Stillwells Flavors

By  SERENA YUE ‘28

Stillwell’s flavor board is a whirlwind of choices–a seemingly endless array of mouth-watering ice cream options. While some know exactly what they want, others find themselves torn. It’s typical to hear people fiercely debating the “best” flavor of ice cream, with classic options like vanilla and chocolate often being the main contenders. But is the most popular flavor truly the best, or do people just default to the familiar?

Is there really a best flavor?

This week, we sent out a poll asking Exonians about their top choices when visiting Stillwells. Unsurprisingly, the most common number one choice is vanilla–a classic. Coming close behind was a variety of chocolate-based flavors like fudge and brownie. But why do people love these flavors so much? What makes them so special?

We grow up being told about vanilla and chocolate. We can taste them everywhere: in candy, in cereal, and in most sweets. Some times, they’re the only flavors offered. For example, Elm only serves vanilla and chocolate ice cream from the soft-serve machine. It’s no surprise that these flavors stick with us—they›re comforting, familiar, and taste amazing. Often times, even when we try new flavors that are delicious, many of us return to the classics, which we grew up with.

Of course, not everyone feels this way. In our poll, 22% of respondents favored fruit-flavored ice creams, perhaps due to their childhood memories of fruity popsicles. Other people, as they explore different tastes, end up falling in love with more unconventional options. It all comes down to personal experiences and preferences. Because of this, there’s no one universally “best” flavor, no matter how good any argument for vanilla is. There is a most popular flavor, but that doesn’t apply to everyone, and if you’re someone who has only loved one flavor all your life, maybe it’s time to explore Stillwell’s board.

In the end, it’s about more than just the ice cream—it’s about the willingness to explore, experiment, and enjoy something new. Of course, vanilla and chocolate will always be age-old classics that are delightful, but that doesn’t mean other flavors aren’t enjoyable.

For now, my favorite will remain “Oreo Cookie”, a mixture of the two classical flavors with its own twist, but my tastebuds are still open to the enormous list at Stillwell’s I haven’t tried yet. And if any of my friends try to convince me that there’s a best flavor, my answer will be: “To each their own.”