# Rice-Flavored Ice Creams Aso Natural's Unique Ice Cream Flavor Takes After Brown Rice By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2014-10-30 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unique-ice-cream-flavors References: [en.rocketnews24](http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/10/29/rice-flavored-ice-cream-you-knew-it-had-to-be-in-japan-somewhere/) & [asoice.jp](http://asoice.jp/) Aso Natural Ice makes a variety of unique ice cream flavors from vanilla egg to tomato, carrot and navel orange, but there's one flavor that's more bizarre than most—genmai, or brown rice. Despite being a classic, a lot of the time vanilla is known as the most bland and boring ice cream flavor, but this one takes after an even more mundane meal staple. The ice cream is made with all natural ingredients and milk produced by Jersey cows, sweetened only with beet sugar and honey. Although the dessert is meant to taste like brown rice, those who have tried the unique ice cream flavor claim that it's more like kinako, the toasted soy powder that can be sometimes found as a coating on Japanese sweets. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 52% | Activity: 79% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Unconventional Ice Cream Flavors:** Expanding flavor horizons to offer offbeat ice cream choices could attract a new clientele. - **Healthy and Natural Ingredients:** Ability to create tasty yet healthy ice cream flavors, using all natural and non-GMO ingredients while eliminating artificial dyes and flavors. - **Re-inventing Classic Flavors:** Creative efforts transforming classic vanilla and chocolate ice cream by using heirloom beans, artisanal fair-trade cocoa and featuring ethically sourced ingredients. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food and Beverage Industry:** In a market continually driven by consumer tastes change, the expansion of offbeat flavors and natural ingredient offer ample opportunities for food and beverage companies to come up with creative products such as rice-flavored ice creams. - **Farm-to-table Industry:** From obtaining natural ingredients to utilizing non-GMO fruits and vegetables for ice-cream production, Farm-to-table industry has an excellent opportunity to incorporate rice-flavored ice creams in their menus. - **Retail Industry:** Retail industry can leverage the rising trend of unconventional and healthy flavors by introducing rice-flavored ice creams in their product line-up and drawing in customers seeking unique flavors and preferences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Japanese-Inspired Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japanese-inspired-ice-cream.md) - [Soy Sauce Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banana-tree-soy-sauce-ice-cream.md) - [Asian-Influenced Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sabai-creamery.md) - [Soy Sauce Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soy-sauce-ice-creams.md) - [Rice Pudding Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arroz-con-leche-flavor.md) - [Resinous Mochi Desserts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wowchi.md) - [Unconventional Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-ice-cream-project.md) - [Asian-Flavored Ice Cream Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asianflavored-ice-cream.md) - [Rice-Infused Tea Chocolates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tea-chocolate.md)