New Hampshire gets its ice cream flavor

New Hampshire is no longer being taken “for granite” by Hood Ice Cream, and has its own namesake flavor.

“Take Me for Granite” ice cream, flavored with vanilla and chocolate malt and malted-milk balls, was unveiled as New Hampshire’s flavor in Chelsea, Mass.-based HP Hood’s line of New England Creamery Ice Cream flavors.

Jillian Tremblay of Derry submitted the winning flavor, and will receive a two-night stay at the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods in return.

Eighteen flavors — including one for every New England state except New Hampshire and Rhode Island — had been introduced last April. Talks between the state Division of Travel and Tourism and Hood had not been able to produce a workable plan for a Granite State flavor in time for the initial launch.

New Hampshire’s ice cream lovers rallied to the cause, and a contest to create a flavor and celebrate travel to the state’s scenic state parks and historical sites, lakes and beaches, National Scenic byways, festivals and open-air markets was announced just a few weeks later.
The state’s travel division said amont the more than 1,000 other flavor names submitted for the “Taste of New Hampshire” contest included Robert Frost’s Rocky “Road Not Taken,” Nor’easter, Winnipesaukee Waffle Cone, Kancamangus Krunch, Monadnock Munchie Mocha, Clipper Chips, Fat Free or Die, Old Man in the Mountain Slide, Foliage on the Lake, Lake Winnepachocolatey and Mount Washington Cherry Cruise.

Hood said the contest winner was judged on overall creativity of the New Hampshire-themed flavor name and ingredients, along with flavor uniqueness and appeal.

The 56-ounce containers of “Take Me for Granite” Ice Cream, illustrated with New Hampshire-inspired art, will be available at supermarkets throughout New England beginning in early 2007, will retail for about $5. — CINDY KIBBE