Boston's Homegrown Ice Cream

1255 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (map)

Here's a fun little experiment: Before heading into this haven for the die-hard ice cream flavor aficionado, stop into the spice shop next door under the shared Christina's roof. After being enraptured by the endless vials and packets of nuts, spices, peppers, herbs and magical mystery powders, head to the scoop shop knowing those same exact high-potency ingredients go into the ice cream, crafted on premises. On a sign covering the back wall, the enormous flavor list is ever-changing, but exotic specialties like fresh mint, lemongrass and cardamom are unparalleled.

290 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115 (map)

Not to condone anything illegal, but we're confident that any sort of "influence" would only enhance your experience of this colors-bleeding-down-the-wall, rainbow bright, dudealicious-dripping ice creamery for flavors like Cosmic Crunch and Trippin' on Espresso. Born out of a basement in Coolidge Corner in 1975, this now multi-location, locally based franchise uses hormone-free milk, maintains certified Kosher products, eschews artificial coloring and basically rocks the hell out of its super-premium ice cream and handmade chocolates.

659 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (map)

Its over-the-top cow paraphernalia and tongue-in-cheekily named Red Sox-inspired flavors notwithstanding, this local chain of dessert-slinging cafes has been instrumental in putting Jamaica Plain on the ice cream map since 1981. The flagship location, sporting an unblinkingly enormous cow head on the facade, is a cozy enclave for free WiFi along with your cone of Kowlua or Cherry Ortiz. New flavors rotate monthly; summery times call for a scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream or fresh lemon hibiscus sorbet.

513 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116 (map)

How to even describe the homemade ice cream at Picco? We'll give it a stab: rich, thick, eggy, mind-bogglingly addictive. An enormous chalkboard in the front of this refreshingly affordable South End pizzeria displays the flavors du jour, which may include honey, malt chip and raspberry brownie, as well as the requisite perfection-in-simplicity vanilla and chocolate. Lick 'em in a sundae, frappe or the pièce de résistance: atop a beer float.

899 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139 (map)

Gus Rancatore ringleads this circus of cult-favorite ice cream (as history proves, take this place away and people flip out). The stuff is made on site (peek into the kitchen, visible behind the counter), with staples like Belgian chocolate, cake batter and no-holds-barred burnt caramel dotting the otherwise rotating menu. In the cafe's loungey cube with central communal table and couches lining the street-facing windows, make your order as tall as you desire, or indulge in the micro sundae--a one-swallow scoop topped with all the tiny fixings.

334 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (map)

There be no cream in this ice cream! Vegans say thanks to Wheeler's artful handling of soy, coconut, rice or almond milk; here, everything on the menu is animal product-free (should be, as owner Wheeler de Toro has been living vegan for more than a decade). The boutique's small-batch, surprisingly unctuous flavors change practically daily (if not hourly), from Bourbon chocolate walnut to (muy picante!) jalapeno. Eagle-eyed Bostonians can also catch Wheeler doling out samples from his adorable truck at day festivals and outside nightclubs.