This Underrated Häagen-Dazs Flavor Is An Old-Fashioned Italian Classic And An '80s Icon

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While Häagen-Dazs is practically synonymous with luxury, some flavors from this beloved brand need more love. For a spoonful of '80s nostalgia, look no further than Häagen-Dazs' classic Rum Raisin. This booze-and-dried-fruit flavor made its mark on the U.S. around the '80s when Häagen-Dazs began releasing pints of the ice cream. Though some might consider it a classic boomer food, it has stood the test of time to remain in store freezers to this day.

Made with rich raisins that have been soaked and plumped in rum for a period of 42 days before being folded into the cream for this luscious ice cream, it's easy to see why this Häagen-Dazs flavor would garner such favor. It gained even more publicity as the namesake for a trendy shade of Revlon lipstick in the '90s. However, including raisins in desserts has long been a hot topic of debate, with some vehemently opposed to the idea and others willing to give the dried fruits a chance. 

When it comes to the underrated Häagen-Dazs ice cream flavor, one Redditor openly queried, "Do people actually like rum raisin?" A commenter replied, "I've always found it hard to believe anyone actually wants a raisin in their ice cream but they keep selling it and I doubt it's only by mistake."

One reviewer on the Häagen-Dazs website shared, "Upon opening you can see all the raisins in the ice cream, it's good they don't skimp on the mix-ins! The taste is vanilla with deep, rich fruit notes." Another enthused, "​Häagen Dazs Rum Raisin is one of my favorite ice cream flavors. The flavor is rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced ... the rum flavor comes through without being overwhelming, and the raisins are juicy and plump."

In a Reddit thread, a user referred to the Häagen-Dazs rum raisin flavor and asked, "Is it just me or is this flavor only popular with the 65 and over community?" One commenter replied, "I don't understand why. I'm 22, and it's delicious." Another mentioned, "I started going to an ice cream shop in my neighborhood regularly and have tried every flavor, so I went with rum raisin one night to try something new. I thought the same thing and my mind swiftly changed. It's excellent." 

With origins that date back beyond Häagen-Dazs' pints in the '80s, understanding where this underrated flavor came from might explain its appeal. The history of rum raisin ice cream actually began in Italy in the '30s, with the pairing of dried grapes (raisins) with Marsala wine. This was folded into vanilla gelato to create a treat called "Málaga gelato." While the Häagen-Dazs version is made with rum, it bears a similar flavor profile that remains resonant.