The temperature is rising, and with every passing day, your spirits melt into a puddle of sunburnt frustration. You need relief. Thankfully, in 1774, British confectioner Philip Lenzi brought stateside perhaps the coolest invention in the history of desserts: iced cream. Lenzi did not live to see all the love and unity that his sweet treat would bring to the United States of America. Thankfully, local ice cream artisans arose in every town across the country. Here are a few of the best ones in Eugene.
Coburg Ice Cream
Just a little up the highway, Coburg Ice Cream serves up enough charm to make it well worth the drive. Set on the patio of a cute old house in the middle of town, you’ll bask in the small-town atmosphere as you lap down your cone. The twelve flavors of Tillamook ice cream they serve are best enjoyed at the gazebo in the park across the street. The Marionberry Pie flavor is about as PNW as it gets, reminding you that Flavortown is just a few miles north of the I-5.
Prince Pucklers
If you’re a UO student, you’ve been there and done that, I know. But let me clue you into the item you’ve been sleeping on: the glorious Chocolate Covered Banana. As it turns out, the titular umlauted Prince is multi-talented and can serve up an ice cream alternative to satisfy the masses. For the price of $3.50, and just 50 cents more to get your banana covered with nuts, it’s a slightly healthier frozen snack right off campus. It’s not a bad deal, and your unique treat will be the envy of everyone who walks by.
Salt and Straw
An Oregon favorite, Salt and Straw has seen rapid expansion since it began serving its trademark eccentric flavors in Portland back in 2011. Highlights among the spring flavors include rhubarb crumble with toasted anise, which was a delight from start to finish, and the aromatic jasmine milk tea & chocolate almond stracciatella, a favorite for enjoyers of subtle and sophisticated flavor profiles in their cream. The waffle cup at Salt and Straw is the perfect serving dish for ice cream, with all the luxury of your favorite cone and none of the mess. The only downside is the location, a mall parking lot. With nowhere to carry your gourmet cones, you’ll only have a truly gratifying ice cream-eating experience if you close your eyes and focus your entire attention on your handcrafted flavors of the month.
Eugene might not have the widest array of options for ice cream, but thankfully, the bar has been set pretty high. With local favorites like Coburg Ice Cream, Prince Pucklers, and Salt and Straw, you’re never at a loss for a sweet escape from the heat. Each offers its unique charm and flavors, ensuring that every ice cream craving is delightfully quenched. So, the next time the sun gets the better of you, you know exactly where to head for a delightful, cooling treat.
