Forty years ago, then-President Ronald Reagan created an ice cream-centric annual observance, declaring that National Ice Cream Day would be celebrated on the third Sunday of July every year. Why? Because he said that ice cream was a “nutritious and wholesome food enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States.” And honestly, creating a day just for ice cream is probably one of the best uses of Presidential power.
As Food & Wine reports, for this year’s National Ice Cream Day, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has opted to celebrate in tandem with Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary. The New York City-based ice cream maker now has created a limited-edition flavor inspired by everyone’s favorite cartoon cat.
Van Leeuwen’s Yummy Berry White Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream is a decadent-sounding combination of white chocolate ice cream, bite-sized truffle brownie pieces, and red raspberry jam (those red swirls are supposed to remind you of Hello Kitty’s hair bow). This flavor has been made in collaboration with Sanrio, the massively popular brand that created Hello Kitty. It will be available for one day only — on Sunday, July 21 — at all of Van Leeuwen’s scoop shops in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
The two companies are also co-hosting a Hello Kitty-themed pop-up on Sunday, July 21, at the Van Leeuwen scoop shop in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood. The one-day-only event will include servings of the new Yummy Berry White Chocolate Truffle flavor, along with other Hello Kitty-inspired desserts and limited-edition merch.
Van Leeuwen has been busy with its one-day-only ice cream releases — and its National Day-related treats. Last week, it collaborated with Discover Puerto Rico for a celebration of National Piña Colada Day that involved a special piña colada ice cream flavor. And then a Van Leeuwen ice cream truck drove around New York City, passing out free scoops of the cocktail-inspired dessert. “We are thrilled to share a scoop of paradise, melding the legacy of Puerto Rico’s beloved cocktail with delicious creativity,” said Leah Chandler, Discover Puerto Rico’s chief marketing officer.
Looking ahead to National Ice Cream Day, Van Leeuwen said that 50% of the profits from sales of its Hello Kitty anniversary flavor will be donated to charitable organizations. A delicious new ice cream flavor that provides support for a good cause on National Ice Cream Day? Yes, yes, and yes!
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