve never shied away from dealing with the big issues. Hood has a flavor of ice cream they have named Cow Chow. They describe the flavor as “corn cereal”. Obviously Hood didn’t want to pay for licensing rights . But what is the corn cereal that this ice cream supposedly tastes like? Kellogg’s Corn Flakes? Corn Chex? Kwix? Cap’n Crunch? Quisp? I’ll admit I’m not a cereal fan and I don’t see the appeal of an ice cream with a cereal flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/2 "2026-04-06T15:46:39Z")
From their site: > Indulged in our combination of chocolaty sugar cone pieces, peanut butter swirl and chocolate cookie crumble in corn cereal flavored reduced fat ice cream > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But what is the corn cereal that this ice cream supposedly tastes like? Kellogg’s Corn Flakes? Corn Chex? Kwix? Cap’n Crunch? Quisp? They’re probably going for taste of the milk left in your cereal bowl after you finish eating it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/3 "2026-04-06T15:47:59Z")
Here’s a review: [https://www.masslive.com/food/2021/07/inside-scoop-hoods-boston-common-cow-chow-not-that-impressive.html](https://www.masslive.com/food/2021/07/inside-scoop-hoods-boston-common-cow-chow-not-that-impressive.html) > Let’s talk about the ice cream base. While it doesn’t taste like vanilla it also doesn’t have a distinctive cereal taste. The flavor that most strongly stands out to me is the sweet milk left behind at the bottom of the cereal bowl after you’ve had sugary cereal. I liked it, but it didn’t make me think of corn cereal. It may be worth noting that ‘cereal milk’, while not common, isn’t unheard of flavor for this kind of thing: [![](https://www.ruttersdairy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cereal-milk-copy-scaled.jpg) ](https://www.ruttersdairy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cereal-milk-copy-scaled.jpg) [![](https://www.kroger.com/product/images/large/front/0081015151295) ](https://www.kroger.com/product/images/large/front/0081015151295) Liquid Death even makes cereal flavored water. [![](https://liquiddeath.com/cdn/shop/files/LD_Cereal_Criminal_12oz_single.webp?v=1752850901&width=800) ](https://liquiddeath.com/cdn/shop/files/LD_Cereal_Criminal_12oz_single.webp?v=1752850901&width=800) ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/4 "2026-04-08T14:01:36Z")
I keep seeing this title as “Chow Chow ice cream” and that is NOT something I want to try. > **[Chow-chow (food)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow-chow_(food))** > > Chow-chow (also spelled chowchow or chow chow) is a pickled dish popular in North America whose origins are unclear. Some suggest an origin in the American South, while other sources suggest it originated in Canada and was brought south by the Acadians who migrated to the American South after being expelled from the Maritimes in the mid-1700s; another theory is that it originated from Chinese railway workers. > Made primarily of chopped green tomatoes, onions, cabbage, and seasonal peppers (though... ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/5 "2026-04-09T01:20:46Z")
Personally if I had been in charge of developing an ice cream called Cow Chow, I would have made it grass flavored. Which might indicate why no ice cream company has put me in charge of developing new flavors. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/6 "2026-04-09T01:32:30Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Personally if I had been in charge of developing an ice cream called Cow Chow, I would have made it grass flavored. - > > Which might indicate why no ice cream company has put me in charge of developing new flavors. Hot Pot flavor. Cinnamon candy ice cream with cinnamon weed gummies ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/7 "2026-04-09T01:35:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Hot Pot flavor. The inability to transport your ice cream across state lines is going to hurt national sales. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/8 "2026-04-09T01:50:23Z")
Well, Hay is for Horses… ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/9 "2026-04-20T02:44:04Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > It may be worth noting that ‘cereal milk’, while not common, isn’t unheard of flavor for this kind of thing: Blech. Never liked sweet cereal milk from those kinds of breakfast cereal. What I _do_ like is Wheat Bix, which is a fairly plain (Australian) wheat cereal, low level of sugar, salt, and malt (like Corn Flakes level, not Frosted Flakes). _That_ I like with ice cream, and I do it myself. Milk, Wheat Bix, Ice cream. I’d buy and ice cream with that flavour. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/10 "2026-04-20T03:34:08Z")
> [@JeffB](#): > > I keep seeing this title as “Chow Chow ice cream” and that is NOT something I want to try. But what about [Chow Chow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow_Chow) ice cream? I mean dog milk has a much higher butterfat content that cow’s milk. Maybe it would be super-rich and delicious 😃. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/11 "2026-04-20T03:54:01Z")
I did have sweet corn ice cream at the Minnesota State Fair a few times. It was delicious. Think cornbread with cinnamon butter. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/12 "2026-04-20T23:15:36Z")
> [@JeffB](#): > > I keep seeing this title as “Chow Chow ice cream” and that is NOT something I want to try. I keep thinking that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/13 "2026-04-20T23:21:37Z")
I know you all have been anxiously awaiting my review of Graeter’s [Kentucky Derby ice cream](https://www.graeters.com/pages/derby?srsltid=AfmBOortFcoohzGwpuwu0hIZbMqRBz20p4uS4ZtJ1JU1khCkY5SBtO4n), featuring bourbon, black cherries and praline pecans. I’d rate it as close to 4/5 stars, good crunch and flavor. Probably not something I’d feel compelled to buy a gallon of, but would get again the next time Derby season rolls around. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/14 "2026-04-24T07:25:40Z")
“You know, dog’s milk lasts longer than any other kind of milk.” “why?” “No bugger’ll drink it.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/15 "2026-04-24T15:02:15Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I know you all have been anxiously awaiting my review of Graeter’s [Kentucky Derby ice cream](https://www.graeters.com/pages/derby?srsltid=AfmBOortFcoohzGwpuwu0hIZbMqRBz20p4uS4ZtJ1JU1khCkY5SBtO4n), featuring bourbon, black cherries and praline pecans. Just make sure you don’t mistakenly get the Kentucky Derby Ice Cream made by another company. Theirs tastes like horses. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/16 "2026-04-24T15:21:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > It may be worth noting that ‘cereal milk’, while not common, isn’t unheard of flavor for this kind of thing Yeah, it’s been a bit of a trendy thing here in the Northeast for a while. I first heard about it being popularized by [Milk Bar](https://milkbarstore.com/pages/about) bakery years ago. A couple of months ago I had a brunch cocktail that was cereal milk, vodka, and ice with fruit loops on top. It was fun to try but not something I’d be clamoring for regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-cow-chow-ice-cream-supposed-to-be/1029067/17 "2026-04-24T15:37:41Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > But what about [Chow Chow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow_Chow) ice cream? I’d rather have [Cao Cao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cao_Cao) ice cream. (Goes great with General Tso’s Chicken.)