While vanilla is still the nation’s top seller – Instacart said it accounts for 26.2% of sales nationally – it determined the most popular ice cream flavors across the nation by measuring which flavor in each state has the highest relative share of all ice cream purchases compared to the national average.
The results showed beverage inspiration in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Washington and Oregon) with green tea (also top in Alaska and Colorado), whereas on the Atlantic side, five of the New England states, with the exception of Connecticut, prefer coffee, which sells more there than anywhere else in the country.
Taking top spot for the most states, with 12, is Moose Tracks. There are a few flavors that did well in only one state: cherry in Delaware, chocolate chocolate chip in New Mexico, Mint Chip in Pennsylvania, and Rum and Raisin in Florida.
Rocky Road did well in the southwest, topping the table in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming – ironically, the state often most associated with the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, went with Green Tea.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hawaii went with a tropical flavor, mango, although it’s also top in the most untropical of places, Washington, D.C. Pistachio ranks first in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, while birthday cake was top in five states, and rainbow sherbet in four. Chocolate chip and cookie dough were top flavor in two states each.