Welcome to the world of Ben & Jerry's Greek Froyo. While in the same solar system as Ben & Jerry's rich ice cream, their Greek Froyo has a lighter taste while still managing to keep a very similar creamy texture, more smooth and delicious than any frozen yogurt than I have tasted ever before. (It is important to keep in mind, though, that I have been deprived of the joy of eating ice cream for nearly ten years, so perhaps the entire froyo industry has been revolutionized since the days of my childhood when my grandparents would take me and my brother to The Dairy-O on the corner for a soft serve twist. I should probably taste test some other brands of frozen yogurt at some point soon, before I finalize that statement as my official opinion. Just for the sake of comparison... of course.)
Liz Lemon is the first of the Ben & Jerry's Greek Froyo flavors that I taste tested, on the recommendation of my best friend out in Seattle. While other friends have been suggesting that I try their favorite rich, chunky flavors of B&J's ice cream, she chimed in with an excited vote for Liz Lemon, stating that for her, "less is more." (I'm assuming that she means that she's not a huge fan of all the chunks in many of Ben & Jerry's flavors, which for me is one of the highlights of the brand. But apparently she's not alone in her dislike of what I consider to be exciting chunky ice cream goodness. Another friend of mine commented that she feels as though Ben & Jerry's just plops a whole lot of stuff into their flavors and there is just too much going on in their ice cream for her tastes. And while I can't really fathom actually disliking chunky ice creams, I can certainly understand the desire for more simple flavors, at least some of the time. And Liz Lemon is the epitome of a rich and creamy yet more simple variety of frozen dairy bliss.
This flavor only has two elements - the lemon and the blueberry lavender swirl. I had recently sampled some Lemon Meringue Pie Gelato (more on that subject at a later date) and so I was already familiar with the similarly delicious light lemon flavor that provides the base for Liz Lemon, which is closer to a lemon custard or pudding than to the sweet but still tangy flavor of an actual lemon meringue pie. The flavor isn't as heavy handed as a custard or pudding, though - as I mentioned earlier, Ben & Jerry's Froyo manages to remain creamy, even rich, while also mysteriously managing to be much lighter tasting. The result is a delightful taste that in no way resembles the experience of eating an actual lemon.
But what sets Ben & Jerry's Liz Lemon apart is, of course, the blueberry lavender swirl. I had been skeptical about lavender in my ice cream - I suspected that it might leave my mouth tasting rather like old lady hand soap. But then I tried Blueberry Lavender Gelato at Cold Fusion in Newport, Rhode Island this summer, and all my doubts were dispelled. I don't know quite how to describe the deliciousness that is the flavor of blueberry lavender, but the lavender somehow gently sweetens the blueberry flavor, more subtlety than if refined sugar is used as the sweetening agent. Of course both the Cold Fusion Gelato and the Ben & Jerry's Froyo make use of refined sugar as well. But somehow the lavender, combined in particular with the naturally tart flavors of lemon and blueberry, ends us being light, sweet, fresh and more healthy-tasting. (And let's just be clear that said healthy-tasting, not that this flavor is actually healthy. Although Ben & Jerry's Froyo is at least 70 calories lower per serving than the B&J's ice cream flavors with the lowest calorie counts, and nearly 200 calories lower than some of the richest ice cream flavors.)
Overall, I'm giving Liz Lemon a 4 star rating, but basically only because I still prefer decadent chocolate ice creams and other rich flavors over lighter, fruity flavors a majority of the time. But if I'm in the mood for something a little more refreshing, Liz Lemon is at the top of my list. I've discovered that it makes for a great breakfast!
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