Best Ice Cream in California

During the heat of summer, nothing beats homemade ice cream, and these boutique creameries draw rave reviews for their sweet scoops, luscious texture and innovative flavors.

Following are our picks for the best ice cream in California, along with examples of the more unusual scoops you'll find on the menus. Who do you think has California's best ice cream? Let us know your favorites in the comments below! :)

• Butternut Squash and Apple Cheddar Ice Cream at Smitten in San Francisco
• Salted Licorice and Foie Gras Ice Cream at Humphry Slocombe in San Francisco
• Point Reyes Blue Cheese & Cranberry or Cilantro and Chocolate Chip Gelato at Lush Gelato in Berkeley
• Honey Lavender, Roasted Banana or Ricanelas (Cinnamon-Snickerdoodle) Ice Cream at Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco
• Lemon Poppy, Salted Mango and Chicory Coffee Ice Cream at Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous in San Francisco
• Elvis Special (Banana and Peanut Butter) at Bert & Rocky's in Claremont
• Rose, Brandied Cherry or Green Tea Ice Cream at Ici Ici in Berkeley
• Champagne Sherbet and Avocado Ice Cream at Loard's in locations throughout California
• Rose Sorbet, Orange Blossom Pistachio and Creamy Mango Ice Cream at Mashti Malone's in Los Angeles
• Taro, Lychee and Sweet Red Bean Ice Cream at Strickland's Frozen Custard in Irvine
• Cabernet Sorbet and Fancy Nancy (Coffee/Banana/Caramel) Ice Cream at Bennett's Ice Cream in the Los Angeles Farmers Market
• Rose Geranium, Riesling Pear and Brown Sugar Ice Cream at Sweet Rose Creamery in Santa Monica
• Olive Oil & Rosemary, Wasabi or Mango Sticky Rice Ice Cream from Cool Haus in Los Angeles
• Cashew Raisin or Bedam Kesar Pista (almond/saffron/pistachio) Ice Cream at Bombay Ice Cream in San Francisco
• Almond Pink Peppercorn or Carrot Walnut Sorbet at Scream Sorbet in Oakland
• California Lemon Zest or Russian Nesselrode Ice Cream at McConnell's in Santa Barbara
• Jalapeno or Rosenblum Zinfandel Ice Cream at Tucker's in Alameda
• Yerba Santa and Rooibos Tea Ice Cream at Tara's Organic Ice Cream in Berkeley and Oakland
• Cookie Jar and Strawberry-Balsamic Ice Cream at Three Twins
• Honey Lavender and Tomales Bay Strawberry Ice Cream at Fairfax Scoop in Fairfax
• Italian Water Ice and Custard at Flavor Brigade in Oakland
• Fig Leaf and Celery Raisin Ice Cream at Penny Ice Creamery in Santa Cruz
• Horchata and Goofy Foot Ice Cream at Cowabunga Creamery in San Carlos
• Popcorn Ice Cream at Saison, San Francisco
• Macapuno and Taro Root Ice Cream at Fosselman's, Alhambra
• Soursop and Durian Ice Cream at Marco Polo, San Francisco
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Ice Cream at Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream, San Diego
• Blood Orange Sorbet and Peppermint Gelato at Gelato Paradiso

Reader's Choice: If you ever get to Mendocino (my favorite town, besides where I live) try the ice cream at the Mendocino Creamery in the old Mendocino hotel located on the north coast on Main Street. Many years ago they won 1st prize at the California State Fair for their "black forest" chocolate ice cream with sprinkles ... yummy!" — Bob Jones, Los Altos, CA

Photos: Smitten pictures by Albert Law; Humphry Slocombe photos by Scaredy_Kat (Flickr)