When Ottolenghi launched his ice cream range last summer, it sold out fast, leaving Waitrose freezer aisles stripped bare. Now, with temperatures hitting 33C today, he’s back with two brand new flavours for summer 2026.
Forget the coffee break, our ice cream break can’t come soon enough.
First up is a twist on the classic strawberries and cream, a nostalgic flavour we’ll all be familiar with. Ottolenghi has taken the British classic – made with proper West Country cream – and added a ripple of tangy sumac throughout. The deep-red, Middle Eastern spice adds a bright, citrussy twist to the sweet strawberry ice cream. It could only be Ottolenghi.
Honestly, it’s made for the heatwave. Sweet, creamy and slightly citrussy, we’ll be eating this straight from the tub tonight, and stocking up for Wimbledon season.
If chocolate is more your jam, the richer Salted Malted Chocolate is made with Ecuadorian chocolate, toasted malt and sea salt. Think deep, comforting chocolate ice cream with a grown-up edge. We will not be sharing this with the kids.
“We’ve taken flavours people already love and looked for ways to make them feel a little more Ottolenghi,” says Verena Lochmuller, Head Pastry Chef at the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen.
“Sumac felt like the perfect way to sharpen strawberries and cream without overpowering it, while the malt and salt in the chocolate flavour bring warmth and depth that keeps you going back for another spoonful. They’re nostalgic flavours, just approached from a slightly different angle.”
These new flavours join the existing line up of Roasted Pistachio & Sour Cherry Swirl, Coffee & Cardamom and Madagascan Vanilla & Miso Caramel Ice Cream, all priced at £6.
Given what happened last summer, we wouldn’t leave it too long before making a Waitrose run.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
