12 Rita's Italian Ice Flavors, Ranked
Rita's Italian Ice has been bringing delicious Italian ice to the masses since 1984. What started as a small business in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, has turned into a business with nearly 600 locations across the country, offering over 50 flavors. The shop does not sell every flavor at once. Company policy provides that each ice is made fresh at each location, and any ice left after 36 hours must be discarded. That means each trip to Rita's Italian Ice can be a game of chance.
If you find yourself at one of these shops during the warmer months, you will be presented with a long list of flavors, and that can be overwhelming. We took it upon ourselves to try the 12 flavors our local Rita's Italian Ice had available and rank them from worst to best. The next time you go for some Italian ice, you will be able to pick with confidence. Who knows, maybe we will even convince you to try something new.
12. Sugar-free pink lemonade
It likely comes as no surprise that the sugar-free flavor comes in last place. However, it is not its fault, and it has to deal with the fact it is made using artificial sweeteners, which just can not hold up to the other flavors.
The first thing we noticed was that the overall flavor was very mellow. It did not taste like a particularly strong lemonade. If anything, it tasted like slightly watered-down Minute Maid pink lemonade — not horribly offensive, but not ideal either.
The main issue, though, is the noticeable flavor of whatever sugar-free alternative they are using. We are not sure what sugar-free alternative is in it, but it had an aftertaste that was hard to miss due to the mellow flavor of the pink lemonade. It comes off as slightly sour and just all-around artificial. Pink lemonade as a flavor also feels like a bit of a cop-out. And there is already a lemon flavor. If you need a low-sugar option, we understand why you would pick this, but given other options, it would be our last choice.
11. Cotton candy
The flavor here is sugar. Cotton candy, in general, is one of those things that has a simply ambiguous flavor. It is slightly fruity, a little vanilla, but mostly it is sugar. We think it's safe to assume this flavor is on the menu to appeal to children, as cotton candy is a tried and true children's favorite. But for us, it did not have that same broad appeal. Not only is this choice not much of a flavor, but we can practically feel the cavities forming in our mouths as we eat it.
We also noted that while this cotton candy flavor is blue colored, which often has a blue raspberry hint to the taste, this one does not. We guess this is a good thing as Rita's Italian Ice does offer a blue raspberry flavor; we are just confused as to why they did not go with a pink color to match the flavor profile better. Either way, there are better options at Rita's Italian Ice that actually have a flavor.
10. Strawberry watermelon
Speaking of a lack of flavor, let us discuss the strawberry watermelon. When there are two flavors listed in the title, we expect to be able to taste both flavors. Instead, what we got was a vague, nondescript fruity flavor. The strawberry was the more present of the two fruits, yet it did not taste like real strawberries. Instead, it tasted like strawberry Dum-Dums. And while we love a Dum-Dums, it is not the flavor experience we were hoping for, especially as so many of Rita's Italian Ice other flavors taste like real fruit.
Then there is the watermelon, which we can only guess is somewhere in there. Unfortunately, we just could not find the watermelon flavor in the ice we tried. It tasted fruity, and there was a hint of something besides the strawberry, but the watermelon simply did not come through. We understand that watermelon is already a mild fruit flavor, so maybe pairing it up with strawberry was a recipe for failure. Still, there are plenty of fruit mixtures that successfully use watermelon. This just was not one of them.
9. Blue Raspberry
To Rita's Italian Ice credit, this does definitely taste like blue raspberry. That is to say; it does not taste like natural raspberry, but the artificial blue kind that has become so popular in candy making. Blue raspberry is really just a fruity artificial flavor developed in a lab and colored blue.
While it can be delicious, and we definitely hold a special place for it, Rita's Italian Ice is at its best when they are working with real flavors, especially fruit flavors. We find it odd that while they have blue raspberry, they do not have a natural raspberry or even blackberry.
Rita's Italian Ice can make the candy flavors well, as we will see in just a bit, but the blue raspberry is uninspiring. They have better unique flavors and better classic flavors, which leaves the blue raspberry as just an okay choice. We would not go out of our way for it, but we will not vote it off the island just yet.
8. Island Fusion
Here is the thing with Island Fusion. The flavor is tasty. It is fruity, tropical, and of course, tastes kind of like a Capri Sun, none of which is upsetting. Based on the information available on the Rita's Italian Ice website, the Island Fusion seems to be a combination of mango, banana, and passion fruit.
Our main gripe is that while the flavor is fruity and delicious, it does taste predominantly of mango. The banana adds a creaminess to the flavor that is not present in the straight mango, and the color is slightly paler than that of mango, but overall it did not distinguish itself enough from the mango ice for our tastes. We would have preferred to see something with another strong flavor, like pineapple, show up to round out the flavor and really make it a true island fusion, as opposed to a knock-off mango flavor.
7. Swedish Fish
You know, we have to hand it to Rita's Italian Ice; this really did taste exactly like Swedish Fish candy. The exact flavor of Swedish Fish is up for debate. Some think it is lingonberry, while others remain unsure. What is certain, though, is that the flavor of Swedish Fish is distinct, and Rita's Italian Ice absolutely nailed it.
Not only is the flavor spot on, but the color is too. It is bright red, brighter even than the cherry-flavored ice, which is saying something. While we are sure this flavor is meant to appeal to younger customers, there is no denying that one bite of this will give any adult a hit of nostalgia. Even better, the cold ice seems to only work to boost the flavor. Rather than being sickly sweet in the summer, this flavor is almost refreshing.
Swedish Fish even manages to be the only top-selling ice that is not a fruit flavor. It is an impressive feat to make a flavor that appears to be a gimmick actually taste good, but Rita's Italian Ice has done just that.
6. Key lime
For those looking for a citrus burst, the key lime was pretty good. It is mild, especially when compared to some of the other flavors, and there is not much zing to the lime itself, but it is pleasant and refreshing. The lime offers more flavor than the pink lemonade, which is a huge bonus.
The flavor comes off as similar to that of a margarita mix. It is sweet and definitely lime, but it does not have the same bite that you might expect from freshly squeezed lime juice. Still, sometimes margarita mix is just what you need for a situation. It is an easy flavor to enjoy and has a good mass appeal. Key limes tend to offer a more floral flavor over regular limes, which works perfectly for this ice. While the natural tartness does not show through as much as we would like, on a hot day, the key lime will be a fantastic choice to cool you off.
5. Vanilla
Vanilla was somewhat of a surprise for us. For some, vanilla can be on the bland side when it comes to flavor. Overall, it's usually clear or white, like vanilla ice cream, and is often subtle. However, that is not the case with the vanilla flavor from Rita's Italian Ice. The ice there is a rich beige color, similar to that of real vanilla extract, and the flavor is anything but subtle. One bite and you are hit with the floral flavor of vanilla, which compounds beautifully with the ice.
This ice may make a good substitute for someone who likes vanilla ice cream but does not want dairy. It gives you all the flavor of a French vanilla but is much lighter than an ice cream. The flavor is even stronger than that in the vanilla custard. The texture of the ice is smooth and velvety and only adds to the allure of this ice. What we thought would be a throwaway flavor turned out to be a real standout.
4. Lemon
Lemon can often be an underrated flavor, but done well, it is delightful, and Rita's Italian Ice does it well. The lemon ice offers the tart bite that the key lime lacks but will not make you pucker. Instead, it offers a flavor reminiscent of lemonade, the kind made with actual lemons, not the watered-down grocery store kind.
The bright burst of flavor from the lemons melds perfectly with the cool ice. Frozen lemonade is fantastic, and with this lemon ice, we have to wonder why they bothered making a pink lemonade flavor like the one they have. It is labeled as just straight lemon, but what is lemonade, if not lemon, sugar, and water? It is no wonder the lemon flavor turns out to be closest to a frozen lemonade. This option is worlds better than any other lemonade flavor and truly encompasses the citrus lemon flavor without making it overtly face-pinching.
3. Cherry
The cherry Italian ice is eye-catching with its bright red color. But what is even more striking is the flavor. The cherry-flavored Italian ice does not taste like the artificial cherry flavor we have grown accustomed to in most candy and cherry-flavored treats. Instead, this actually tastes like cherries.
Even more, there are little pieces of cherry in the ice itself. For those that love real cherries, then this is absolutely the flavor for you. No longer are you subjected to red-sweet foods that taste barely fruity. Finally, there is a flavor that embodies the essence of actual cherries. We do not know if all of the flavorings are just cherry juice, but there is clearly real cherry incorporated into the mix. It is sweet, with just a hint of tartness from the cherries, and although it is sweetened, it does not come off too cloying. It tastes similar to maraschino cherries — like something you'd find on the top of a sundae. Another flavor that is perfect for a hot day.
2. Black cherry
The only thing that could make a cherry flavor even better is if it were a black cherry flavor. And the black cherry flavor at Rita's Italian Ice encompasses the positives of the regular cherry flavor, including the pieces of cherry included in the ice. Still, the black cherry offers a more robust and sweeter flavor that is widely common with black cherries.
The black cherry flavor offers a more nuanced molasses flavor to the ice. While black cherries are generally much sweeter, the Italian ice does not suffer from this. It remains a well-balanced flavor. This ice is not tart, as black cherries tend not to have the same acid as red cherries, but it makes up for it in robust flavor. Additionally, the color of the ice is simply striking. It offers a deep purple shade that sets it apart from all the other Italian ice flavors at this shop. When you see it, the appearance and flavor will instantly set it apart from all others.
1. Mango
The mango flavor at Rita's Italian Ice is everything you could want on a hot day. It is tropical and sweet without being too sweet. The flavor is upfront without being overpowering. In fact, it really is everything we wanted from an Italian ice, and we suspect the people at Rita's Italian Ice know this. They have a whole line of flavors based on mango, including mango orange, mango peach, mango pineapple, and mango strawberry.
They know they do the mango flavor well. Also, while they keep the flavors on a rotating basis, it is unusual to find a time at our local Rita's Italian Ice that does not have the original mango flavor ready to go. The mango is delicious on its own, but it also works well in gelati mixed in a Misto shake. If you are ever worried about what flavor to get, mango is not just a safe option but a classic that will leave you satisfied and never disappointed. It is no wonder this is the most popular flavor at Rita's Italian Ice.