For those joining our campus this upcoming semester, let me introduce you to one of Vermont’s iconic and niche terms: the creemee.
Creemees can be synonymous with your typical soft serve found in other parts of the country. The creemee, however, gets its name by having a higher butter-fat content, more air pumped into it and by being stored at a lower temperature. This combination gives creemees their distinct texture.
There are four classic creemee flavors which include vanilla, chocolate, black raspberry and, of course, maple. The flavor most symbolic of Vermont is the maple creemee, as Vermont is the country’s largest maple syrup producer.
There are approximately 400 creemee locations around Vermont; I, however, focused on a few spots close to campus.
A classic small maple creemee on a cone was ordered at each location to fairly compare each of the locations.
Each creemee was judged on three main criteria: location and accessibility from campus, the quality of the product and if it’s college budget-friendly.
Burlington Bay Market & Café
The first spot on the crawl was Burlington Bay Market & Café.
Located next to Waterfront Park, Burlington Bay sports a back porch facing Lake Champlain’s sparkling blue waters. Walking down the boardwalk and enjoying your creemee as the sun sets behind the Adirondacks is an essential activity of a Burlington summer.
To get there from campus, you can trek 25-30 minutes down Main Street or take one of the GMT buses down to the waterfront. The 1 bus picks you up at University Heights and the 11 bus has a stop at the medical center—both will take you right down the waterfront.
Their small maple cone came to $4.52.
As for the product quality, it has a strong maple flavor that lasts until your final bite without overpowering the taste buds or using artificial sweeteners. The texture was on the thinner side, though, and felt lacking in traditional creemee thickness.
Overall, this is a classic maple creemee and a great treat for you and your friends to try.
Little Gordo Creemee Stand
The next stop on the crawl was the Little Gordo Creemee Stand.
This location is easily accessible for upperclassmen living off-campus in downtown Burlington and the Old North End since it’s on South Union Street.
The atmosphere is cozy as there is usually music playing and it has a few picnic tables for you to enjoy your creemee. The fairy lights strung around the stand add a nice ambiance and backdrop for photos.
Accessibility-wise, it’s about a 15-minute walk from the Davis Center. The 1 bus can also take you from University Heights to the intersection of South Union and Main Street, about a five-minute walk from the creemee stand.
This was the most expensive out of all the locations, with a small maple cone totaling $5.57 after tax.
This location had the best texture of all the spots. It was very creamy and not thin whatsoever, which also meant it didn’t melt too fast.
Little Gordo also used a different cone instead of the usual “Joy” brand cake cone. This cone, along with choosing to use a round nozzle on the soft serve machines, gives the creemee an iconic look.
As for the flavor, it is a bit on the sweeter side and loses its maple flavor over time. It has a lighter maple flavor instead of a darker or richer one, but if you prefer your creemee on the sweeter side, definitely check this place out.
Another highlight to mention is that Little Gordo changes the flavor of their creemees frequently and includes fun and nontraditional flavors like horchata, passion fruit and lemon poppyseed.
Al’s French Frys
The third stop on the creemee crawl was Al’s French Frys.
Al’s is a popular spot for college students and locals as they are known for their cheap prices and fast service for their burgers, hot dogs and fries. They also have a creemee stand just around the corner for an after-Al’s sweet treat.
To get to Al’s, either catch a bus or ask a friend for a ride, as it’s not located in a walkable location from campus. However, the 1 GMT bus from University Heights can drop you off right in front of Al’s in about fifteen minutes.
After tax, a small maple creemee on a cone came to $4.31, which is the cheapest creemee of the three.
As for the stand itself, they offer all four classic flavors. The maple creemee itself is a bit subtle in flavor and tastes more artificial than the others. The texture is a good thickness but on the icy and grainier side comparatively. All in all, it’s a nice spot to grab a quick dessert after a meal at Al’s.
Be sure to check out these places before creemee season ends.