How Many Ben & Jerry's Flavours Are There?
From humble beginnings in a renovated Vermont gas station in 1978, two friends built an ice cream empire entirely on the concept of putting as many massive, absurdly textured chunks into a pint as mathematically possible.
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Quick Answer
There are currently over 100 active Ben & Jerry's flavours available globally across their dairy, non-dairy, and scoop-shop-exclusive lineups. Additionally, there are over 300 retired flavours resting in peace in the famous "Flavour Graveyard."
*Count verified 2025 — this figure fluctuates as limited editions launch and others retire.
The Anatomy of a Pint
Innovation Through Sourcing
Creating a new Ben & Jerry's flavour isn't just about mixing sugar and cream. The brand is famous for its intricate, almost chaotic mixing of ingredients. The company's "Flavour Gurus" constantly experiment with fair-trade brownies, ethically sourced fudge flakes, and swirls of caramel. Every year, new seasonal releases, pop-culture collaborations, and limited-batch runs hit the freezer aisles, constantly expanding the active roster of 100+ flavours.
The Flavour Graveyard
What happens when a flavour just doesn't sell, or an ingredient becomes impossible to ethically source? It dies. But Ben & Jerry's honors its fallen creations with an actual physical "Flavour Graveyard" behind their factory in Waterbury, Vermont. Over 300 flavours rest here, complete with real granite headstones bearing clever rhyming epitaphs. Notable deceased flavours include Wavy Gravy, White Russian, and Bovinity Divine.
Fan Power and Resurrection
Fans actually hold incredible power over the menu. The legendary Cherry Garcia was originally suggested by two fans from Portland, Maine, on an anonymous feedback card in 1986. Today, if a beloved flavour is discontinued, fans can vote on the company website to resurrect it from the graveyard. The "Zombie" flavours that manage to escape the graveyard prove that ice cream loyalty runs astonishingly deep.
Iconic Flavours Breakdown
| Flavour Name | Year Launched | Key Ingredients | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Garcia | 1987 | Cherry ice cream, cherries, fudge flakes | Active |
| Half Baked | 2000 | Choc & vanilla, brownie & cookie dough | Active |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | 1984 | Vanilla ice cream, dough chunks | Active |
| Phish Food | 1997 | Choc ice cream, marshmallow, fudge fish | Active |
| Americone Dream | 2007 | Vanilla, fudge-covered waffle cones | Active |
| Wavy Gravy | 1993 | Caramel/cashew Brazil nut ice cream | Retired |
| Dublin Mudslide | 2004 | Irish cream, choc chocolate chip cookies | Retired |
| Tonight Dough | 2015 | Caramel/choc, choc cookie swirls | Active |
| Holy Cannoli | 1998 | Ricotta/pistachio ice cream, cannoli | Retired |
| Netflix & Chilll'd | 2020 | Peanut butter, sweet/salty pretzel swirls | Active |
Did You Know?
- Cherry Garcia is named after a rockstar. It was launched as a tribute to Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, making it the first ice cream named after a rock legend.
- Different countries, different flavours. Some flavours are exclusive to international markets. For instance, "Macca Maca" (macadamia nut) was an exclusive hit in Australia.
- The Flavour Graveyard is a real tourist attraction. Over 300,000 people visit the Vermont factory annually, and the physical graveyard of retired flavours is one of the main attractions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in a pint of Ben & Jerry's?
It varies significantly by flavour, but most pints range from 1,000 to 1,300 calories in total due to the high milk fat content and dense additions of fudge, dough, and caramel.
Do they have vegan options?
Yes. They currently offer over 20 non-dairy flavours globally, crafted using almond milk, sunflower butter, or oat milk bases.
Who were Ben and Jerry?
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were childhood friends from New York who took a $5 correspondence course on ice cream making from Penn State University before opening their first shop in 1978.
Does Unilever own Ben & Jerry's?
Yes, the multinational conglomerate Unilever acquired the brand in 2000. However, Ben & Jerry's operates with an independent board of directors to maintain its social mission.
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