One of the reasons why I love Vermont is because I can get a maple creemee! AND it has a dedicated maple creemee trail so I can find my favorite!
First things first - What the heck is a maple creemee?
For the uninitiated, the closest thing to a maple creemee, or creemee for short, is to describe it as a maple-flavored soft serve ice cream. BUT according to Dig In Vermont, it’s anything but soft serve! Maple creemees are, “considered its own category of ice cream - not soft serve and certainly not hard scoop - the creemee is unique to Vermont…” Creemees have a lower milk fat content than hard ice cream, but a higher milk fat content than soft serve ice cream.
There’s no definitive explanation for the origins of the creemee, but according to NewEngland.com , it’s rumored that Rutland, Vermont, was the birthplace of the maple creemee. I don’t care where the creemee came from. I just want to eat them!
Maple or Die! It’s the law!
Not exactly, but Vermont is dead serious about protecting its maple products. It even has a law protecting maple labeling!
Vermont Title 6, Chapter 32, § 492, tightly regulates the labeling of maple flavored products. It states,
'(d) The term “maple flavored” may only be used when 100 percent of the flavoring material is a pure maple product. If any artificial maple flavor is used, the label shall clearly and conspicuously state “artificial flavor.”'
Vermont even sued McDonald’s over maple labeling. Back around 2010/2011, Vermont sued McDonald’s because McDonald’s failed to properly label its Fruit and Maple Oatmeal. The maple flavor in the oatmeal was from the bark of a distant maple relative, not actual maple. In a settlement, McDonald’s agreed to give Vermont customers pure maple syrup for oatmeal.
Point is, if you order a maple creemee, you’re getting real maple flavor and it’s soooooo good!
Back to the Creemee Trail...
As of this writing, there are 14 locations on the maple creemee trail, scattered throughout Vermont. So far, I’ve been to four – Green Mountain Sugar House, Bragg Farm Sugar House & Gift Shop, Morse Farm Maple Sugar Works, and Canteen Creemee Company. I love them all, but for right now, Morse Farm is the frontrunner! Coincidently, the day I went to Morse Farm, it was free maple creemee day!
Can you only get maple creemees along the maple creemee trail?
Creemees are ubiquitous in Vermont, so you can get them in places like gas stations, gift stores, etc.
Are maple creemees available all year?
I’ve enjoyed creemees all year long, but it may depend on the place that sells them.
Can you get toppings on them like you can on soft serve?
I haven’t seen it, so it may not be a thing. Really, it's about the delicious maple flavor.
Are creemees more expensive than soft serve or hard ice cream?
I didn’t notice they were more expensive than either hard or soft ice cream.
Can you get a creemee outside of Vermont?
Although I’ve only seen maple creemees in Vermont, some of the information I found says that you can get them in other places in New England.
Now, go out there and get your creemee!
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