Discover the sweet and sometimes contentious history of mint chocolate chip ice cream, from ancient chocolate origins, to a royal wedding and a generational family debate.

Molly Stroh

One sunny summer day in 1995, my freshly dating parents met up at the Grand Forks Dairy Queen for some ice cream. Little did they know, they would run into their first argument.

My mom ordered her favorite, a mint chocolate chip Blizzard. My dad, on the other hand, had never heard of such a thing. When he tasted it, he said it tasted like toothpaste, starting a debate that has continued until today in my household.

This flavor combination has not only a rich family history, but origin story as well. From ancient times, to royal weddings, to Baskin Robbins, the flavor has evolved over time.

Check out my timeline here to dive into the history of mint chocolate chip ice cream and how it almost led to me not being born.