What's The Actual Difference Between Blue Bell And Turkey Hill Ice Cream?

There are two types of ice cream fans: those who will grab their favorite flavor, regardless of brand, and those who are devoted to one ice cream brand and see all others as inferior. Throw in a few regional loyalties, and your preferred pint can be pretty revealing. Take Blue Bell and Turkey Hill, for example. The former was founded in Texas over 100 years ago, is limited to about half the country, and has fans passionate enough to allow it to bounce back from a major listeria outbreak. The latter started as a Pennsylvania dairy company that didn't get into large-scale ice cream production until the 1980s, but now has an official fan club. Turkey Hill is also available in over 40 states. No matter how you scoop it, these ice cream producers have made their mark on dessert lovers.

The big difference between Turkey Hill and Blue Bell comes down to the legal definition of ice cream. For example, the USDA requires that a product be no less than 10 percent milkfat to be sold as ice cream, with products containing less milk fat categorized as reduced-fat ice cream or frozen dairy desserts. Turkey Hill offers nearly 40 flavors of ice cream and frozen desserts — not including the topping-filled Late Night line, sherbets, and no sugar added products. One Reddit user noted that only eight of the core Turkey Hill flavors say "ice cream" on the label.

Blue Bell, on the other hand, has 23 year-round flavors that all meet the legal ice cream requirements, as do many of the brand's limited-time and seasonal flavors. Blue Bell also offers reduced-fat ice cream, high-protein frozen dairy desserts, and sherbet, but it's the impressive ice cream line-up that sets Blue Bell apart.

Founded in Brenham, Texas, Blue Bell began in 1907 as a creamery selling butter, which it did until 1958, when it started making ice cream full-time. Its ice cream and other products, only available in 24 states, are distributed by the brand's own store delivery program. The ice cream can be purchased at grocery stores and scoop shops throughout the southern United States, as far west as portions of Nevada and north into some parts of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Indiana.

While it's impossible to verify if Blue Bell really did create the first cookies and cream ice cream as the brand states on its website, the ice cream manufacturers were definitely on the forefront of flavor innovation. This writer (and former ice cream shop owner) can attest to just how good the Blue Bell Cookies 'n Cream is. If you're outside of the distribution area and are willing to travel for ice cream, you wouldn't be the only one making a pilgrimage for a pint. One Happy Tracks flavor fan on Reddit, for example, said, "I'm traveling to Colorado soon[,] and I'm DESPERATE to find some Happy Tracks ice cream ... I'm wondering if anyone has had any CONFIRMED sightings/purchases of Happy Tracks in the area ... I'm willing to drive up to an hour."

For the ultimate ice cream stop, head to one of Blue Bell's on-site shops located in Brenham, Texas, and Sylacauga, Alabama. During this trip, take a peek at the production facilities, shop the Country Store, and taste Blue Bell flavors you can't get anywhere else.

Turkey Hill also started as a dairy company, selling milk during the Great Depression before eventually adding ice cream and other products to its line-up. Unlike Blue Bell, Turkey Hill still sells milk today, in addition to iced tea and fruit drinks like punch and lemonade.

With a huge flavor line-up, from Frosted Party Cake to Salted Caramel Chocolate Espresso, there's a flavor for every spoon. "Great flavor, good ratio of ingredients, and not too heavy. It reminds me of what B&J used to be before they got too big," says one reviewer on Reddit. Members of Turkey Hill Nation may not be quite as rabid as Blue Bell fans, but they're still passionate about this underrated ice cream brand. Kroger acquired Turkey Hill Dairy in 1985 and owned the company until 2019. The sale of Turkey Hill means the products are less available at Kroger-owned grocery stores. The Turkey Hill website says this is because Kroger wants to focus on selling Kroger-brand ice cream, but it also provides phone numbers so dissatisfied customers can request that Turkey Hill products be reintroduced to their local stores.

If you're part of the fandom, you may want to visit the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia, Pennsylvania. More than just a scoop shop, it's a chance to fill up on unlimited ice cream samples, dream up new flavors, and even visit the Taste Lab to turn that dream flavor into a reality.