Least sweet ice cream brand- SF Bay Area filter

August 4, 2018 6:42 PM

I like ice cream. I don't like it so syrup-sweet it almost burns your tongue (I'm looking at you, San Francisco favorite Bi-Rite!). Suggestions wanted for a supermarket or fancy shop ice cream in the SF Bay Area (I'm mostly East Bay). It'd be a superplus if this was a supermarket pint that I could pick up on a whim, but fancy shop ice cream recommendations will be... investigated enthusiastically.
posted by twoplussix to Food & Drink (17 answers total)

I bet Mitchell's has something for you. Avocado (e.g.) is very mild, but still has that "ice cream" sweetened cream thing, which I don't know how easy will be to avoid in general. Baby Coconut, too.
posted by rhizome at 6:52 PM on August 4, 2018

I think a mild flavor at Fenton's in Oakland would probably do the trick.
posted by Toddles at 7:13 PM on August 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Alden's (at Whole Foods and Safeway) is not as sweet as others. I've tried the vanilla. Straus's ice cream is also less sweet than usual.
posted by pinochiette at 7:18 PM on August 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Ice cream maker. Totally worth it.
posted by amtho at 7:52 PM on August 4, 2018 [3 favorites]

Agree that Alden's is less sweet than other ice creams, although I still wish it was a bit less sweet. The mint chip is a mainstay in our freezer. Sold at Berkeley Bowl West!
posted by Jaclyn at 8:08 PM on August 4, 2018

Tara’s organic ice cream might have some flavors you’d like.
posted by bitdamaged at 8:37 PM on August 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

Not strictly ice cream, but Almare Gelato in downtown Berkeley has some lovely flavors that aren't just about sweetness (at least when I used to go there...). I also dislike too-sweet desserts and that place was one of my go-tos in the Bay Area.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 8:38 PM on August 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Humphrey Slocombe does incredible savoury/spicy flavours, and tends towards 'rich' rather than 'sweet' on the dessert-y scale.
posted by DSime at 8:59 PM on August 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

Seconding Humphry (no e!) Slocombe. Original shop is in the Mission, there's one in the Ferry Building too. Some of their flavors are traditionally sweet but others in their always-rotating selection range from savory to tangy to tart... Yum!
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 9:53 PM on August 4, 2018

Seconding ice cream maker! It's the only way I can get high-fat zero-carb ice cream for keto, and I've really enjoyed making 'much less sweet' ice creams as well. Also surprisingly easy to use.
posted by The otter lady at 10:02 PM on August 4, 2018 [4 favorites]

Original shop is in the Mission, there's one in the Ferry Building too.

There's a Humphry Slocombe in Oakland now too, on Broadway just north of Grand.

I'd also suggest Ici in Elmwood. Their selection varies daily, but it's worth a shot.
posted by asterix at 3:23 AM on August 5, 2018

Seconding Tara's!! East-bay based, savory/herby flavors.
posted by missmary6 at 6:52 AM on August 5, 2018

They don't do takeaway pints as far as I'm aware, but...Aube Creamery in the SF Japantown mall (lower level, near Kinokuniya) opened recently and is absolutely fantastic for those that aren't into completely over-the-top sweetness. The ice cream (soft serve style) is just sweet enough to pass as ice cream, and they offer a variety of toppings. Their flavor choices and toppings draw heavily on Asian confection staples, so there's a good variety of mildly sweet (red bean, taro, etc.) and even earthy, bitter-ish toppings that go a long way to offset the sweetness of the ice cream (macha, hojicha powder, black sesame, etc.).
posted by BrandonW at 8:36 AM on August 5, 2018

Nieves Cinco de Mayo near the Fruitvale BART station is wonderful. Don't miss the elotes (corn) ice cream.
posted by Lexica at 10:03 AM on August 5, 2018 [1 favorite]

Another vote for Tara’s. I don’t like it much but I have a real sweet tooth so it might be just what you’re after. There’s also, amusingly, always some flavor there that’s like “let’s go through the spice cabinet and pick something that doesn’t belong in ice cream.”
posted by Smearcase at 7:41 PM on August 5, 2018

I second Nieves Cinco de Mayo, and also Lush which is an Argentine style gelateria on Piedmont avenue. Neither do takeaway but they are absolutely worth checking out.
posted by oneirodynia at 9:57 PM on August 5, 2018

Salt and Straw has a couple of locations in SF and they have some amazing flavors. Also seconding Mitchell's.
posted by something_witty at 6:58 AM on August 6, 2018