Must-try flavors at 9 Twin Cities ice cream shops

Lara Hammel and Jeff Sommers turn out a first-rate coffee ice cream. But they also know their way around chai, cleverly boosting its mellow flavor with crumbs from cardamom toast. $6.02 single scoop, $8.44 double scoop.
1100 S. 2nd St., Mpls., 612-206-3356 and 2034 Marshall Av., St. Paul, 651-603-1458, izzysicecream.com

Yes, salted caramel is ubiquitous, but Ashlee Olds makes her spectacular version stand out by folding prodigious amounts of a salty (it's French grey sea salt) caramel sauce into vanilla bean ice cream. Seriously, wow. $5.50, $8.25.
1360 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul, sweetscienceicecream.com

Stracciatella at Sonny's Cafe

Ron Siron and Carrie Gustafson are, without question, the region's top gelato makers. Nowhere is that prowess more evident than in this sumptuous vanilla bean gelato peppered with finely shaved chocolate. $4.75, $8.75.

3403 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-824-3868, sonnysicecream.com

Owner Jennifer Lisberg blends fragrant, pale green basil sorbet into a sumptuous vanilla ice cream, a refreshing and ingenious combination that perfectly embodies the essence of Minnesota summers. $5, $7.
3146 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-824-5252, lalahomemadeicecream.com

There are a handful of "always-and-everyday" flavors at this 34-years-young marvel, including the don't-miss "Pavarotti" (caramel-bananas-chocolate), but warm weather seems to dictate fealty to this tasty beauty. $4, $5.40.
4321 Upton Av. S., Mpls., 612-926-7916 and 1007 W. Franklin Av., Mpls., 612-870-0065, sebastianjoesicecream.com

There's a reason why this tart-sweet beauty is Barb Zapzalka's bestselling seasonal flavor: It's fantastic. And it couldn't be simpler, just pieces of local, organic rhubarb, swirled into her sublime Madagascar vanilla base. $4.32, $6.91.
4754 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., 612-825-2021, pumphouse-creamery.com

Don't let anyone convince you that vanilla is the, well, vanilla choice, because vanilla is the bedrock of all ice creams. Still, vanilla is even better when it's dressed up with a hint of breezy, summery lavender. $3.80, $6.95.
1258 E. Moore Lake Dr., Fridley, 763-572-2078, grandpasicecream.biz

Of all the kid-friendly — and kid-at-heart-friendly — flavors in the case (black licorice, cookie dough), the biggest eye-catcher is this sweet, honey-colored confection, powered with bits of butterscotch candy. $4.75, $5.50.
16725 County Road 24, Plymouth, 763-225-6682, honeyandmackies.com

Chef Sameh Wadi and his crew create the Twin Cities' most intensely colorful frozen treats. Their summit is this dark-as-night ode to all things chocolate (and black cocoa). It's dairy-free, but you'd never know it. $4.05, $7.83.
2743 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-424-4668, milkjamcreamery.com