Unusual ice creams that you can not miss in any case

Nothing against classics like vanilla and strawberry, but sometimes it needs a little variety in the waffle

If Marco Polo were still traveling through world history today, he would certainly declare Düsseldorf to be one of his favorite cities. Why? The explorer is considered the "father of ice cream. He is said to have brought the sweet dish with him to Europe from ancient China in the 13th century. While back then the dessert consisted mainly of milk, rice and honey, today Marco Polo could sample a multitude of varieties in all variations - from sorbet to vegan and even savory - in, you guessed it, just about every district of Düsseldorf. We visited five ice cream parlors that, in addition to a traditional range, also offer lesser-known, sometimes even downright exotic varieties. Only one question remains: How many scoops can you have?

Bolo de mel at "Nordmann's ice cream factory 

As strict as the rules are for the production of the ice cream varieties (including no use of colorants, artificial flavors and "all the other cons from cans, bags and powders"), the range of products on offer at "Nordmann's Eisfabrik" is just as varied. Heike and Jörg Tatje produce more than 60 variations of milk ice cream and sorbets, depending on the season. They themselves sell in the main branch in Flingern (Hermannstrasse 22a, located on Ackerstraße, with a great terrace in front of the store), while franchise partners also supply you in Derendorf (Tannenstrasse 21), Oberkassel (Luegallee 134), on Immermannstrasse 40 and in Büderich (Dorfstrasse 2) with such unusual varieties as sea buckthorn, mango lassi, lychee pink pepper, Trier apple, golden milk and tiger nut. One highlight of many: "Bolo de mel"., In other words, ice cream that tastes like Madeira's traditional Christmas cake with almond and walnut kernels and star anise. No wonder that the trade magazine "Der Feinschmecker" named Nordmanns one of the 15 best ice cream parlors in Germany. By the way, the opening hours of the respective branches depend on the weather - so better keep your fingers crossed that Peter means well with us! 

Dark chocolate with rum, whisky and tobacco at "La Romana 

Pizza, pasta, gelato! When it comes to favorite foods, no one can beat the Italians, that's for sure. The experts in the south make their ice cream with lots of milk and very little cream and eggs - and they mix it especially slowly. With a hint of air, it becomes particularly dense, clear and delicious! The best example? The ice cream parlor "La Romana" in Oberkassel. The family has been preparing gelato since 1947, and since 2014 it has been spoiling Düsseldorfers and visitors with outstanding desserts not far from Belsenplatz (Barmer Straße 35) and recently also on Carlsplatz. Our current favorite: "Cioccolato Fondente con Monorigine Ecuador," dark chocolate made from Ecuadorian cocoa beans with aromatic notes of rum and whiskey as well as nuances of tobacco. A madness in the (on request even cocoa) wafer - or in, yes, toast! Just as fine: the gelato made from mango pulp. Or would you prefer the one made from banana pulp? Plus a scoop of delicate milk ice cream with Amarena cherries, brittle, meringue and chocolate pieces? As you can see, there's a reason why La Romana has so many regulars, especially since the cake and crêpe counter is second to none.    

Marzipan bread at "Ghirloni 

When athletes treat themselves to something sweet, it has to be something very special, given their usual discipline, like the ice cream from "Ghirloni"! In fact, the enthusiasm on both sides is so great that Claudia and Robert Ghirloni created their own flavor for the Fortuna Düsseldorf team - in red and white, of course. The milk-raspberry ice cream is available in the stadium and in the Fortuna fan store in the old town, while many other varieties of the ice cream manufacturer can be found in supermarkets such as Rewe, Edeka and Globus. But also in the headquarters at the Nordpark (Stockumer Kirchstraße 19) women, men, children and even dogs stand in line: Be it for varieties such as marzipan bread, green apple, apricot, children's chocolate or - probably unique in Germany - liver sausage! Four-legged friends usually enjoy this, but even a young guest recently felt the desire to try what is probably the most exotic variety, says Claudia Ghirloni. The good news, if you don't want to go a day without your favorite ice cream this summer: In the Gelato Box, you can simply take your favorites home with you.  

Blue Angel at "Eiscafé Luna 

Would you have guessed? In 2020, every German ate a whopping eight liters of ice cream. The clear favorites are, of course, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry - and these are, of course, also available at Eiscafé Luna at Grafenberger Allee 134. But friends of somewhat older flavors are also happy to queue up here, because the team offers a variety that enjoyed particular popularity for a long time, but then fell into oblivion a little. Do you know which one we mean? Exactly, blue angel! Very colorful, very good! According to research on the worldwide web, the hue comes from a liquid called Pasta Fiocco Azzurro made from sugar syrup, sugar water, glucose syrup, flavorings, and E 131-E 151. It was invented in Bistagno, Piedmont, Italy. If you're in the mood for something more traditional but not necessarily classic, we recommend cheesecake, blood orange and Snickers.  

Black tea at "Bing Go 

Ice cream is ice cream? In fact, the motto "different nations, different production" applies. In France, for example, people prefer ice cream with an egg-cream base, while Italians often do without the animal product altogether. Or, as mentioned, they at least use it in very small doses. Japanese, on the other hand, love it bitter-tart! At "Bing Go" (Immermannstraße 27) you can taste ice cream in black tea and matcha flavors, either in black sesame cones or in the typical fish waffle, which is a favorite on Instagram and is even available in pink in spring. Just in time for the cherry blossom, the pastry comes as an alternative dessert with a juicy red bean filling. Don't miss the popular "snow ice," which is somewhat reminiscent of the scratch ice known in this country. 

Cover picture: Nordmanns Eisfabrik, Marcus Pietrek