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ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

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Ben & Jerry's - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

The Flavour Graveyard: Where Flavours Are Laid to Rest

We’ve created a lot of euphoric flavours over the years, but for better or worse, some of them have moved on to the great waffle cone in the sky, otherwise known as our Flavour Graveyard.

Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

Gone, But Not Forgotten When concocting as many euphoric flavours as Ben & Jerry’s has over the years, it’s inevitable that some of those flavours will meet their untimely end; and we’re not talking about spooning out the last bite of ice cream. It’s tragic, we know, but not all our chunky, funky flavours are born to be favourites. Our Flavour Gurus are dreamers and love to experiment, but sometimes those flavours flop, and we need to lay them to rest to make room for new flavours.  

But, Why?? When it comes to cause of death, there are many reasons a flavour may meet their maker, from too expensive to simply too strange. We know it’s no consolation, but sometimes knowing what happened can help in the grieving process. Most often, we’ll send a flavour out to pasture that not enough of our fans were digging, with their spoons or their hearts. A fallen flavour may have had some loyal lovers, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough to help it survive.  But fear not, the circle of life is always completed with a new concoction to take the place of a flavour that didn’t make it.

For those that do not live on, we make sure they have a happy resting place befitting their place in Ben & Jerry’s history.

Ben & Jerry's Graveyard

Rest In Peace Enter the Flavour Graveyard , where we pay tribute to the flavours that are no longer bites on your spoon … because they’ve bitten the dust. We know it’s a difficult time, which is why we offer a place to visit and mourn these losses.

The Flavour Graveyard exists in two incarnations: on Ben & Jerry’s websites around the world, and also at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury, Vermont.  Yes, there is an actual Flavour Graveyard on a hill overlooking our factory, complete with granite headstones and witty epitaphs for each flavour. Oh, and what’s buried beneath the headstones you might ask? Just warm memories of the flavours we miss most, and the cold reality of their unpopular demise. 

The physical Flavour Graveyard was erected in 1997 and originally held just 4 flavours, which only existed in the United States: Dastardly Mash, Economic Crunch, Ethan Almond and Tuskegee Chunk. Since then, the Graveyard has grown to include over 35 flavors, including Wavy Gravy, Miz Jelena’s Sweet Potato Pie, Dublin Mudslide, Holy Cannoli and many more (mostly) beloved departees. With over 300,000 annual visitors to the factory, we’re guessing that as many as a quarter-million mourners pay their respects at the Flavour Graveyard each year. And considering the countless online visitors to the digital Flavour Graveyard , that’s a heck of a lot of sweet sorrow!

Flavor Graveyard

 

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Ben and Jerry's: What's it like to take the ultimate ice cream tour in Vermont?

In the quaint town of waterbury, ice cream groupies can get their dessert fix with a ben and jerry's tour, article bookmarked.

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“No dessert,” I replied to the waitress when she offered our group menus.

We had just finished lunch at The Reservoir, a restaurant and tap room in downtown Waterbury, Vermont , and my two teenage children and their friends were anxious to move on to the purpose of our excursion: a tour of the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. They had all taken the tour numerous times (one of the advantages of living in rural New Hampshire, about a 90-minute drive from the factory) but this fact did not dampen their enthusiasm.

We made the 10-minute drive from the centre of town to the famed factory, and discovered throngs of others who were equally enthusiastic about the opportunity to bask in Ben and Jerry’s lore and partake of the ice cream. The place was mobbed, and even though tours run every 10 minutes, we had to buy our tickets two hours in advance.

To pass the time we drove down the road to visit two other big Waterbury attractions: Cabot Creamery, where we sampled far too much Vermont-made cheese; and Lake Champlain Chocolates, where we somehow made room in our stuffed stomachs for truffles. Each was a nice appetiser for the main course, and if I weren’t a local able to buy both products at my neighbourhood grocery, I might have done a little shopping.

It has suddenly become harder to buy Ben & Jerry’s and Pot Noodles

Back at Ben and Jerry’s, we lingered in the hot sun with a collection of tourists and other locals, eager to get inside the hallowed walls. The compound is remarkably small, especially considering that it produces 40 per cent of the ice cream sold in the United States. There is a small waiting area for tours, and an adjacent gift shop. Outside, there is an ice cream kiosk, and half a dozen tables.

Finally, at 10 past four, a cowbell was rung and our tour began. It started with a short film about the history of the company. As most Ben and Jerry’s aficionados know, it all started in 1978 when two friends opened an ice cream shop in a renovated petrol station. The seven-minute animated film skips along, emphasising the company’s social activism and fair trade business practices. (In 2003 the company became a fully owned subsidiary of Unilever, but Ben and Jerry’s retains an independent Board of Directors.)

After the film, we were taken to a landing overlooking the room where they make the ice cream, but we were not allowed to take photographs. There were eight stages and each was labelled with a big sign, while our tour guide told us what happened at each. I was surprised at how relaxed the room appeared, with only a handful of staff at the machines. Even more surprising is that only one flavour is manufactured at a time, usually for 12 to 72 hours. The factory runs 24/7 according to our guide, producing 400,000 pints per day.

Ben and Jerry’s emphasises its social conscience

We stood there for five minutes before being escorted into the “Flavor Room”, where Ben and Jerry actually created some of the early flavours. The little kitchen where they did the inventing was glassed off, but we could see it. Everyone was given a tiny tasting cup of milk and cookies ice cream and then we were escorted out. In all, the tour lasted maybe 30 minutes, and left me a little disappointed. What impressed me most was how much money the company earns on the tours themselves. Roughly 350,000 people take the tour every year; at an average ticket price of $4, that’s $1.4 million in tour sales alone.

Like a herd of cows, our tour group walked out the door and immediately queued to buy ice cream (some of us still licking the free sample). With roughly 30 people waiting and only two windows open, it was clear we’d be there for a while, and I reminded my lot that we could drive down the road and buy the same exact product at a petrol station, but they wanted to wait. Clearly, this was the prevailing sentiment, as everyone stood in the queue patiently and good-naturedly.

The “Flavor Graveyard” mourns the loss of discontinued flavours

Ninety minutes and $25 later, we took our cones to the “Flavor Graveyard”, which is a short walk through the parking lot, to enjoy what turned out to be our favourite part of the day. Designed like an actual cemetery, headstones bear the names of discontinued flavours along with little rhymes. It was fun to walk through the dearly departed flavours, such as Rainforest Crunch (1988-1988): “With aching heart and heavy sigh, we bid Rainforest Crunch goodbye. That nutty brittle from exotic places, got sticky in between our braces.”

Where the tour seemed detached from customers who love the brand, the graveyard had a whimsical sense of humour, and embraced the personal relationship many feel towards their favourite flavours.

While it wasn’t the most riveting tour I’ve ever taken, the drive to Waterbury alone is worth the trip; the breathtaking views of the rolling Vermont Mountains are pristine and unmarred by billboards. Perhaps most enjoyable were the other tourists, who were nonplussed by the long queues at Ben and Jerry’s. Clearly, brand loyalty goes a long way.

Travel essentials

Getting there

Waterbury is within driving distance of Montreal airport (two hours) and Boston airport (three hours).

Staying there

Trapp Family Lodge ( trappfamily.com ) is about 10 miles north of Waterbury in Stowe, which is a huge tourist destination, especially for travellers from New York. It’s a year round town, with skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Doubles from $225, room only.

More Information

benjerry.com/about-us/factory-tours

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10 Delicious Facts about Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard

By jennifer m wood | apr 8, 2014.

Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.

When the shiny, happy ice cream makers at Ben & Jerry’s decide to discontinue your favorite flavor, there are two things you can do: whine about it, or pay tribute to your preferred pint at the company’s Flavor Graveyard.

What began as an online-only ode to the Waterbury, Vermont-based company’s dearly departed pints (a.k.a. “the depinted”) in 1995 has become a real, live tourist attraction. Set peacefully on a hill behind the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, a visit to the Flavor Graveyard can be done independently of a factory tour (though the daily 30-minute tours do conclude with a tasting). We recently had the chance to pay our respects to the brand’s retired slate of pints, and learned 10 fun facts along the way.

1. THE FLAVOR GRAVEYARD OPENED IN 1997

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Two years after the Flavor Graveyard made its digital debut , the sweet-toothed cemetery opened to the public. Its first official residents came during a mass burial of four flavors: Dastardly Mash (1979-1991), Economic Crunch (1987-1987), Ethan Almond (1988-1988), and Tuskegee Chunk (1989-1990). Today, it’s estimated that as many as 300,000 people visit the Flavor Graveyard each year.

2. 31 FLAVORS ARE CURRENTLY “BURIED” HERE

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Don’t bother trying to dig up what might be the last known pint of your favorite flavor, as there’s nothing actually buried at the site itself—unless, according to a company spokesperson, you count “warm memories and cold reality.” Turtle Soup, Crème Brulee, and Fossil Fuel are its most recently interred flavors.

3. ETHAN ALMOND IS THE YOUNGEST RESIDENT

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

When it comes to short-lived flavors, Ethan Almond has its fellow residents beat. The flavor—vanilla ice cream with chocolate-covered almonds—was never even sold as a pint. It was a bulk flavor, created specifically for the opening of Burlington, Vermont’s Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in 1987.

4. PEANUTS! POPCORN! AND CHOCOLATE COMFORT DIDN’T LAST LONG EITHER

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Though both of these flavors did make it to grocery store shelves—Chocolate Comfort in 1999 and Peanuts! Popcorn! in 2000—both were laid to rest less than a year after their release.

5. THE HEADSTONES ARE MADE OF RESIN, FOR NOW

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Though all of the graveyard’s headstones were initially made of resin, granite is taking over as the company’s material of choice. And they’re slowly replacing all of the original headstones at a rate of “a few” per year, according to a company spokesperson.

6. EACH FLAVOR GETS A CLEVER LITTLE EPITAPH

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

It’s the job of one of Ben & Jerry’s in-house copywriters to pay tribute to the growing list of retired flavors with a few poetic lines on the flavor’s passing. Sugar Plum, for example: "It swirled in our heads, it danced in our dreams, it proved not to be though, the best of ice creams."

7. WAVY GRAVY AND RAINFOREST CRUNCH ARE SORELY MISSED

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Though they’ve recently revamped their website, ice cream lovers jonesing for a particular retired flavor were previously able to make their voices heard by casting a vote for the pints they most wanted to see resurrected. Two of the biggest vote-getters? Wavy Gravy and Rainforest Crunch.

8. WHITE RUSSIAN IS A ZOMBIE

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

After a decade of strong sales, Ben & Jerry’s reluctantly had to retire White Russian in 1996, but not because it wasn’t popular. The cost of the Kahlua-like flavoring that was used in its production became too prohibitive. But the customers spoke and White Russian was eventually resurrected, but only in Scoop Shops (sorry grocery store customers).

9. HOLY CANNOLI FOUND AN AFTERLIFE, TOO

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Though Holy Cannoli spent only a year on shelves, the public outcry following its retirement was loud enough that the company’s flavor-makers decided to revisit the idea, but tweak its recipe. In 2012, they released a new take on the flavor—simply called Cannoli—as a limited batch, noting on their Facebook page , “We made a cannoli flavor with ricotta before and it bombed. It was called Holy Cannoli. This is a new take on it and we think it tastes better than Holy Cannoli did. We hope you do too!” (Maybe it was the pistachios.)

10. ECONOMIC CRUNCH LIVED UP TO ITS NAME

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

The day after the stock market crash of November 6, 1987, Ben & Jerry’s sent a truck to Wall Street and began handing out free scoops of Economic Crunch ice cream to brokers and investment bankers. The truck was parked illegally, which didn’t please the NYPD. But the company was determined to finish the job: Each time the driver was asked to move, he’d drive around the block, park in the same space again, and continue scooping.

All images courtesy of Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.

UponArriving

UponArriving

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour Review: The Inside Scoop

For Ben and Jerry’s fans, the factory tour is a must-visit attraction when you’re in Vermont. It’s a chance to see how those secret flavors are created and to sample some new and exciting ice cream combinations.

But is the tour really worth it? Especially if you’re driving a long way to get there.

Let’s dive into the details of the tour, so you know what to expect and can make the most of your experience.

Table of Contents

What is the Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour?

The Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour is a tour that allows visitors to witness ice cream production taking place in the original Ben and Jerry’s factory.

Visitors have the opportunity to sample and order select ice cream flavors and even witness, with their own eyes, new flavors getting created. It’s also home to the famous “Flavor Graveyard” where tribute is paid to all of the retired flavors from years past.

Where is the Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour?

The Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour is located in Waterbury, Vermont, about 30 minutes from Burlington, VT. 

Here is the official address: 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd Route 100, Waterbury Village Historic District, VT 05676.

Note: It is the only Ben & Jerry’s factory open to the public.

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

How to book a tour to the factory

You have the option to book a tour either online or in person when you arrive. Here are the prices:

  • Guests aged 13 and over: $6
  • Guests aged 12 and under: $1
  • Guests over 65: $5
  • Military personnel: $3
  • ***There is a $1 service fee

It’s strongly advised that you make a reservation in advance , as certain tours tend to fill up fast. Reservations open up two weeks before your desired date.

At peak times, they offer tours every 15 minutes, and from my own observations, it appears that the early tours are the most sought-after and tend to sell out rapidly. The total tour will last about 30 minutes.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory ticket booth

Our experience at the factory tour

We decided to arrive approximately 30 minutes ahead of our scheduled tour time, allowing us ample opportunity to explore the renowned Flavor Graveyard and wander around the premises a bit.

When you first arrive, there are a few parking lots to choose from, but we opted for the main front lot, which offers free electric vehicle parking . However, most vehicles were being directed towards the rear lot, situated only a few steps from the Flavor Graveyard.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory parking

The Flavor Graveyard serves as a tribute to the “dearly depinted” ice cream flavors.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory flavor graveyard

Here, you’ll encounter retired Ben and Jerry’s flavors of all kinds.

Each headstone provides a glimpse into when that flavor first made its debut, along with its unique flavor profile.

I personally enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the “graveyard,” allowing myself to reminisce about some of the flavors I once loved and even uncovering some new and intriguing ones.

I couldn’t believe that I missed out on the marzipan flavor although to be honest I didn’t know what marzipan was until visiting Toledo, Spain which was a trip we took well after this flavor had been discontinued.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory flavor graveyard tombstone

It’s worth noting that, from time to time, they do bring these flavors “back from the dead.” In fact, you can voice your request and explain why you would like to see a certain ice cream come back.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory flavor graveyard

Following our visit to the Flavor Graveyard, we proceeded to the central factory building and on the way I noticed that there were ample restroom facilities available should you need to go.

One thing I really like about the entire facility is that there are signs that make it really easy to get around.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory

Another nice thing for visitors is that you will run into a lot of different photo opportunities.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory

Additionally, there are chairs provided for those looking to take a load off, relish some downtime, and take in the scenic mountain views (which are quite nice).

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Notably, there’s a playground on site to keep the little ones occupied as well.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory

There’s an inviting ice cream shop, the Scoop shop, where they serve up fresh waffle cones and an array of tantalizing flavors (new and old). When we initially arrived, the line wasn’t too daunting, but we were gearing up for our tour, so we decided to hold off.

However, by the time we finished the tour, the line had grown significantly. A sign indicated a 30-minute wait from one point, but the line extended quite a ways beyond that, suggesting that some folks might be in for quite the wait.

Considering the chilly, overcast weather in the 40s (Fº), waiting in a long line for ice cream didn’t quite seem worth it. My advice would be to arrive early for your ice cream fix, especially if you’re visiting on a weekend. Alternatively, you can opt to purchase pints of your favorite flavors directly from the gift shop.

We ventured into the main entrance where the gift shop is situated and took a leisurely browse around.

It’s recommended that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour’s scheduled time in this area . We did notice a few folks joining a tour that was departing before their designated slot, so there’s a possibility of getting in earlier if you’re lucky.

Before the tour commences, you can touch base with the staff member at the podium to check in, though it may not be necessary because they’ll officially check you in just before the tour kicks off.

Nevertheless, if you prefer to double-check that everything’s in order, that’s a good time to do so. While we were provided with QR codes for our tickets, they never actually scanned them; they merely asked us to verify our names.

It’s worth noting that the cell service in this area can be quite unreliable , making it difficult to access your digital tickets. You might want to consider taking screenshots in advance, so you’re not dependent on a data connection for them to display.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory

When it’s time for your tour to commence, they’ll ring the cowbell to kick off the check-in process. You’ll then ascend a set of stairs to catch a brief, five-minute film about Ben and Jerry’s. (An elevator is also an option.)

The film touches on the company’s history and their dedication to causes like social justice, providing a pretty well rounded overview of the company.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory

From there, we proceeded to the glassed-in mezzanine, where you can peer through windows down at the factory in action, akin to the experience we had at the Denver Mint .

As you enter this area, you have the chance to snag a small cup with a few delectable morsels of cookie dough, for those who appreciate that classic treat.

Arriving at the viewing floor, I couldn’t help but notice that the factory appeared somewhat smaller than my initial expectations. However, it dawned on me that this was their original factory, so it naturally had a more compact scale.

Our guide offered a wealth of information regarding the various stages of the ice cream-making process, and there’s a screen that illustrates everything he’s discussing in case you don’t have a good view of the factory floor. It’s all pretty fascinating, but it does tend to move at a brisk pace, leaving little room for questions.

Our next stop led us to the “Flavor Room,” where we had the opportunity to sample one of the newer flavors: Butterscotch’d (which made Brad very happy). I’m not a big butter scotch fan so I was not too thrilled about it but it ended up being extremely tasty .

We also had the privilege of observing the creation of a brand-new secret flavor happening right before our eyes!

ben & jerry

Following some additional insights into their global production processes, our visit concluded, and it was time to make our exit.

Ben and Jerry’s Factory

In summary, I’d definitely recommend a visit to the factory. It’s fun to explore the Flavor Graveyard, where you can reminisce about past flavors you might have tried years ago.

As for the tour itself, at $6, it’s a good deal. I personally found it a bit on the fast side and wished for more time to ask questions, but when the tours are departing every 15 minutes, that’s not really possible.

Additionally, that ice cream line was quite the spectacle. If the sign was accurate, people were looking at a minimum 45-minute wait and possibly even a good deal longer, which does seem a bit extreme for a couple of scoops of ice cream.

Perhaps they could consider a priority line for tour-goers, a pre-order system (before your tour), or something along those lines – that’s just a long time to stand in line for some dang ice cream!

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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Waterbury, Vermont : Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour and Flavor Graveyard

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Flavor Graveyard.

It's hard to go wrong with a tour of an ice cream factory. And pay your respects at the "Flavor Graveyard" out back.

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Oh Pear ice cream flavor tombstone.

Highly recommend going to the factory. The tour costs $3 to do and there's free ice cream at the end! Nice gift shop as well. In the back of the factory up the hill is the flavor graveyard that you can walk to and see. It was pretty funny to see the tombstones of the different ice cream flavors.

Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard.

A mock graveyard of all the retired Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavors. Each stone has some witty comment about the demise of the flavor. It is located near the parking lot of the Ben and Jerry's factory. The factory tour is a small admission fee, but the flavor graveyard is free.

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The Truth About Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

Ben & Jerry's ice cream

Correction 4/25/22: A previous version of this article stated the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard is located in Burlington, Vermont. Its location is in Waterbury, Vermont.  

Known for their creative flavor combinations , everyone knows the famous ice cream brand  Ben & Jerry's , but even the most self-proclaimed fans may be shocked to find out about the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard . What is a flavor graveyard, you may be wondering? Like everything in this life, all good things come to an end. For Ben & Jerry's, instead of simply retiring flavors, old ice cream pints go to rest in their Flavor Graveyard.

Did you have a favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor that suddenly disappeared? Do flavors like This is Nuts, Chocolate Comfort, or Peanut Butter and Jelly ring a bell? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you might wonder what happened to all these flavors. We did the research, so you can learn all about where Ben & Jerry's pints go to rest from the comfort of your home. Here is the fascinating truth about Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard.

The flavor graveyard is in Waterbury, Vermont

Many people laugh at the discussion of a flavor graveyard. Even the most devoted Ben & Jerry's customers do not know the Flavor Graveyard exists. Visitors can find the ice cream cemetery in the backyard of the company's factory in Waterbury, Vermont, which  over 350,000 people visit yearly . With this many people visiting the factory, we can assume a large amount find their way to the Flavor Graveyard too. 

Ben & Jerry's created the Flavor Graveyard as a way for customers to mourn the loss of their favorite flavors that were no longer available in stores. In typical creative and fun Ben & Jerry's fashion, this included an actual graveyard overlooking their factory with granite headstones and clever causes of death for each flavor.

Videos found online give off a Disneyland haunted mansion feel. Still, you will have to visit Waterbury, for a tour to truly experience the Flavor Graveyard and its spooky ice cream glory.

Pints are not physically buried in the grave

Did you think tiny pints placed in miniature graves got buried in the Flavor Graveyard? While the idea of a pint-sized grave seemed fascinating, unfortunately, that is not the case with Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard.

The only thing buried in the graveyard is the memories of our favorite ice cream flavors that are no longer with us. Visitors of the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard mourn the loss of  many ice cream flavors  like Oatmeal Cookie Chunk, Dublin Mudslide™, and Crème Brûlée, to name a few.

While physical pints do not remain under the soil, headstones mark the flavors that once took up space in our freezers. With the witty messaging, birth date, and date of death outlined on the granite tombstone, it can be easy to imagine a small yet delicious pint buried beneath the dirt. For now, we will continue to carry these flavors in our hearts and minds.

The flavor graveyard began with only four headstones

Ben & Jerry's constructed the Flavor Graveyard in 1997, beginning with only four monuments to remember the beloved pints no longer enjoyed (via  Ben & Jerry's ). According to an October 1, 2015, Ben & Jerry's blog post highlighting the dearly de-pinted, the original four flavors were Dastardly Mash, Economic Crunch, Ethan Almond, and Tuskegee Chunk. These flavors existed only in the United States.

As Ben & Jerry's invented more flavors, you guessed it, more flavors also found their way to the graveyard. Since its inception, the flavor graveyard has added 35 other flavors. These flavors include Sugar Plum, Rainforest Crunch, Coconutterly Fair, etc. Watching your favorite flavor pass on can be challenging, but we find comfort in knowing our beloved Holy Cannoli is not alone in the Flavor Graveyard. On a positive note, you can always visit the memorial of your favorite flavors in person for a final goodbye.

The graveyard actually exists in one other place

We've established that the Flavor Graveyard lives in the backyard of the Ben & Jerry's factory. However, ice cream lovers can also visit the graves without leaving their homes via Ben & Jerry's website. The  digital graveyard  highlights the flavors passed on and is complete with digital tombstones outlining their illustrious lives.

Every flavor in the digital graveyard contains a graphic tombstone outlining its best qualities, time on the shelves, and a creative poem highlighting its life. For example, the flavor, Schweddy Balls, coined from the famous "Saturday Night Live," skit lives on in the digital graveyard. On the website, you can find a snippet of the poem describing the flavor with lines like, "Fudge-covered rum balls & malt balls galore!" While it may be devastating to reflect on the flavors that are no more, Schweddy Balls lived an extraordinary life despite its short shelf life.

The flavor graveyard has hosted ice cream funerals

Grab your tissues and bow your heads for a moment of silence for the beloved flavor,  What a Cluster . The United States-based flavor contained peanut butter ice cream with caramel cluster pieces, marshmallow swirls, and peanut buttery swirls. Unfortunately, this delicious flavor did not receive the love it deserved and found its way to the Flavor Graveyard like many other flavors.

This flavor held a special place in Ben & Jerry's heart, so they held an ice cream flavor funeral at the Flavor Graveyard. Ben & Jerry's filmed the funeral and posted it on YouTube to maximize the respect paid to the delicious What a Cluster flavor by including the digital graveyard visitors. No detail was spared in this ice cream funeral preparation. We watched, shed a tear, and honored the peanut butter, caramel goodness, What a Cluster, truly a flavor that'll be missed.

The flavor graveyard is about more than ice cream

The fallen Fossil Fuel flavor consists of sweet cream ice cream, chocolate cookie pieces, fudge dinosaurs, and a fudge swirl. While the flavor undoubtedly tastes delicious, the Fossil Fuel ice cream is not the only thing Ben & Jerry's wants to bury. In addition to this ice cream flavor making its way to the graveyard, Ben & Jerry's decided to figuratively bury fossil fuel pollution as well (via  Ben & Jerry's ).

The company believes all fossil fuels belong in the ground in an effort to help climate change. Ben & Jerry's supports many causes, and climate change happens to be one of them. The brand makes a conscious effort to work toward a cleaner energy economy. With the act of burying the Fossil Fuel flavor in the ground, Ben & Jerry's sends a message while ensuring that their delicious ice cream continues to warm the hearts and taste buds of dessert lovers everywhere.

Flavors can actually rise from the graveyard

Say what? Yes, you read that correctly. Ben & Jerry's flavors can actually rise from the dead. As we know, flavors go to the graveyard for many reasons. The dearly de-pinted flavors, although favorites to some, did not sell as well as the popular flavors you continue to find on store shelves.

If one of your favorite flavors found itself in the Flavor Graveyard, have no fear. On every flavor's digital grave page, you can choose to "Resurrect My Favorite Flavor." Clicking this button will direct you to a "contact us" web form where you can petition for your favorites to come back to store shelves. In March 2022, Ben & Jerry's brought back the Dublin Mudslide, much to the delight of countless fans. 

The form asks which flavor you would like to bring back, why you like the flavor so much, and your name and address. If your favorite flavor disappeared, run, don't walk to the Ben & Jerry's website to petition for it to make a triumphant return. 

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

Vermont Journal

From the b&b and around vermont, a summer excursion to ben and jerry’s flavor graveyard.

While the factory tour at this famous ice cream duo’s facility is still unavailable, there are still cones to eat and the Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard to explore. Known as one of the best ice cream plants in the county, Ben and Jerry’s is located in Waterbury, Vermont, just about 35 minutes from our Bed and Breakfast. It’s a beautiful scenic drive from Warren to Waterbury with some fascinating points of interest along the way.

If you’re a fan of sweet treats, then you’ll especially love choosing West Hill House B&B for your lodging accommodations in Vermont. Not only will a beautiful breakfast be prepared each morning of your stay, but throughout the day, Innkeeper Susan serves up mouthwatering homemade cookies with the precision and skill of a professional baker. You’ll find many of her recipes on our blog!

Susan’s home-baked treats are just the beginning of the special touches on a stay at our Vermont Bed and Breakfast. We often hear from our guests that arriving at our Inn is akin to the warm and welcoming feeling of entering a close relative’s house. We encourage you to make yourself at home and we are also delighted to help you with your plans for each day you are with us. In fact, we’re celebrating our 17th year as Innkeepers, and we continue to love looking after our guests.

Reserve your room first, and then start planning your itinerary filled with exciting outings like Bed and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard. Head over to our booking calendar today!

Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

Visit Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard and Tour

This iconic ice cream brand is a household name around the globe, and when you’re visiting Vermont, it’s a fantastic addition to your itinerary. The Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard is a walk to remember. You’ll weave your way through more than 30 “gravestones” of the departed flavors from the famous ice cream line. Each headstone reads the name and ingredients, plus the years it was available. True ice cream lovers are encouraged to vote to bring back their favorite departed flavors.

After you’ve walked the Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard path, pop up to the outdoor ice cream window for a sweet treat of one of their many still available ice cream flavors. The Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream shop is open daily from 11 am until 6 pm. At this time, they still haven’t set a reopening date for the factory tours, but heading up to Waterbury is still a treat.

Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

More to Check Out on a Day Trip in Waterbury, Vermont:

After you’ve toured the Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard and had your fill of ice cream, there’s much more to explore in Waterbury. Here are a few activities to add to your day trip:

  • Little River State Park: This is a lovely state park for hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and picnicking. The 850-acre Waterbury Resoviour comes alive with kayakers, paddleboarders, and beach-goers soaking up the sun during the summer months.
  • Prohibition Pig: If you’ve stretched your legs and you’re ready for some lunch, this restaurant and brewery is an excellent find in Waterbury. On the historic Main Street, menus offer smoked meats, craft cocktails, and locally brewed beer.
  • Pete’s Greens: Get a good look at the local bounty of fresh, seasonal produce and products our dedicated farmers create each year at this farm store and petting zoo. You’ll find prepared foods to be enjoyed on one of their many picnic tables out in the Vermont countryside.

Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

Elegant Lodging for your Vermont Getaways

After returning from Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard and exploring Waterbury, you’ll love relaxing in your private guest suite at our Vermont Bed and Breakfast. Each room offers comfortable seating areas, perfect for a quiet moment. You’ll find cozy gas fireplaces, comfortable beds, and spa-like bathrooms fit for bubble baths and steamy showers. Each of our nine guest rooms is unique, but all come equipped with high-end amenities to make your stay the best.

We offer an array of special packages to enhance your stay; whether you’re joining us for romance or an anniversary, a significant life change, or a babymoon, we have extra perks to make your getaway to Vermont fantastic. Be sure to check out our packages here before you reserve your room. We can’t wait to host you! Book your next stay today.

ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

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ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

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ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

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Marshmallow Sky

About this flavor.

Our Scoop Shops have some fantastic exclusive flavors you can’t find in the freezer aisle, and this is one we just couldn't resist putting into pints for a limited time. Not to worry, you’ll still find it in shops once the pint goes kaput!

Available As:

Marshmallow sky ice cream - pint flavor-gallery.

image-from-the-document-manager

Marshmallow Sky Ice Cream - Bulk flavor-gallery

Values-led sourcing.

CONTAINS WHEAT, EGG, SOY AND MILK.

Ingredients

CREAM, SKIM MILK, WATER, LIQUID SUGAR (SUGAR, WATER), CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, WHEAT FLOUR, EGG YOLKS, BROWN SUGAR, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), INVERT SUGAR, EGG WHITES, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, EXPELLER PRESSED SOYBEAN OIL, WHOLE EGGS, COCOA, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), VANILLA EXTRACT, SALT, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, PECTIN, GUAR GUM, SPIRULINA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), MOLASSES, COCOA BUTTER, CARRAGEENAN, SOY LECITHIN, CITRIC ACID, TAPIOCA FLOUR, MILK.

CREAM, SKIM MILK, WATER, LIQUID SUGAR (SUGAR, WATER), CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, WHEAT FLOUR, EGG YOLKS, BROWN SUGAR, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), INVERT SUGAR, EGG WHITES, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, EGGS, EXPELLER PRESSED SOYBEAN OIL, COCOA, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), VANILLA EXTRACT, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR, PECTIN, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, GUAR GUM, SPIRULINA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), MOLASSES, COCOA BUTTER, CARRAGEENAN, VANILLA BEAN SEEDS, SOY LECITHIN, TAPIOCA FLOUR.

Dietary Certifications

Reviews & ratings, from farm to freezer, recommended flavors.

PB S'more Original Ice Cream Pint

PB S'more New!

Cannoli Original Ice Cream Pint

Churray for Churros!™

Peanut Butter Half Baked® Original Ice Cream Pint

Peanut Butter Half Baked®

IMAGES

  1. Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard and Factory Tour

    ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

  2. A Ben & Jerry's Flavor Is Back From the Graveyard

    ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

  3. Ben and Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard

    ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

  4. Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard in Vermont!

    ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

  5. Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard (25 Photos)

    ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

  6. RIP: Ice Cream Mourners Pay their Respects at Ben & Jerry’s Flavor

    ben & jerry's factory tour and flavor graveyard

COMMENTS

  1. Factory Tour

    Our Waterbury site is the only Ben & Jerry's factory open to the public. Our very first factory, built in 1985, continues to manufacture upwards of 350,000 pints per day while offering our fans a sneak peek at our humble beginnings. Our small Scoop shop, retail area and tour route have remained fairly unchanged over the years.

  2. Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

    Discover Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard in Waterbury, Vermont: The sweetest graveyard in the world is filled with headstones for dearly de-pinted ice cream flavors.

  3. Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour and Flavor Graveyard

    Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour and Flavor Graveyard. Address: 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury, VT. Directions: I-89 exit 10, north on Hwy 100 about one mile, on the left. Hours: Summer tours daily 9-9, fewer hours off-season. Flavor Graveyard open every day.

  4. Ben & Jerry's

    When visiting the Factory do not forget to visit the Flavor graveyard! We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00am till 6:00pm for scoop shop and retail items! For Factory Experience...

  5. Ben & Jerry's

    The tour only takes 30 mins. You walk up a flight of stairs (elevator is available) and sit down and watch a 7min. video about the history of Ben & Jerry from the 70'2 to the future! Then you enter the next room where you can oversee the production of one flavor of ice cream being made ~about 9 steps in the process.

  6. The Flavour Graveyard: Where Flavours Are Laid to Rest

    The physical Flavour Graveyard was erected in 1997 and originally held just 4 flavours, which only existed in the United States: Dastardly Mash, Economic Crunch, Ethan Almond and Tuskegee Chunk. Since then, the Graveyard has grown to include over 35 flavors, including Wavy Gravy, Miz Jelena's Sweet Potato Pie, Dublin Mudslide, Holy Cannoli ...

  7. Ben and Jerry's: What's it like to take the ultimate ice cream tour in

    Back at Ben and Jerry's, we lingered in the hot sun with a collection of tourists and other locals, eager to get inside the hallowed walls. The compound is remarkably small, especially ...

  8. 10 Delicious Facts about Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

    We recently had the chance to pay our respects to the brand's retired slate of pints, and learned 10 fun facts along the way. 1. THE FLAVOR GRAVEYARD OPENED IN 1997. Two years after the Flavor ...

  9. Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour Review: The Inside Scoop

    The Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour is located in Waterbury, Vermont, about 30 minutes from Burlington, VT. Here is the official address: 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd Route 100, Waterbury Village Historic District, VT 05676. Note: It is the only Ben & Jerry's factory open to the public.

  10. Waterbury, VT

    Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard. A mock graveyard of all the retired Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavors. Each stone has some witty comment about the demise of the flavor. It is located near the parking lot of the Ben and Jerry's factory. The factory tour is a small admission fee, but the flavor graveyard is free. [Doghouse Rilley, 10/26/2002]

  11. Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard Tour

    A Tour of Ben & Jerry's Solemn, Delicious Flavor Graveyard ... and, to cap it all off, snowshoed over to the famed Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard. The faux-cemetery (located near the factory in ...

  12. The Truth About Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

    According to an October 1, 2015, Ben & Jerry's blog post highlighting the dearly de-pinted, the original four flavors were Dastardly Mash, Economic Crunch, Ethan Almond, and Tuskegee Chunk. These ...

  13. Here's Every Discontinued Flavor in the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

    The graveyard is located at the Ben & Jerry's company factory at 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury Village Historic District, VT 05676. Note - it's not located at the company headquarters. The Ben & Jerry's headquarters are in South Burlington, Vermont. The company factory is in Waterbury.

  14. Wild Travels

    Season 2 Episode 1 | 26m 36s |. My List. Host Will Clinger finds himself in the middle of an ice cream-related catastrophe at the Ben & Jerry's Factory in Waterbury, Vermont; achieves speeds of ...

  15. What to Know Before You Visit Ben and Jerry's Factory

    There are 100 different flavors of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Approximately 36 are variations of chocolate and vanilla, and only 22 of the flavors are what many would define as "unique.". However, having such a variety of flavors is no easy accomplishment. If you can't find a Ben and Jerry's flavor that you enjoy, you may want to ...

  16. BEN & JERRY'S Flavor Graveyard & Factory Tour

    The travel series WILD TRAVELS and host Will Clinger got a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory, which turned out be as c...

  17. Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard: Best Summer Outing 2022

    While the factory tour at this famous ice cream duo's facility is still unavailable, there are still cones to eat and the Ben and Jerry's Flavor Graveyard to explore. Known as one of the best ice cream plants in the county, Ben and Jerry's is located in Waterbury, Vermont, just about 35 minutes from our Bed and Breakfast.

  18. The Ben & Jerry's Factory and Flavor Graveyard

    Head an hour North from the Woodstock Inn Resort to the Ben Jerry's factory. The 30-minute factory tour includes free samples at the end. When visiting the gift shop, pick from various Ben Jerry ...

  19. The CONE-undrum: Which Cone Should You Get at the Scoop Shop?

    Suggestions are available when 3 or more characters are entered. When results are available use the up and down arrows to review and enter to select.

  20. Marshmallow Sky Ice Cream

    Making a Difference. We build awareness and support for the activism causes we feel strongly about. Ben & Jerry's offers 98 Flavors of Ice Cream. Flavors Available In Dairy, Non-Dairy, Gluten Free, and More. Find Your New Favorite Flavor Today.